deadmonton 2008 - shernell sharon pierre


Subscribe to Deadmonton  subscribe | delicious | digg | facebook | twitter | tweet


WARNING



Shernell Sharon Pierre, 26, was shot and left for dead in a burning car on March 12th, 2008.


Pierre was Edmonton's sixth homicide victim of the year.


Devon Hugh Saunders, 43, was charged with first-degree murder.




The initial investigation


At about 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12th, 2008, Edmonton Fire Rescue were dealing with a car fire when they discovered charred human remains lying slumped in the driver's seat.


CTV Edmonton image
Edmonton Sun image

Police were then called to the site a block south of 87th Avenue on 170th Street and an investigation began into what authorities initially termed a suspicious death.


The vehicle's hood and trunk were popped open but it remains uncertain whether that was a result of heat build-up in the car during the fire – see additional images »


The busy street adjacent to West Edmonton Mall was blocked off overnight and until late Thursday afternoon as forensic staff combed a wide area.


CTV Edmonton image
CTV Edmonton image CTV Edmonton image

The vehicle, with the remains inside, was towed to the medical examiner's office so that an autopsy could be performed to determine the gender, age, identity and cause of death of the person.


At least one homicide detective was on scene early Thursday morning – usual police practice when dealing with suspicious deaths. The arson and canine units were also brought in.


"Whenever it comes to these kinds of deaths where there's unusual circumstances, we'll call in whatever resources we can to aid in that investigation," a spokesman said.


Without autopsy results available, police didn't speculate on whether the death was an accident, a murder, a suicide or something unanticipated.


"Nothing's being ruled out at this time," the spokesman added.


Investigators theorise the car came to a stop in the curb lane just south of 87th Avenue just as – or before – it caught fire.


Resident in the area said that around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday night they began hearing pops and crackles that sounded like firecrackers.


Global Edmonton image

One woman said there was "a ball of flames out on the street."


Global Edmonton image Global Edmonton image

"I was getting ready for bed and I heard like a – when you set off a firecracker that whizz sound of psssh – then bang," a woman named Jean told Global Edmonton.


The Edmonton Sun put the story on their front page ...


Edmonton Sun image

... along with their usual concise insight.



Witnesses describe burning car


While police were investigating the scene on 170th Street on the day after the fire, media were interviewing witnesses – read more »



Victim identified


After an autopsy was completed on Friday, March 14th, police announced they were treating the death as a homicide.


The victim was identified as 26-year-old Shernell Sharon Pierre. Dental records were required to confirm her identity and no cause of death was released.


Shernell Sharon Pierre

Family and co-workers said Pierre worked as a licensed practical nurse at the nearby Misericordia Hospital.


Initial indications were that the incident was not gang-related nor was it believed to be random. Police also said they didn't believe any other vehicle was involved.


At a news conference held later on Friday, homicide Detective Dennis Storey spoke to media at length about the case – read more »



Re-enactment


Police set up a checkstop on 170th Street on Friday evening with a vehicle similar to the 2003 Corolla and at about the same time it was seen on fire, hoping to jog witness memories – read more »



Timeline released


On Saturday, March 15th, police released a timeline and a few additional details surrounding the murder.


Det. Storey said it wasn't yet exactly clear how long Pierre's Toyota had been parked on 170th Street on before it was engulfed in flames – or at what point the suspect fled – read more »



Edmonton blogger reveals scoop


As police continued with their investigation, a local blog provided possible background information on Pierre's recent male relationships. The entry raised the question of "internet speculation" amongst media and police – read more »



Police describe person of interest


Late Monday evening, March 17th, police convened a news conference and announced a description of a person of interest in connection with Shernell Pierre's murder. They also confirmed earlier indications that she was shot in her car before the fire was set but the detective in charge of the investigation didn't say how many times or with what kind of weapon – read more »



Pictures released of van of interest


The day after police described a man of interest investigators released pictures of a van of interest.


After interviewing the person of interest in Pierre's shooting death, police seized and searched his van and again appealed to the public for information – read more »



Police make another appeal


On March 20th, 2008, police made another appeal for information in the case as tips appeared to be on the decline.


"Certainly they are not as plentiful as they were initially, but we are still getting calls," Det. Dennis Storey told the Edmonton Sun. "We accept every call and encourage them to make more phone calls."


The officer said the initial appeal also led police to some clothing but he would not discuss any details.


Several "persons of interest" had been interviewed but Storey didn't indicate if any of them were suspects. He also conceded no witnesses have been found who saw a person leaving the scene.


"Armchair" detectives suspected investigators were certain of key details but still needed corroborating evidence and witnesses before being able to lay a charge.



Shernell Pierre remembered


Family and co-workers said Shernell Sharon Pierre worked as a licensed practical nurse at the Misericordia Hospital for about two years.


She had graduated from Ross Sheppard Composite High School in 2000 and from Norquest College in 2005 – read more »



Funeral held for Shernell Pierre


On March 29th, 2008, Shernell Sharon Pierre was remembered and honoured at the West End Christian Assembly at 6215 199 Street – read more »



Case growing cold


On May 4th, 2008, the Edmonton Sun spoke with Shernell Sharon Pierre's mother who said she was waiting patiently for police to make an arrest – read more »



Arrest imminent


On February 7th, 2009, the Edmonton Sun re-visited the case with lead detective Dennis Storey. After nearly a year, investigators said they were close to laying charges in the case – read more »



Charges laid


Global Edmonton image

On March 6th, 2012 – almost exactly four years after Shernell Sharon Pierre was found dead in her car – police arrested the woman's former boyfriend at the Calgary Trail Superstore where he worked.


