last link on the left › deadmonton

Keith Goddard, 23, died after attending a house party on June 27th, 2009.

Goddard was Edmonton's thirteenth homicide victim of the year.

Keith Edward Wright, 21, and Douglas Gordon Hanks, 21, were each charged with second-degree murder and aggravated assault.

A 17-year-old male was also charged with second-degree murder and aggravated assault. He cannot be named under provision of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

warrants issued | vengeance threatened

At about 5:17 a.m. June 27th, 2009 emergency services were called to a basement suite in a home at 11903 49 Street after receiving reports of an injured man.

Paramedics rushed the victim to hospital where he later died of apparent stab wounds.

Homicide detectives were called out to investigate but when speaking with media they offered little.

"There was some foul play that took place in that house overnight," was all Det. Don Curle revealed.

"That's part of the investigative process early on – identifying our victim and other people who may have been present. We're still doing that.

"Because we're still trying to identify and locate other people we are interested in talking to I'm not really prepared now to talk about the victim or what happened in the house."

Investigators also said they were working on determining a motive and possible suspects.

"The neighbours around here are fairly decent," area resident Al Schifan told media. "But it's a rental property so you're going to get who knows."

Others said they didn't hear anything unusual overnight, but observed that there had been more traffic than usual at the house.

Late June 28th, friends identified the murdered man as 23-year-old Keith Goddard.

In an interview with the Edmonton Journal, a friend of Goddard's implored him not to return to a house party that seemed to have gotten out of hand – read more »

Friends and family remembered Goddard as a caring young man who loved a good laugh and was fun to party with – read more »

On June 30th police officially confirmed that Keith Goddard was the victim of June 27th's homicide.

Results of Goddard's autopsy were withheld for investigative purposes but police said they would release his cause of death upon the conclusion of their investigation.

Family members had told media they were advised that Keith had died of stabs wounds.

With regard to possible suspects in the matter, police would only say their investigation was continuing.

Warrants issued

On July 2nd, 2009 Edmonton police charged two men in connection with Goddard's death and issued Canada-wide warrants for their arrest.


Wright	Hanks

Keith Edward Wright, 21, and Douglas Gordon Hanks, 21, both of Edmonton, each faced second-degree murder and aggravated assault charges.

Wright was described as Caucasian, 6-feet and 161 lbs., with hazel eyes and brown hair.

Hanks has darker skin, stands 5-feet 6-inches, weighs 119 lbs. and has brown eyes and black hair.

Indications were that both men were previously known to police.

On July 3rd, 2009 Edmonton police also charged a 17-year-old male in connection with Goddard's death and issued warrants for his arrest.

For a short time police made public a photo of the teen and his name under a special provision of the Youth Criminal Justice Act (Sect. 110).

"We have made extensive exhaustive efforts to try to locate these three males and we were unsuccessful – all day yesterday, all day today – in trying to find these males," Det. Don Curle said.

"We're confident that they know we're looking for them."

Police efforts soon paid off with regard to one suspect.

At about 8:00 p.m. on July 3rd the 17-year-old turned himself in at police headquarters to face second-degree murder and aggravated assault charges.

Vengeance threatened

Days after issuing pictures of the wanted men, homicide detectives continued their legwork hunting down the pair. The possibility arose that Wright and Hanks might have skipped town.

"We don't know. It's hard to say," Det. Don Curle said. "I would've thought they'd turn themselves in by now, at least one or the other, especially after (the teen surrendered)."

The fugitives probably had more to fear from Keith Goddard's family and friends.

"Turn yourself in," Brad Goddard, Keith's uncle, told the Edmonton Sun.

"You're going to be found and it's better that you be found by the cops than people who actually cared for him, because ... some people are really upset. Some people are losing their mind.

"People feel very vengeful. I'm telling everybody I talk to there's already been too much bloodshed. This is enough. These guys just need to be brought to justice and that's that.

"We have people talking to people we know in the city and saying, 'Pass the word around. If you see these people, grab them and turn them in,' " Brad said.

A wake for Keith Goddard took place on July 6th at Sacred Heart Church, 10821 96 Street.

Whether it was the family's pleas (or the Sun's headline), three days after the 17-year-old wanted in connection with Goddard's death turned himself in – and one day after Tesfai Negasi walked into police headquarters confessing to the murder of his wife, Selamawit Negasi – Keith Wright and Douglas Hanks finally gave up their freedom.

Wright and Hanks walked into downtown police headquarters just before 10 p.m. on July 6th.

Details of Goddard's fatal injuries continue to be officially withheld.

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.

deadmonton 2009 - keith goddard