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Emily Joy Stauffer, 14, died September 27th, 2008 in Edson, Alberta.

Case status is open and active.

person of interest | a second attack | a third incident
second attack deemed 'frivolous' | second person of interest | arrest made
politicians and criminolgists react

The murder of 14-year-old Emily Stauffer took place on a warm autumn day on the edge of a small town. She was a pastor's daughter, an active member of the church who was well-liked by all who knew her.

At about 4:45 p.m. on Saturday, September 27th, 2008 two boys, believed to be aged 9 and 12, were riding their bikes when they came across somebody attacking a young girl on a tree-lined walking trail that runs along Willshire Estates and Old Tiffin, between 17th and 18th Avenues in Edson, Alberta.

Shaken by what they saw, the boys ran to call for help, finding a woman washing her windows.

"You take a minute first to make sure they weren't pulling your leg," the woman later said. "But they were just, they were vibrating."

Police were called.

A man listening to his police scanner heard the dispatch, something about a girl who had been attacked by man near his house.

"The call came in that two youths reported seeing a man strangling a woman and the address was two doors down from my father's, and so I headed up here," Terry Lozinski said.

"We walked down there ... they were working on her.

"And my father and I walked through the trail, walked up on the crime scene and we were stopped by police. We seen a bloody nylon rope when we were escorted out.

"He must have surprised her," Lozinski added.

In spite of being rushed to hospital, the girl succumbed to her injuries. While investigators didn't immediately make a cause of death available, they soon had descriptions out of a suspect and a "person of interest."

Population 8,000, the town of Edson, Alberta lies 200 kilometres west of Edmonton – halfway to Jasper on the Yellowhead Highway. For most travellers, it's a place to stop and eat or or to top up the gas tank. But on the last weekend of September 2008, the normally quiet town became the focal point of intense police attention.

"It definitely is being treated as a homicide," RCMP media relations officer Cpl. Wayne Oakes stated for the record.

RCMP Major Crime Units in Edson and Peace River were soon assisted by investigators from RCMP's "K" Division Edmonton Major Crimes, along with member of the Edson, Hinton and Drayton Valley Detachments. Additional support came in the form the Stony Police Dog Service and RCMP Air Services Helicopter, along with Brazeau County Search and Rescue.

"It's critical that, especially at the front-end of an investigation, when it first comes to the attention of authorities, that you front-end load your investigational resources," Cpl. Oakes said.

"You want to have as many people following up on as many tips as possible, because the more time that passes, the colder a potential trail gets."

Within 24 hours, in excess of thirty investigators were working the case, with officers scouring the ground while overhead the infrared-camera equipped helicopter kept watch.

Police issued a description of a suspect: a white male, approximately 30 years of age with brown hair and wearing a blue jacket and blue jeans.

Investigators advised that the suspect could have left the area on an ATV vehicle or some other method of transportation.

Around Edson, the winding dirt and gravel footpaths, paid for by a forestry company, ring the east, north and west edges of town.

RCMP asked anyone who may have seen a person fitting the description in that particular area of Edson, or leaving the wooded area on the north side of Edson along Secondary Highway 748 between 63rd Street and Edson Drive, to contact Edson RCMP at 780-723-8800, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), 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).

Cpl. Oakes urged anyone with information to come forward.

"At this point, we want to hear about anything," he said. "Whatever somebody saw in relation to an adult male leaving that area, investigators would like to speak with them.

"It really is an endless possibility where the person is from and where he could be at this time," Oakes added.

Person of interest

On September 29th, RCMP released a sketch of a person of interest, someone they were interested in speaking with but who was not considered a suspect.

"We're stressing the point that this image we're releasing today is not a suspect," Cpl. Oakes said. "We don't want people going out and inflicting vigilante justice on anyone who may match this description."

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

"This is a person we are interested in speaking with," he clarified.

"If we had suspects in mind, we would not be continuing to come out with such vigour," Oakes said after the release of the sketch. "We are still aggressively seeking information that will lead us to the person (who committed) this horrific murder."

"We have no idea who this person is," he added.

"We have no idea where this person's from, who this person is or where they are today. That's the daunting task for investigators, to find the pivotal piece of information that's going to help to solve those critical points.

"The tips from the public have been very helpful, but unfortunately we still don't have that critical information that tells us who's responsible for this horrible murder.

