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WARNING

Richard Joseph Whitford, 39, was found stabbed to death November 30th, 2008.

Whitford was Edmonton's thirtieth homicide victim of the year.

Case status is open and active.

It took police three days to confirm a suspicious death just north of the city's downtown was the city's latest homicide.

A woman had called 911 at about 5:50 a.m. November 30th, 2008 after spotting a man's injured body lying next to the back entrance of the Winston Manor apartment building at 11505 107 Avenue.

EMS responded and left the body lying in place. Police soon arrived and taped off two entire buildings.

He wasn't breathing when emergency crews arrived, Staff Sgt. John Fiorilli said. It wasn't known whether the man was even alive at the time of the first report, a police spokesman later said.

Forensics officers were seen working the area in and around the building. At first investigators weren't sure whether the man lived in the apartment.

Blood spatters could be seen on the walkway leading from the building's back stairwell to the sidewalk where the body was found.

There were also bloody handprints on the inside of the glass door of the building's entrance, along with blood smeared on the radiator and carpet.

Blood was also seen along the length of the second-floor carpet, and a large stain was spotted in front of a unit at the end of the hall.

A cause of death for the man, who appeared to be in his late 30s, and his identity are to be determined during an autopsy scheduled for later this week.

A police spokesman said certain aspects of the crime scene were suspicious, prompting homicide investigators to be called in.

"We don't have a positive identification on the deceased ... the homicide section is now leading this investigation. We have a lot of people to talk to and a lot of ground to cover," the spokesman said.

"This is an ongoing investigation into a suspicious death so we have to be very careful of the type of information we publicise at this point," he said, adding, "At this time we don't have any suspects."

Near the man's body were two bags of fast food containers. Investigators were overheard requesting surveillance video from a nearby 7-Eleven convenience outlet.

Police also said no family members have stepped forward to identify the body and the man does not match any missing person reports. From what could be seen, he was wearing well-used, white Nike running shoes.

The body remained where it was found until late in the afternoon when it was removed by staff from medical examiner's office.

When speaking to media, several neighbours said police them the victim had been stabbed.

One second-floor resident, who asked not to be named, said he woke to a commotion outside his door. He said he heard loud footsteps and two or three male voices yelling.

"One voice stood out saying 'Shoot him,' " he said, adding he did not hear gunshots.

The man didn't open his door to see what was going on but did consider calling the police. However, he changed his mind because disturbances were so common in the building. When they later interviewed him, police pointed to a blood spatter on his door.

The nameless man's fellow tennant Bill Alger confirmed police interest in that part of the building, saying most of the investigators' evidence markers were on the second floor.

Alger seemed to take the matter in stride.

"It makes me nervous," he said. "It could be worse I guess ... at least I'm not the guy who got stabbed. It's not the best neighbourhood but I mind my own business."

Alger said police have been called to the building at least once a week. He's even called in complaints himself a number of times.

“The doors are always getting busted and someone keeps on breaking the locks,” Alger said. “We always find homeless people sleeping in the halls all the time.”

The building's manager, Brenda – who did not want her last name known, said she didn't think the deceased man was a tenant. In an emotional interview with media, she seemed frustrated with the situation.

"The back door is not locked. The front door is not locked. So anybody can come in ... and the traffic is just brutal. There's crackheads living here ... there's hookers," she said.

"It's not safe at all. I hate this place."

"I kinda tune myself out after a while. I just don't even hear anymore ... and it's terrible," Brenda said, adding she wanted to leave the area.

"Oh I want to buy try and get that in perspective. You need first month's rent, you need damage desposit ... I'm just living paycheque to paycheque."

Another resident, Val, said she has lived there for 11 years and during that time the building has gotten progressively worse.

"We've had gunshots in the front, we've had stabbings, we had a guy thrown through the back door," she said, pointing to the same door where the dead man was found.

On the western edge of the Avenue of Nations, the area is known for frequent problems.

"There's a lot of stuff around here. There's a lot drugs, a lot of prostitutes, just negative things, but like I said we just keep to ourselves," Brandy Howden said.

Joanna, who lives nearby, said she keeps to herself as much as possible.

"It can get pretty scary at night. We like to stay in the house and make sure I get everything from the store when it's daylight," she said.

"We like to be able to walk down the street at night. My brother got hit over the head just buying a bag of chips once."

Richard Joseph Whitford - click to enlarge

On December 3rd, 2008 it was announced that 39-year-old Richard Joseph Whitford, of no fixed address, died as the result of a stab wound. Police said Whitford's murder may be drug-related.

Those with information about Whitford's murder were asked to contact Edmonton police at 780-423-4567, 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).

The name of Richard Joseph Whitford was familiar to police.

In 1996, when he was 27, Whitford was arrested on a Canada-wide warrant in connection with nine robberies at various gas stations and convenience stores in Edmonton.

Acting on a tip, police used their tactical unit to draw Whitford out of apartment building at 11834 86 Street on September 26th.

Whitford was wanted for robberies that included a 7-Eleven and a Domo Gas station on September 12th, another 7-Eleven and Domo on September 14th, a drugstore and a jean store on September 19th along with an attempted robbery of a Domo the same day, another at a 7-Eleven on September 20th, and one at a Shell Circle "K" on September 21st.

In 1999, Whitford failed to return to the Pe Sakastew Federal Correction Centre in Hobbema while out on day parole. He was serving time for robbery and drug possession at the time.

In 2002 Whitford was charged in connection with a carjacking and police chase. He and two other men were driving around when they forced a man and two teen boys off the road, stealing their Jeep Cherokee.

Police spotted the Jeep less than two hours later and a chase ensued. The SUV lost control at 54th Street and 118th Avenue and rolled. Whitford lost his freedom after being hit with a shopping list of charges.

Two years later Whitford and another man were charged with robbery and possession of stolen property in connection with a mugging near 91 Street and 118 Avenue that included the beating of a man.

Whitford's murder along 107th Avenue came just three weeks after the fatal stabbing of Quentin Edward L'Hirondelle at 106th Street. Two men have been charged with the 22-year-old's November 8th murder.

On August 5th, 2008 42-year-old Andrew Livingstone O'Brien was found shot to death in the driveway of the Admiral House apartment block at 10741 108 Street.

At the time of O'Brien's death, media documented over a dozen murders in the area just north of the downtown core – see problems persist on the Avenue of Nations.

The Edmonton Police Service web site entry for Richard Joseph Whitford can be seen here.

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.
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deadmonton 2008 - richard joseph whitford