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Two boys, aged six and three, were found dead on December 19th, 2010.

The boys were Edmonton's twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh homicide victims of the year.

Jason Bruce Cardinal, 31, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

charges laid | privacy concerns
first court appearance – victim identities revealed
contents of search warrant affidavit revealed | additional charges

Police continue to investigate Edmonton's 26th and 27th homicides of 2010 after a call came in from a Child and Family Services crisis unit at about 11:32 p.m. December 19th.

At first, investigators didn't say much other than that a person had been found dead inside a two-storey townhouse unit along Abbottsfield Road and that another person was taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital where he was treated for non life-threatening injuries.

"This is a serious investigation that we've started here," Acting Insp. Blair Edl said.

Homicide detectives were brought in to assist – standard practice in cases involving a "suspicious death" – which is what the matter had been termed at the time.

Investigators went door-to-door, rousing neighbours at about 2:00 a.m., to determine if anything was seen or heard. There was speculation that police were looking for others who may have been involved in whatever took place inside the suite.

It had yet to be revealed what initially brought the crisis unit to the home.

Later the next morning, police revealed that two small children had been found dead as the result of homicide, and that a 31-year-old adult male was in custody.

Police said the name of the suspect and any pending charges would be released after autopsies had been completed. Not revealed at the time was the relationship between the adult and the children.

Forensics staff remained at the home for the rest of the day – see images »

The bodies of the two children were removed at about 4:00 in the afternoon – see images »

While the police investigation continued, media interviewed area residents – read more »

A provincial Children and Youth Services spokesman indicated the children were "under our care" when they died. However, the minister for Alberta Children and Youth Services later distanced her department's connection to the matter – read more »

The children were in the care of their mother and weren't wards of the province. It was thought they were on a weekend visitation at their father's home.

Capital Region Housing Corporation confirmed the townhouse unit where the children were found was under their jurisdiction but a spokesman refused further comment.

Those who may have further 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.

Charges laid

On December 21st, Alberta Justice confirmed that two charges of first-degree murder had been laid against a 31-year-old man in connection with the deaths of two boys in an Abbottsfield townhouse.

Reports indicate the accused was the father of the boys. One child was six years old and while the other was to have his fourth birthday in the week after Christmas.

Initially absent from the story was the mother of the boys. It was later learned she had family come in from out of town to support her.

Edmonton police said the cause of death for each child was pending until the medical examiner received results of further testing.

Police also said the names of the deceased would not be released. The 31-year-old's relationship to the boys was not officially confirmed (see below).

The 31-year-old man was originally set to appear in court on Wednesday but the accused remained in the Royal Alexandra Hospital where he continued to be treated for injuries.

A Crown prosecutor said she did not know how serious the man's injuries were. The case was adjourned and was set to resume on January 5th, 2011.

But the day was not without a surprise.

Shortly after the accused man's matter had been handled, the mother of the two boys made her first public appearance.

Described as looking "tired and pale," the woman declined to speak with the media.

"I don't have anything to say," she said.

An Edmonton police spokesman later said the 31-year-old remains in hospital recovering from non life-threatening injuries he sustained the night of the incident.

The extent of the man's injuries or what caused them wasn't revealed, but the spokesman said the accused would be taken to the Edmonton Remand Centre once he recovers.

Privacy concerns

The issue of privacy shrouded the mystery behind the murder of the two boys – at first no one could be named due to provisions of the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act.

The setting seemed to square off the media against the provincial government in stories filed – read more »

However, on Thursday, a surprising decision was made to allow the media to name the father accused of killing his two children.

"I provide this consent as I am satisfied, based on the circumstances of this matter, that publication of the name of the accused may be necessary for the proper administration of justice," wrote Robert Hopkins, acting director of Child, Youth and Family Enhancement.

The decision came after CBC News and other outlets requested permission to name 31-year-old Jason Bruce Cardinal.

Hopkins said the consent did not apply to the names of the dead children.

Court documents obtained by the Edmonton Sun revealed that the two boys had a 13-year-old sister. It was believed she was not involved in the tragedy.

First court appearance – victim identities revealed

On January 5th, 2011, Jason Bruce Cardinal made his first court appearance in provincial court – and it was brief, barely allowing a courtroom artist time to size the man up.

Added security accompanied Cardinal as he slowly shuffled his way to the prisoners docket. Wearing handcuffs and leg shackles, he kept his eyes looking downward throughout the short proceeding.

