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--- miscellaneous memos from the crime desk ---
Johnny Brian Altinger

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missing: Dylan Koshman
wanted: Lee Todd Laviolette | person of interest | person of interest
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Missing: Johnny Brian Altinger

A missing person case later became Edmonton's twenty-sixth homicide investigation of the year.

Police had asked for the public's help in locating 38-year-old Johnny Brian Altinger, missing since October 10th, 2008.

Two residences were searched – one in south Edmonton, the other in St. Albert – before investigators announced foul play was suspected.

On October 31st, Edmonton police arrested 29-year-old Mark Andrew Twitchell and charged him with first-degree murder » full details »

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Missing: Dylan Koshman

Edmonton police have asked for the public's help in locating a missing 21-year-old man last seen shortly after 2 a.m. on October 11th, 2008 leaving a home at 10404 33 Avenue.

Dylan Koshman was last seen by his roommates, later reported to be his cousins, at their southside home after he was asked to leave. Koshman had been drinking and had gotten argumentative.

The man was last seen walking away from the home wearing only shoes, jeans and a dark-coloured t-shirt.

Calls to his cellphone have gone unanswered, and in addition to not showing up for work police reported there has been no activity on his bank account since his disappearance.

Koshman was reported missing by his girlfriend, Erin Huff, on the evening of October 15th.

Dylan's family said this kind of behaviour was extremely out of character for the 21-year-old.

"The behaviour is certainly suspicious given the information from the family that we've received," a police spokesman said.

"I talked to him earlier that night and he was just happy and laughing like he always is," Erin said.

Koshman was described as a white male, 5-feet 9-inches, 190 lbs. with short brown hair and hazel eyes. He was said to be in very good shape and has nice teeth. He has scars on his left cheek and left eyebrow, and has earrings in both ears. A larger image of Dylan can be seen here.

At the time of their initial news release on October 17th, police said they had no reason to suspect foul play in the man's disappearance. Dylan was not known to police.

Edmonton police and search and rescue volunteers combed the area around where Dylan was last seen.

Koshman's parents travelled to Edmonton from the family's home town of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan to aid in search efforts.

According to the family, Koshman's wallet was found tossed in a neighbour's yard on the day after his disappearance.

"He is currently a John Doe," Dylan's sister Tara Koshman said. "He basically left with the shirt on his back."

A week after he was last seen, no trace of the man had been found.

"I'm so scared because there are no new leads," Koshman's mother Melanie Alix told media. "We need to get the public's help because we have to get another lead," she said.

Dylan had moved from Moose Jaw to Edmonton and had been living for seven months at the house on 33rd Avenue.

"Everything leads to very serious circumstances," Tara said. "He's gone. It's very scary."

Koshman had been working as a pipefitter at an oil and gas contracting business and wasn't familiar with the city.

"He was happy the last time he talked to his mother, and he just said he didn't like Edmonton, it was too big and he was thinking of coming home sometime," aunt Penny Cumming said. "So if he's slightly confused he could be hitchhiking. He could be anywhere between [Edmonton and] home."

Police checked with bus terminals to see if the man had returned to Saskatchewan or had possibly gone elsewhere.

Late on October 19th, search and rescue teams suspended their efforts.

Those close to Dylan set up a Facebook page in hopes the social networking site would generate some clues to the popular man's disappearance.

"I just know in my heart there's something wrong. He's just not out there somewhere visiting. Something's happened to him," Alix said.

"We need prayers," she said. "We need people to pray."

On October 21st – ten days after Dylan was last seen – came two media reports of a possible sighting.

The Edmonton Sun reported they received a tip from a person who said he saw a young man at about 3:00 a.m. on October 11th sitting on a sidewalk.

"This is really the first tip that we've had, so this is great," Denis Alix, Koshman's stepfather, told the Sun.

630 CHED reported that police think a woman who was walking a dog might be able to offer some information.

Denis said police told his family the older woman was out with her dog near 104th Street and 33rd Avenue at about the same time Dylan disappeared.

News of the possible sighting came as family search efforts were being scaled back. With obligations and commitments demanding their attention, some friends and relatives had to return home – reducing their numbers from 19 to 11.

"We're struggling," said Koshman's aunt, Jaylene Volk. "Nobody's ever ready for something like this. I wish there was an organisation or someone who could help us with this."

