deadmonton 2009 - july crime report

At about 7:45 p.m. July 7th, 2009 a man spotted what appeared to be a human left hand in the bushes of a back yard near 120th Street and 103rd Avenue in the Oliver neighbourhood.

Insp. Teri Uhryn cautioned media that the found flesh was in an advanced state of decomposition and it was premature to say if it was human or animal.

Police called in a forensics expert to examine the find. The hand was later taken to the medical examiner's office for further analysis.

"I kinda looked in there and I seen these bones ... it looked like a hand. I thought it was a beaver paw or something," finder Darrelle Delorme said.

"I had my theories there so I phoned the police."

It took more than an hour before police arrived. Delorme cooled his heels not knowing what else might be hidden in the bushes.

On July 8th police announced that the remains found were not human and that they had concluded their investigation.

Medical investigator Ted Pretty cleared up part of the mystery and identified the paw as coming from a bear.

"I kind of thought that’s what it might be," Delorme concurred.

Pretty said once bear paws decompose they can easily be mistaken for human hands, especially if the claws are cut off.

"They’re eerily similar. It’s a common mistake," he said. "Sometimes people make jewelry out of the claws and discard the paw."

There was no word on what became of the rest of the bear.

Investigators said the man pictured below was in the area at about the time Pillay sustained his injuries.

He was described as a Caucasian male, 25 to 30 years of age, average build with short dark hair. On the night in question he was wearing a black jacket with white stripes, white t-shirt with a black design, blue jeans, and black and white runners.

Investigators also released an image of a vehicle they believe was associated with the person of interest.

The vehicle is either a Ford or Mazda small-sized truck, light blue or green in colour, and is missing the tailgate.

For more about the case, visit the Preshendra Pillay page.

Those with information about the matter were asked to contact police at the phone numbers, web sites and message services listed below on this page.

28-year-old Michael James Birch, who stands 5-feet 7-inches (170 cm), weighs 141 lbs (64 kg) and has brown hair and hazel eyes, is a wanted man.

What helps to set him apart are numerous tattoos: fish bones on his right foot, bones on his right calf, a dragon on his chest, a gargoyle and jester on his left upper arm and a full sleeve on his right arm.

Those with information about Michael James Birch were asked to contact police at the phone numbers, web sites and message services listed below on this page.

Raymond Frederick Gibbons is wanted by Edmonton police after he failed to return to a halfway house on November 12th, 2008.

He had been serving a two-and-a-half year sentence for two counts of criminal flight, break & enter, possession of stolen property, and failure to comply with recognizance.

Gibbons was described as 37 years old (born August 2nd, 1972), standing 5-feet 6-inches (168 cm), weight ranging from 251 lbs to 295 lbs (134 kg). He has brown hair and green eyes.

His appearance has changed somewhat since police first started looking for him in December 2008.

His tattoos are numerous and include a bulldog (or leopard or lion head) on his left arm, a pitbull on his left shoulder, a heart with the name Lisa in it on his chest, Chinese writing on his upper right arm, marijuana leaf on his right forearm, the word Friends on the left side of neck and the word Forgotten on the right side.

Some of his tattoos can be seen here.

Gibbons has a total of 43 convictions which include break & enter, theft and possession of stolen property, failure to comply with a probation order, being unlawfully at large, trafficking in a controlled substance, failure to appear, two counts of obstructing a police officer, failure to comply with a recognizance, and four counts of criminal flight.

His current Canada-wide warrant is for apprehension and suspension of parole.

Those with information about Raymond Frederick Gibbons were asked to contact police at the phone numbers, web sites and message services listed below on this page.

Conrad Brian Johnson was serving a life sentence for second-degree murder, uttering threats, assaulting a peace officer, and assault causing bodily harm.

On July 16th, 2009 – while on day parole – Johnson vanished from authorities while residing at a community correctional facility in Edmonton.

Johnson, born April 18th, 1980, was described as being 5-feet 8-inches (173 cm), 160 - 165 lbs (75 kg), with black hair and brown eyes.

His tattoos include a gun, dollar sign, face and skull on his left arm; the words "In loving memory of FM EB RIP" on his chest; praying hands with a rosary, CJB, and the words "Forgive me" with a tombstone on his right arm; and the words "Trapped," "Overlord," "JRK," and skyscrapers with four men with guns on his upper torso.

Johnson now faces a Canada-wide warrant for apprehension & suspension of his parole.

Those with information about Conrad Brian Johnson were asked to contact police at the phone numbers, web sites and message services listed below on this page.