Bearded, with his head shaved and his neck and arms covered in tattoos, Cardinal said nothing, leaving his lawyer to ask for an adjournment in the case in order to receive disclosure from the Crown's office.

CBC Edmonton said they learned that Cardinal had tried to take his own life before being arrested, leaving him hospitalised and causing him to miss his initial court date in December.

However, no injuries were visible when he appeared on January 5th but it did seem as if he was on some sort of sedative or medication, according to one observer.

Cardinal was taken back to the Edmonton Remand Centre where he was to be kept apart from other inmates.

The accused's next court appearance was set for February 8th, 2011, when he was expected to be represented by high-profile criminal defence lawyer Alex Pringle.

There were a handful of family members for both sides present in court. The mother and grandmother of the two boys, along with several family members, was on hand.

In addition, Cardinal had three supporters in court, some of whom teared up during the appearance.

All declined to speak to media after the proceedings, except the grandmother who described her family as very angry.

In an under-reported turn of events, assistant chief Crown prosecutor Allison Downey-Damato had a publication ban prohibiting identifying the names of the children rescinded. Only the Edmonton Sun published the names and an unblurred photograph of the two boys – read more »

Contents of search warrant affidavit revealed

On January 14th, 2011, media released contents of an affidavit filed to obtain a search warrant for an Abbottsfield Road home on December 19th, 2010.

Details included concerns that Alberta's Child and Family Services had about Jason Cardinal, and how police found the father with his boys – read more »

The documents were made public by CBC Edmonton and the Edmonton Journal.

The sworn affidavit, which contained information yet to proven in court, details the time between when Cardinal was granted primary custody of the two boys in 2008 and when police found them with towels twisted around their necks.

After Cardinal became the primary custodian, interim custody was given to the mother after concerns about his mental state arose. The document cited Cardinals' suicidal thoughts and his alleged poor treatment of the children.

On February 22nd, 2010, an apprehension order was put in place and the children were taken away from Cardinal by Child and Family Services. Apprehension orders are typically granted by a judge.

With the boys now in their mother's care, Cardinal was eventually allowed weekend unsupervised visits with them.

At around 2:30 p.m., December 19th, 2010, a family support worker charged with supervision of the children's transportation between parents went to the Abbotsfield townhouse to pick up the boys.

Knocks on the door went unanswered as did phone calls to the home. After a 30-minute wait, the support worker left a note in the door instructing Cardinal to contact him.

The support worker then informed a crisis unit social worker of the situation.

By 7 p.m., no one had heard from Cardinal. The children's mother expressed concern about her sons' safety.

A police officer and a social worker, both of the Edmonton Police Service Child at Risk Response Team (CARRT), went to the home. They found the door locked and, as before, knocks went unanswered.

While nothing appeared out of the ordinary, the note from the support worker was still wedged in the door's frame.

At 7:50 p.m., the police officer contacted the crisis unit social worker to start the ball rolling on an order to enter the home and apprehend the children. The order was granted at 10:47 p.m. by a justice of the peace.

Due to Cardinal's history, a social worker asked for police help at the residence at 11:30 p.m.

At midnight, two constables arrived and entered the locked house using a keypad code provided by a social worker.

The main floor was deserted. Police called out but no one answered.

Lights upstairs drew the officers to a second-floor hallway where they came across drips of blood leading to a bedroom.

On the bed were Cardinal and his two sons. A blanket was pulled up to their heads.

The affidavit stated the boys' skin was cold to the touch. Neither had a pulse. Each boy had a towel twisted around his neck and they appeared to have been strangled.

Cardinal was groggy, moaning and unresponsive. On his tattooed left forearm were two large deep cuts.

Emergency medical services arrived at the house at 12:22 a.m. and confirmed that the children were dead.

Cardinal was taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital where he started talking. What he said wasn't revealed.

As part of the investigation, police searched the home.

Several letters were found, including a pair labelled "What Innocence They Had Left" and another labelled "Final Demands." Numerous pills were also found in the home.

Media attempted to gather comment from several provincial departments about the matter but all declined.

Cardinal was scheduled to be back in court on February 8th, 2011.

Additional charges

Jason Bruce Cardinal made a brief court appearance on March 1st, 2011.

During the proceeding it was revealed that Cardinal was now facing fraud charges unrelated to the deaths of the two boys.

After a brief court appearance on March 15th, Cardinal was expected back in court on March 24th.

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.
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deadmonton 2010 - two boys