deadmonton 2008 - march crime report - soldier found dead at CFB Edmonton

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The Canadian Forces National Investigation Unit looked into the case of a man's death at the Edmonton Garrison on the same day another Edmonton soldier was buried.


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The soldier's body was found in single living quarters at CFB Edmonton on March 15th, 2008.


"I don't know the exact time the incident occured, but an incident did occur. The matter is still under investigation, and we're awaiting notification of next of kin," said Lieutenant Jason Broadbent, Public Affairs Officer for CFB Edmonton.


"We won't know for sure what happened until the investigation is complete," said Base spokesman Cpt. Mark Peebles.


The soldier's family was notified and his identity and rank was not to be released until their permission was given, Peebles said.


The medical examiner's office soon announced they would not be peforming an autopsy.


Word of the death came just as the base welcomed home 60 members of the Lord Strathcona's Horse tank squadron from Kandahar.


A study published in 2007 found that 31 per cent of Canadian soldiers showed signs of mental health disorders ranging from depression to post-traumatic stress disorder. It was reported the deceased soldier was not a recent returnee.


CTV Edmonton image

On the day of the death a memorial service was held for Michael Hayakaze, 25, a trooper who was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan on March 2nd.


On March 17th, 2008 investigators ruled out foul play in the soldier's death. He was identified as Cpl. Stuart Howard Langridge, a member of Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) regiment.


The Canadian Forces National Investigation Service said in a press release there would be no further comment on the circumstances of Langridge's death until their investigation was complete.


"Cpl. Langridge was a soldier who performed solid service to his regiment and to his country," Lt.-Col. Pascal Demers, commanding officer of Lord Strathcona's Horse said. "We in the regimental family will miss him, and we share in his family's loss. We will do our best to support his family and honour his memory."


Langridge, 28, was from Victoria, British Columbia.