After he finished his shift and approached his truck in the parking lot at about 12:30 p.m. a police tactical squad took him into custody without incident.


Facebook image

The next day, a charge of first-degree murder was laid against 43-year-old Devon Hugh Saunders.


Pierre and Saunders had been in a relationship for about two years but had split shortly before she died. Saunders was married at the time and Pierre entered another relationship soon after.


Facebook image

At the time of Pierre's death, Saunders was interviewed by detectives and he remained a person of interest.


Police said they had spent thousands of hours interviewing witnesses, reviewing video, and analysing forensic evidence.


Edmonton Sun image

"This was a very difficult investigation because, as you recall, the entire scene was consumed by fire," Staff Sgt. Dennis Storey told media.


"It takes time when you base a lot of your crime scene on forensic evidence and forensic experts.


"The crime though, however, was so horrific that we found that there was a certain level of fear among some of the witnesses.


"As time went by, this fear dissipated and we re-interviewed the witnesses and from new information that they provided us we were able to move this investigation further," Storey said.


The former homicide detective outlined the investigative aspects of the case.


"We viewed in real time hundreds of hours of videotape. We went through hundreds of telephone call logs. And most importantly we interviewed dozens of witnesses.


"Some of these witnesses, in fact, came forward over a year after the incident.


"A lot of people stepped up. I'd like to thank them for their help," Storey said.


CTV Edmonton image

"One of the little known parts of this case is her Bible was the only thing that survived the fire in the car," Storey noted.


In February 2009, the detective had told the Edmonton Sun an arrest was imminent in the case but that Alberta Justice was holding police back from laying charges.


At the time, the office of the Crown Prosecutor was said to be reviewing the merit of evidence collected, what charges were appropriate, along with assessing the likelihood of conviction.


"The investigation has shown one person to be responsible and we believe we know who that person is," Storey said then.


At the news conference, Storey made no mention of the delay in the laying of charges but he did offer a final appeal – likely part of a bid to help bolster the case.


"I know that there's still people out there with information and I ask that when we come knocking on their door that you'll be forthcoming with that information," he said.


Storey was no longer in the homicide unit. But as the lead detective on the case, he was allowed to be the first to tell Saunders that he was under arrest.


"It's personally gratifying to any homicide investigator that can actually lay a charge," he said. "It's nice to see this come to a conclusion."


Those at police headquarters also got to witness something rarely seen in Edmonton: a "perp walk" – see images »



CTV Edmonton image

Pierre's mother and sister, along with a family friend, were also on hand as police held their news conference announcing the arrest.


Edmonton Sun image

"I'm happy. I have mixed feelings because I'm sad for my family but also the family of the accused," Pierre's sister, Jolin Thompson, said.


"I'm happy that it has reached this point, and if there's somebody dangerous out there we don't need him out there to hurt anybody else.


"I do miss her but I've come to the realisation that she is gone. She is not coming back," she said.


About Devon Saunders, Thompson knew little.


"Like I know who the person is. I don't know him as interactive because I've seen changes," she said.


"It seemed like they were happy but I wasn't around both of them for long periods of time. But she seemed OK."


Thompson said her family would follow the matter closely as it made its way through the courts.


CBC Edmonton image

"Because she's my sister. I have to," she said.


"Me and my sister, we grew up together from when we were little. It's the person that I've spent most of my lifetime with."


Storey's earlier revelation about what was found in the fire came as no surprise to Pierre's family.


"She does believe in God. I'm a strong believer in God. I know with him all things are possible and I'm not surprised that the Bible survived. It was a sign.


"It wasn't just by accident, it was a sign the Bible survived."


Edmonton Sun image

Looking on was Ishbel Cain, Shernell's mother, who later spoke to the Edmonton Sun.


Cain said she was at home Monday when police called to tell her that her daughter's former boyfriend had just been arrested.


"My whole body went cold and I shivered. I was in shock," she recalled.


"I believed this day would come, but how do you prepare for this? It was just a matter of time. Everything happens in God's own time and this was his time."


Whether it was time for her own healing to begin, Cain wasn't sure.


"Even when everything is done and over with, would you ever have closure? I don't know," she said. "I have never been through something like this before. Every day is different."


Global Edmonton image

It was revealed that as a Jamaican national Saunders could also face deportation.


Introducing the media conference was police chief Rod Knecht who reminded reporters that detectives remained active in investigating 160 other unsolved cases still on the books.



There was also vindication, of sorts, for Edmonton-based blogger The Third Edge of the Sword who posted entries that caused a mild media maelstrom in March 2008 concerning information he had received identifying Saunders as a possible suspect – read more »



Amanda McRoberts - Global Edmonton image

Saunders made his first court appearance on March 8th, 2012. The matter was put over to March 22nd so he could retain legal counsel.



On March 31st, 2012, Edmonton-based blogger The Third Edge of the Sword posted an entry about a conversation he overheard in a licensed establishment that offered insight into what possibly lay behind Pierre's murder – read more »





Other recent car-related murders


Global Edmonton image

At the time, Shernell Pierre's murder recalled three other recent homicides that had taken place in cars – read more »





As one local television outlet covered Det. Storey's media availability on March 14th, 2008, viewers were once again reminded of which of their reporters was attending the news conference – read more »



All the information presented on this page has been compiled primarily from published media reports and should not be interpreted as having legal bearing or other prejudice against the individuals named on this web site.
The Last Link on the Left practices fair presentation and the disclosure of relevant interests.
Mouseover for image credits.