"That's the type of call we want to hear. 'I saw a guy and something just didn't feel right.' That's the kind of calls that so often result in these kind of case being solved," Oakes said.

On September 30th RCMP released details of an autopsy conducted the day before which confirmed that Emily Stauffer had been murdered. Police said that while the autopsy established a cause of death, it was being withheld as part of the investigation.

RCMP also responded to media questions asking if sexual assault or strangulation played a role in Stauffer's death, saying only that investigators were not able to provide a definitive response. Police said some of the evidence had been sent for further forensic examination.

A second attack

Despite a heavy police presence in Edson, and with the news of the murder of Emily Stauffer thought to be widespread, it would seem to defy logic that someone would contemplate attacking another female – but apparently that is what occurred just before 1:30 p.m., September 30th on the town's east side.

RCMP received a report that a 20-year-old woman was accosted as she walked along a pathway near a Tim Hortons outlet on the town's eastern edge.

The woman was transported to hospital for medical assessment and was released. No details of the assault were made available.

Police have released a description of a suspect in the second attack that bears some resemblance to one issued earlier.

The suspect in the later attack was described as a white male, mid-twenties, taller than 5-feet 9-inches (175 cm), with a muscular build and dirty hands.

He was wearing a black hoodie with white lettering on the chest and red lettering or material around the edge of the hood, and black BOCA pants. He had a strong smell of body odor and cologne.

One news outlet described the suspect as a filthy blond-haired man.

It was later reported the woman had been attacked from behind but was able to fight off her attacker.

Schools in Edson were locked down as a safety precaution. Normally busy playgrounds were deserted.

RCMP again cautioned the public not to engage in any form of vigilante action and to pass along information to investigators. The public was also requested to stay off the pathways so searchers could gather evidence.

Police have not said if they believe the same man is responsible for both attacks.

"Until we conduct further investigation into this, we really cannot definitively say if there is any link or commonality between the two," Cpl. Oakes said while briefing media.

"Until we have an opportunity to identify and speak with the person involved, we will be as mystified by this as the next person: how, in the face of having so many additional police officers in the community, how something like this could happen.

"Keep in mind, at this point, we don't know who this is. This could be somebody who drifted in to town with no knowledge of what took place on the 27th.

"And again, until we have an opportunity to speak with that person, we won't know the dynamics or the circumstances," Oakes added.

Although Emily's murder and the second attack took place across town from each other, Oakes said considering Edson's small size "there's not a great distance involved" between the two incidents.

When asked if the attack was sexually motivated, Oakes refused to answer the question, calling it "inappropriate."

Oakes also declined to say whether a weapon was used, whether there were any witnesses or who called police.

"Oh my God, not again," Edson Mayor Greg Pasychny said when heard of the second attack.

"It's one thing to have it happen one day and not even three days later, the next thing you know, the same thing is happening again. It's really kind of scary for a community our size," he said.

Pasychny said the RCMP were using their helicopter and police dogs, first brought for Stauffer's murder, to search the area near the latest attack.

The mayor said staff at local schools called parents to come pick up their children, and would not release them without identification from the adults.

A third incident

At about 11:00 p.m. on October 1st, a woman taking out garbage spotted a large man dressed all in black running back into the woods in the same area where a woman was attacked the day before.

A dozen police cars converged on the area and a dog team was brought in.

Officers moved to contain the area behind an apartment building near the Tim Hortons outlet on the east side of Edson.

It was reported the woman spotted the man after he bolted from behind a dumpster.

At last word police did not locate the man in question.

Second attack deemed 'frivolous'

Late in the evening of October 3rd RCMP released a statement indicating they had deemed the September 30th attack near the Tim Hortons outlet as 'frivolous,' and that the woman's claim had no reasonable grounds.

RCMP stated the description of the person described as a suspect in the second attack no longer represented a person that investigators were seeking.

Police also asked that those who knew the young woman who reported the attack to "not chastise, threaten, or seek any form of retribution for the unfortunate mistake that she has been a part of."

After considering the circumstances involved, RCMP said they would not be pursuing a charge of public mischief against the woman.

"Stauffer's death may have had a direct and unfortunate influence that resulted in the second incident being reported to authorities," media relations officer Cpl. Wayne A. Oakes said.

In the past, RCMP have laid charges of public mischief against people who have filed false reports of a crime, according to Oakes.

Police did not indicate how they determined the attack was fictional.

