last link on the left › deadmonton

Melvin Edward Hansen, 21, was found dead on December 12th, 2009.

Hansen was Edmonton's twenty-sixth homicide victim of the year.

Case status is open and active.

nobody deserves to be murdered | vehicle of interest

Edmonton police continue to investigate the discovery of a man's body in the front yard of a home at 9012 130 Avenue.

The body was found at about 10:45 a.m. December 12th, 2009 after the city officially recorded overnight lows of -31C, with windchill bringing the value closer to -42C.

So far police only said they didn't know how the man died or if the death criminal in nature. They did admit circumstances make the death suspicious.

"It's quite cold outside and there's a male deceased on the front yard and we don't have anything more at this time other than the fact there is some blood near the body as well," Acting Insp. Denis Jubinville told media.

"The death appears to be possibly suspicious so out of precaution we've called homicide unit, they'll be taking a look shortly."

Police cordoned off the yard and also secured a field facing the home. Officers were also seen examining the home's back yard.

A canvass of the neighbourhood failed to produce any leads.

Homicide detective Robert Mills later said a homeowner returning from a Christmas party discovered the man's body in his front yard.

"At that point he called 911," Mills said. "We came out, and due to the circumstances of finding a male with not appropriate clothing on for the weather conditions, it's deemed suspicious at that point."

The victim, believed to be in his 20s, was clad only in a shirt and jeans. His identity remains unknown.

"We don't know who this male is at this point and we're just asking if anybody has any information as to a missing person or somebody they haven't seen for a while to call our communications or Crime Stoppers with any information they might have."

Mills said he couldn't comment on whether there were obvious signs of trauma on the man's body.

On December 15th, Global Edmonton revealed that a Facebook memorial page had been set up for Melvin Hansen.

After an autopsy was performed the same day on the body found in the Killarney yard, police announced the death of 21-year-old Melvin Edward Hansen was a homicide.

Hansen's cause of death was withheld pending further investigation. Detectives were considering the possibility that the incident was drug-related.

Police did not indicate whether any suspects or persons of interest had been identified.

“They are following up some information they have received,” was all a spokesman said.

Speaking to the Edmonton Journal, Hansen's cousin said Melvin had a smile that could light up a room – read more »

"He loved my son so much. He was there for him no matter what," Nicole Jamerson said.

"I remember him saying he wanted to go back to school and get his education. I don't know what he wanted to take. He just wanted to be something. He wanted to have a family.

"He was such a good man."

Jamerson shared another personal loss with the Journal and said she hoped police will find Melvin's killer.

"I hope there is justice for him because my brother died two years ago and they haven't caught the person who did it.

"I hope the people who did this are caught. Nobody deserves this no matter what they do. Nobody deserves to be murdered."

The popular man was remembered on Facebook as a prominent player for the Queen Elizabeth Knights, a high school basketball team.

According to Jamerson, the night before his body was found Hansen had been out with some friends playing pool at Winston's Pub at 9016 132 Avenue.

The Edmonton Sun contacted Melvin's mother, Deana Jamerson, in Vancouver. She too longed for justice.

"I have no idea. I don't know, I don't know what happened. All I know is there should be justice here," she said.

Deana said her son was a good-hearted man.

"My son was very loving. He was a ladies man. He always worried about everybody else, and made sure everybody was happy.

"He phoned me every day to tell me he loved me," she said. "I'm kind of shocked."

Deana was troubled that police said Melvin's death may be drug-related.

"My son wasn't a gangster," she said. "He wasn't. He was Christian. He went to church."

Hansen was raised by his uncle, Pastor Richard Sanders of the Shiloh Baptist Church. In an ironic twist, Sanders was instrumental in bringing another killer to justice.

On October 22nd, 2005 Sara Easton was shot on a Kensington street moments after celebrating her 18th birthday at a neighbourhood pub.

Two days later, William Edward Wharry Jr. confessed to Sanders that he had shot Easton.

Sanders convinced Wharry to turn himself in to police who charged him with second-degree murder, using a firearm during the commission of an offence and possession of a restricted weapon.

Wharry was eventually convicted of manslaughter and the weapons offences and received a 12-year sentence. On appeal, the prison term was reduced by 12 months.

The funeral for Melvin Hansen was held at Shiloh Baptist Church, 10727 114 Street, on December 18th.

Vehicle of interest

On January 20th, 2009, at a media availability held at the Edmonton police Seized Vehicle Lot at 12230 124 Avenue, the lead investigator on the Hansen case addressed reporters.

Homicide detective Rob Mills said police recovered a 1995 White Dodge Neon with Melvin Hansen's blood in it at a southside hotel two weeks after his body was found in the front yard of a Delton-area home.

Distinguishing the common vehicle was tinted rear windows and a spoiler on the trunk.

The car was found in the parking lot of the Edmonton Best Western Cedar Park Inn at 5116 Gateway Boulevard.

Police believe Hansen was attacked by people inside the Neon at Winston's Pub at 9016 132 Avenue.

"We're asking for the public's assistance," Mills said.

"We believe the vehicle behind me pulled up to east side of the pub, the suspects got out of the vehicle, and approached our victim who was standing at the front door.

"The suspects chased our victim through some residential neighbourhoods to the location where we found him at 130th Avenue and 90th Street ... which is about directly two blocks south from the pub.

"He would have to have known at least one of them, or there would be no reason for him to run," Mills continued.

"There was blood evidence on the interior of this vehicle – that belonged to our victim Melvin Hansen.

"We're looking for anybody who would have seen this vehicle from December 11th to the early morning of December 12th, whether it was at the pub location or near the hotel.

"The public may be able to identify or tell us the number of people that were in this vehicle.

"They may have knowledge as to who may have been in the vehicle or where they may have gone once they parked this vehicle at the hotel."

There was no mention if surveillance cameras at the Best Western had captured any details.

Police have not said how Hansen died or what the motive behind his murder may have been.

Mills also would not say how Hansen's blood ended up in the car or if the DNA of anyone else was found inside the vehicle.

However, Mills did say investigators had identified "persons of interest."

The Neon was not reported stolen. Police spoke to the registered owner who cooperated with investigators and was not considered a suspect.

Additional images of the vehicle can be seen here.

A YouTube video of the Edmonton police media conference can be seen here.

With Melvin's murder back in the spotlight, media contacted family and those who knew him for their reaction to the police appeal – read more »

Those with information about the Neon, its occupants or any other details related to Hansen'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).

Before it was determined to be a homicide, Hansen's death recalled that of another man whose body was found in an alley in the Prince Charles neighbourhood.

On November 25th, 2009 EMS were called out when a bloodied man was discovered lying face up wearing only a T-shirt and jeans.

Police later ruled the death was non-criminal, citing that hypothermia sometimes caused people to shed clothing due to a mistaken perception of over-heating.

The Edmonton Police Service web site entry for Melvin Edward Hansen 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.
Mouseover for image credits.

deadmonton 2009 - melvin edward hansen