"We're strong and very motivated," she added. "It just looks like it's getting darker and we don't want to think that."

Edmonton police handle about 7,000 missing persons cases annually, with the same number dealt with in Calgary, in addition to a similar number investigated by RCMP province-wide.

In Canada, it is not a crime to be missing and often such persons simply don't want to be found.

While police say a large number of cases are cleared within hours or days, some cases never close.

On October 25th, about 50 family members, friends and volunteers braved cold temperatures and record-breaking winds during an intensive search of the wooded areas of the Westbrook, Lansdowne and Aspen Gardens neighbourhoods.

No trace of the young man was found.

On October 26th came news that a city lawyer had offered a $5,000 reward for information that leads to locating the 21-year-old. Despite not knowing the family, the lawyer said he felt compelled to offer the reward.

"People don't just get up and vanish," he said, wishing to remain anonymous. "Somebody knows something and hopefully they will now be motivated to talk."

Those with information about Dylan Koshman were asked to contact police at the phone numbers, web sites and message services listed below on this page.

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POLICE LINE: DO NOT CROSS

Wanted: Lee Todd Laviolette

Fort McMurray RCMP have issued a warning to the public to watch out for a high-risk sex offender who failed to report to his probation officer.

Forty-year-old Lee Todd Laviolette is wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant for failing to report as directed by Fort McMurray Provincial Court.

Laviolette faces charges for allegedly breaching conditions of his release that require him to abstain from non-prescription drugs and alcohol.

He has a documented history of sexually abusing women in Alberta and in the Northwest Territories. Police believe Laviolette poses a significant risk to sexually offend against adult females and that he presents a general risk to violently offend in the community, particularly if he is intoxicated.

Laviolette was described as an aboriginal male, 5-feet 7-inches (170 cm), 130 lbs (57 kg) and has black hair. A larger image of the wanted man can be seen here.

Police figure that Laviolette departed Fort McMurray on October 3rd, 2008 by bus to an unknown destination. He has previously resided in Fort McMurray, Fort Chipewyan, Edmonton, Yellowknife, and has also spent time in Saskatchewan.

Those with information about Lee Todd Laviolette were asked to contact police at the phone numbers, web sites and message services listed below on this page.

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Wanted: person of interest

On September 27th, 2008 Emily Joy Stauffer was murdered along the northern edge of Edson, Alberta.

As part of their investigation, RCMP released a sketch of a second person of interest. Police stressed the individual was not a suspect.

A larger image of the person of interest can be seen here.

Those with information about the person were asked to contact police at the phone numbers, web sites and message services listed below on this page.

Wanted: person of interest

Edmonton homicide investigators have released a composite sketch of a person of interest they were seeking in connection with the October 26th, 2008 murder of Lawrence Bosiak.

Police said the person of interest was seen walking or running eastbound from the area of 139th Avenue and 37th Street at about the same time Bosiak was shot.

He was described as having a dark complexion, approximately 5-feet 11-inches tall, in his mid 20s to early 30s, with short, dark hair and a sparse or patchy goatee, wearing a dark blue sweater and light-coloured pants. A larger version of the image can be seen here.

Investigators said they did not know what role (if any) he played in the homicide. Officers also reminded the public they wish to speak with anyone who was in the area at the time of the murder.

Those with information about this person of interest were asked to contact police at the phone numbers, web sites and message services listed below on this page.

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Those with information about any of the matters covered above were asked to contact Edmonton police at 780-423-4567, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), Project KARE at 780-495-KARE (5273) or 1-877-412-KARE (5273) or online at www.tipsubmit.com

Tips can also be text messaged. In Edmonton, text TIP250 + message and send to CRIMES (274637). In Northern Alberta, text TIP205 + message and send to CRIMES (274637).

Information presented on this page has been compiled from published media reports and should not be interpreted as having legal bearing or other prejudice against the individuals named on this web site. Some information may have been released under the authority of the FOIP Act, RSA 2000, C. F-25. and/or Section 8(2)(m) of the Federal Privacy Act.

Members of the public are advised that the intent of this web site is to enable citizens to take suitable precautionary measures and is NOT intended to encourage people to engage in any form of vigilante action. Continued investigation and review can result in additional information or clarification not disclosed to the public. Case status subject to change without notice.

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assist to identify | be aware of | missing | wanted

deadmonton 2008 - october crime report