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Preshendra (Preshen) Pillay, 40, was found injured July 7th, 2009 and died the next day.

Pillay was Edmonton's seventeenth homicide victim of the year.

Sean Luther Reaugh, 30, was charged with second-degree murder, robbery, credit card fraud, and two breaches of probation.

Andrew Valente, 28, was charged with second-degree murder, robbery and credit card fraud.

EMS response time questioned | images of person of interest released
image of vehicle of interest released
arrest anounced | second arrest announced

It took police six weeks to confirm that the death of Preshendra Pillay was a homicide. Investigators made the announcement only after an arrest had been made in the case.

Late July 7th, 2009 officers responded to a report of an injured male laying in the front entry of an apartment building near 79th Avenue and 71st Street.

The injured but conscious 40-year-old man was taken to hospital where he died the next morning.

Investigators have determined that the man had been at the nearby Showgirls strip club at 7103 78 Avenue earlier in the evening. He left on foot between 10:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. and arrived at the apartment building about a block away soon after.

The medical examiner completed an autopsy on July 9th, but the man's identity and cause of death were withheld pending further investigation.

While several witnesses were located, police sought additional information about what happened during the man's short walk home.

It was thought a Co-op taxi was in the area at the time, and the driver was asked to contact authorities about what he or she may have seen.

Homicide detectives continue to lead the investigation, standard practice in cases of suspicious death.

According to the night club's entertainment manager, Showgirls only had about 17 patrons on July 7th – typical for that night of the week.

"Tuesday night is our quietest night," Paul Ballach said. "It's terrible Tuesdays. It's the worst days to keep busy."

Ballach noted nothing seemed out of the usual that night and stressed that whatever led to the man's death did not happen inside his club.

"It's a regrettable situation," he said, adding his staff have been trained to handle violent situations.

Ballach revealed that police had yet to update him on the investigation and that surveillance tapes from club's security cameras were made available to detectives.

"They haven't told us anything," he said.

Police also didn't keep building manager Suzanne Randahl in the loop, who said she saw forensics staff thoroughly combing the area between Showgirls and the building where the man was found.

Randahl said nothing had been reported regarding the incident that took place at her building. She noted it wasn't uncommon for intoxicated persons to frequent the area around the strip club, particularly on weekends.

"You get a few coming out thinking they're Clint Eastwood at 3 a.m.," she said.

The Edmonton Sun interviewed the dead man's family who identified him as 40-year-old Preshendra Pillay.

"Police have information but they are still trying to narrow it down," a relative who did not want to be named said.

"He only lives a few blocks away from that place and everyone knows him there."

The relative added Pillay liked to go to Showgirls to eat (prompting some to observe the experience was probably not unlike reading Playboy just for the articles).

Pillay was able to make his way home after allegedly being robbed of $20 and punched, the relative said police told the family. He suffered brain damage after the assault and died in hospital with family in attendance.

According to a published obituary, Pillay was born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa and lived most of his life in Sherwood Park.

The relative said Pillay's mother was still "in shock" after her son's death.

Ironically, Pillay had moved to the neighbourhood near Showgirls months earlier with his mother because he thought it would be safer than the Whyte Avenue area where they had been living previously.

A memorial for the man was held July 13th, 2009.

EMS response time questioned

Only July 17th, Metro Edmonton followed up on the case and spoke to relatives who were critical of the time it took for an ambulance to arrive.

While family members and building tenants comforted the man, it was 45 minutes before Pillay was transported to hospital.

"I kept saying to the operator we needed someone ASAP," a relative told Metro. "What took them so long? It makes me feel sick to my stomach."

A police spokesman said they were looking into their response times and suggested the original 911 call may not have been logged as high priority.

"Everyone should be treated as one, whether it's assault or murder," the relative said, adding she called authorities at 10:20 p.m. and EMS didn't arrive until after 11:00 p.m.

An Alberta Health Services spokesman wouldn't reveal how long it took EMS to get to Pillay, but said an average response time is about nine minutes. To those in need it may seem longer, the spokesman offered.

Pillay was apparently speaking coherently after the attack, but his injuries – a cracked skull – were fatal.

"The surgeon said they couldn't stop the bleeding," the relative said. "Everything is done, he died. We just don't want it to happen to someone else."

Police have not officially released Pillay's cause of death and their investigation continues.

Images of person of interest released

On July 21st, 2009 Edmonton police placed Pillay's file on their Unsolved Homicides web page and released images of a person of interest. Investigators said the man pictured was in the area at about the time Pillay sustained his injuries.

Police described the person 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.

"We have interviewed a number of individuals who were at the club that evening and to further the investigation into the suspicious death, we would like to identify and speak to this man who was known to be a patron at the club that night," homicide Det. Brian Robertson said in a news release.

Police also said they believe whatever happened to Pillay took place outside of the Showgirls club.

Image of vehicle of interest released

On July 23rd, 2009 police released an image of a vehicle of interest. Investigators believe the vehicle is associated with the male person of interest whose pictures were issued earlier.

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

Those with information about the matter 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).

Arrest anounced

On August 20th, 2009 police announced they charged 30-year-old Sean Luther Reaugh with second-degree murder, robbery, credit card fraud, and two breaches of probation.

Reaugh has been arrested two days earlier without incident.

The occasion marked the first time that police characterised Pillay's death as a homicide.

Detectives were continuing their investigation and were said to be in the process of identifying and locating other suspects that may have been involved in the circumstances leading up to Pillay's death.

Reaugh is not the man in person-of-interest photos released earlier.

"We're still in the process of identifying that person and locating him," a police spokesman said. "Some information did come in to our officers in terms of tips when the images were released, but it comes down to solid investigative work."

Investigators continue to withhold a cause of death pending further investigation. Pillay's family had earlier told media that he sustained head injuries consistent with a beating, and that he had been robbed of twenty dollars.

To say that Sean Reaugh was well known to police would be an understatement – read more »

Police have yet to reveal how they connected Reaugh to Pillay's death.

It was alleged Reaugh and Pillay were both at Showgirls on July 7th but there was no indication they spoke to each other inside.

Reaugh was set to appear in court to enter a plea on August 27th, 2009.

Second arrest announced

On September 14th, 2009 police announced they arrested and charged a second man in connection with the death of Preshendra Pillay.

Andrew Valente, 28, had been arrested a day earlier after getting off a plane at Toronto's Pearson Airport after returning from Mexico.

Valente faces charges of second-degree murder, robbery and credit card fraud. Canada-wide warrants had been out for his arrest.

At last word, Valente was still in Ontario awaiting transport back to Alberta.

During their investigation, homicide detectives received information that their second suspect in the case was in Mexico.

"From the beginning, we received exceptional co-operation from the staff at the gentlemen’s club and witnesses," homicide detective Carlos Cardoso said in a release.

"Each piece of information brought us to the point where charges could be laid."

A police spokesman said Valente and Reaugh were known each other, and that investigators were not looking for any other suspects.

The Edmonton & Northern Alberta Crime Stoppers web site entry for Preshendra Pillay 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 2009 - preshendra pillay