human remains found near Vegreville › november crime report › other police matters › deadmonton 2007 › deadmonton › edmonton

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On November 3rd, 2007 Vegreville RCMP responded to a complaint of partial skeletal remains discovered in a wooded area approximately 25 kilometres west of Vegreville.

Investigators are revealing little about the manner and cause of death of the person, and the medical examiner was said to be attempting to determine the identity and gender of the remains. There was no estimate as to how long the body had been in the area before being discovered.

On November 14th RCMP released several photographs of articles of clothing found near the body which may or may not be directly related to the discovery.

Pictured are a denim vest bearing a variety of badges (Canadian and American flags, several Apollo lunar mission badges, a 'KISS MY ASS' badge and other badges honouring the musical group) and a Side Street skateboard shoe (size 10, left, black in colour).

Larger versions of the images can be viewed here, here and here.

The RCMP view the case as a suspicious death and investigators are treating the matter as a homicide until circumstances prove otherwise. The Vegreville detachment is being assisted by officers from the Edmonton Serious Crimes unit and Forensic Identification Section.

Project KARE has been advised, a practice in all cases of suspicious deaths and homicides, but are not currently involved.

As the area where the body was found has been thoroughly searched and with only partial remains found, investigators believe the body may have been the subject of animal activity. Police did not discount that there may be another crime scene involved and the body had been disposed of at the location where it was found.

"This discovery was reported to police by an individual that happened upon items that appeared to be out of the normal given what would reasonably be present in wooded area," Cpl. Wayne A. Oakes said in a media release.

"Investigators are asking property owners, hunters, hikers, anyone in the general Vegreville/Lamont areas and elsewhere to contact authorities if you discover items that appear to be out of place, such as articles of clothing or possible human remains," he added.

Oakes said in cases like this information coming from the public plays a very significant role in the investigation.

"This is a very unique vest and someone hopefully will recognize it and will be willing to come forward," Oakes said. "This is all about doing the best job possible for this as yet unidentified soul and his/her family."

Those with information about the items pictured or circumstances surrounding the body are asked to contact Vegreville RCMP at 780-623-2223 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Vegreville is approximately 90 kilometers east of Edmonton.

The search for the identity of the body found led the Edmonton Sun to Vegreville, population 5,500.

Residents of the town well known for its large Easter egg offered their own ideas of who the person might be, with the staff of the Mr. Ribs Family Restaurant being the most forthcoming.

“In a community this small, they don't expect it to be somebody from town,” said Joe House, manager of the eatery. “If it was, it would be shocking.”

A staffer at Mr. Ribs told the Sun under condition of anonymity she recognised the vest and thought it belonged to a former town resident in his mid-twenties.

The man was a meth user and had little family, she said, adding she hadn't been able to get in contact with the man for about two years.

Vegreville RCMP Sgt. Mike Proctor confided to the paper he believed the same woman called in with the tip causing officers to track down the man's whereabouts.

“He was a very transient person,” Proctor said.

The RCMP officer had received many calls since the release of photos of the clothing but that there haven't been any concrete leads to the identity of the body.

“Keep in mind that the remains were found out in the country,” Proctor noted, pointing out they're not necessarily of someone from Vegreville.

Back at Mr. Ribs, waitress Kayla Miller said she wouldn't be surprised if the victim was a local.

“Our town used to be so safe and little. Now there's drug dealers and a dead body,” she said while suggesting “with drugs come bad people.”

Sgt. Proctor confirmed much of what Miller said, saying the problem wasn't widespread but with a core group of users.

“Drugs are here, I'm not going to lie to you about that,” he said. “We're no different than any other community. We're better off than some and worse off than others.”

On June 24th, 2008 RCMP announced that the remains were that of Robin Douglas Goodwin.

Goodwin, 47, was reported missing to Edmonton police in January 2007. He was last seen at his place of work in Nisku, Alberta in September 2006. He was identified through DNA analysis.

The RCMP Edmonton Serious Crimes Unit, after consultation with the Edmonton Police Service, have taken the lead role in the investigation.

Police said they were treating the matter as if it was a suspicious death.

Those with information are asked to contact Vegreville RCMP at 780-623-2223, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.tipsubmit.com - a secure tip submission web site.

Future updates to this matter can be found on the Robin Douglas Goodwin page.

deadmonton 2007 - november crime report - human remains found near Vegreville