A week after Emily's murder had police saying little about progress in the case for fear of causing a change in the killer's behaviour.

Investigators, numbering forty at one point, have been working hard and Oakes said in his 30 years of policing "this ranks up at the top."

The enthusiasm and dedication investigators are putting into the case are just exceptional, he said.

"That applies to the majority of cases that our officers are investigating," he added.

Second person of interest

On October 14th, 2008 RCMP released a sketch of a second person of interest in relation to the Emily Stauffer homicide investigation.

Police identified the person as an adult male accustomed to using Edson pathways and not a suspect in Emily's murder.

"It doesn't mean that this person has done anything wrong," RCMP Cpl. Wayne Oakes said, adding the man "has been identified by other people using the trail in that area around that time."

RCMP said they wanted to speak with the person and anyone else familiar with the pathways in the area where the 14-year-old was killed.

A physical description was not released as police felt this may unduly influence a potential tip from being called in.

"So as to not influence a potential tipster from phoning in, we are purposely not releasing any sort of descriptor, much along the same line as the first sketch that was put out," Oakes said.

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

Oakes said police are still hoping to speak with the person depicted in the first sketch released; however he refused to comment on whether any tips had been received concerning that individual.

Arrest made

On December 3rd, 2008 RCMP announced an arrest had been made in the Emily Stauffer homicide. Police said they would withhold the identity of the person until the next day.

Crime scene tape and forensic investigators could soon be seen at two locations in Edson, one of them just five blocks from the Stuaffer residence.

On December 4th, 2008 RCMP announced that 43-year-old Ross Edward Kleman had been charged with first-degree murder. The man was employed as an equipment operator for the Town of Edson.

A Facebook page under Kleman's name stated that the Bible was his favourite book. The page also listed Kleman's interests as music, the gospel and going to church.

Kleman was remanded in custody until his next appearance in court.

On December 16th, 2008 Kleman was scheduled to appear via circuit television in a provincial court in Edson but instead a lawyer appeared on his behalf.

Defence lawyer Jan Terhart indicated Kleman pleaded not guilty and had elected to be tried by judge and jury.

His next court appearance was scheduled for January 20th, 2009 so that lawyers could be provided with more time to share evidence in the case.

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Politicians and criminolgists react

In the days after Emily Stauffer was murdered, the opinions of politicians and criminal experts were sought. Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach and Solictor General Fred Lindsay were attending a function honouring fallen police officers when media caught up with them, news of the young girl's murder in hand.

"The family is going through a very traumatic experience ... a very tragic event, losing a daughter ... broad daylight," Stelmach offered.

"This is, of course, the issue that we want to deal with ...

"We don't know the circumstances here, what had happened ... but this is one area that we're working -- we put additional resources into safe and secure communities and we're going to work with the police chiefs to see how we can further assist them so we get rid of people who prey on young women.

“Statistically, they (media) say crime is down, but to that family, the statistics don't mean anything in the world,” Stelmach reflected.

Solictor General Lindsay tried to frame the event within the province's efforts to contain crime.

"We know that violence can occur in any community regardless of the size in regards to the bigger picture with organised crime and gangs.

"We know they're also moving out to rural Alberta so we know what's happening. And again, police officers out in those communities are doing a great job."

Edmonton criminologist Bill Pitt offered his insights.

"I think we're going to see when it reaches finality, and I think it will, that the individual lives close – a lot closer to the victim than we care to think," Pitt said.

"Typically we'll somebody that perpetrates these crimes knows the victim intimately or at least from a distance."

Pitt said the suspect knew the area well, which allowed for his quick escape.

Dr. Sandy Jung, a Grant MacEwan Community College psychology instructor and forensic psychologist who also serves at Alberta Hospital's Forensic Assessment and Community Services, said Stauffer's killer is potentially capable of anything.

Jung told the Edmonton Sun that random, daylight attacks were exceedingly rare and the perpetrators involved are usually extremely anti-social.

Assuming the attack was sexual in nature, Jung said the suspect likely commits other kinds of crimes as well.

“It's not a common thing,” Jung said. “Most sexual offenders tend to offend against people they know. [Random attacks] are very rare, so people should be on edge.”

“[Rapists who attack randomly] tend to be much more anti-social in nature and tend to be much more indiscriminate in the types of offending they do, so they're not just limited in committing a sexual offence.”

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deadmonton 2008 - emily joy stauffer