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Betty Anne Gagnon, 48, died on November 20th, 2009.

Denise Margaret Scriven, 44, and Michael Lee Scriven, 30, were each charged with manslaughter, two counts of assault, failure to provide the necessities of life, and conspiracy to commit extortion.

After a seven-month investigation, Strathcona County RCMP laid charges in connection with the death of 48-year-old Betty Anne Gagnon.

Gagon died November 20th, 2009 outside a convenience store east of Edmonton. At the time police regarded her death as suspicious.

RCMP initally waited five days before releasing details of the death. Police were first called to the Tempo gas bar convenience store located at Wye Road and Range Road 214 by Strathcona County Emergency Services about about 6:00 p.m. after a woman suddenly died in the parking lot.

RCMP said a family member was performing CPR on the woman when they arrived at the store. Police said visible injuries were noticed on the woman before she died.

While an autopsy was conducted, investigators held back the cause and manner of death – saying only they were treating the death as suspicious.

Strathcona County RCMP, along with members of Major Crimes Unit and Forensic Identification from Edmonton, continued their investigation.

Officers secured and later searched the victim's residence at 52449 Range Road 214 for clues to the woman's death.

Police said the woman and her family were not known to them.

"There were signs of injury to the woman but to definitely say it was a homicide or just a sudden death at this point ... that's what we can't say," Cst. Wally Henry told media.

"At this point, it doesn't appear to be a domestic situation," Henry said. "We don't have enough definitive answers to absolutely rule that it's non-criminal, and on the other hand, to rule that it is criminal."

Charges laid

Seven months later, on June 19th, 2010, RCMP announced that Denise Margaret Scriven, 44, and Michael Lee Scriven, 30, had been charged with manslaughter, two counts of assault, failure to provide the necessities of life, and conspiracy to commit extortion.

The Scrivens were released from custody the day before on bail and under conditions. They were scheduled to appear in Sherwood Park Provincial Court on July 7th, 2010.

"Since the time the investigation began, we have been poring through evidence," Cst. Wally Henry of Strathcona County RCMP said.

"It's a disturbing file."

Police continued to withhold Gagnon's cause and manner of death but Henry did reveal Gagnon's body was bruised and scratched.

"When EMS arrived there were signs of visible trauma to EMS and the police officers that attended," Henry said, adding the nature of the injuries prompted an investigation looking into foul play.

"When we conducted the search at the residence, obviously we were looking for information to find out the situation or situational factors that led up to the deceased's death," Henry said.

"Evidence was obtained during that search and it was a matter of us going through it."

Henry said the Scrivens had always been considered persons of interest in the matter. Details of why it took seven months for Crown prosecutors to okay the laying of charges were expected to emerge at trial.

It was later learned that the Scrivens were Betty Gagnon's sister and brother-in-law.

Police said the couple was caring for Gagnon at the time of her death but did not reveal why and for how long, or whether there were other residents in the home.

While investigators didn't say how Gagnon got to the Tempo gas station, witnesses shed light on what happened when she arrived.

Store employee Chelsea Pickunyk told the Edmonton Journal back in November she saw Denise Scriven attempting CPR on Gagnon in the cab of a pickup truck.

"It wasn't CPR anymore. She was, like, pounding on her chest," Pickunyk said.

"She looked pretty dead."

The owner of the Tempo outlet said it was a relative who had called police, not store employees.

When contacted by media, the Scrivens referred all requests for comment to legal counsel.

Denise's defence lawyer, Felicity Hunter, said that Denise was a "nice lady," but would not elaborate further.

Neighbours of the Scrivens said they kept to themselves. One person had no idea a man lived in the home.

"I only ever saw two women," the neighbour said. "It seemed to me like a mother-daughter relationship."

Another neighbour said the couple had lived in the house for a few years but was under the impression they were in the process of moving out when the arrests were made.

A lot of new vehicles had recently shown up around the residence and a number of horses on the property had been removed, they said.

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deadmonton 2009 - betty anne gagnon