Kyle Gayda, 27, was found dead on July 27th, 2011.
Gayda was Edmonton's 31st homicide victim of the year.
Case status is open and active.
victim identified |
embracing social media |
known to police
Around 2:00 p.m. on July 27th, 2011 a person or persons checking property about 500 metres northwest of the intersection of 156th Street and St. Albert Trail found something unusual: a severely charred 2010 Chevrolet Impala.
It looked suspicious as there were no signs of a fire in the surrounding trees and bush that may have caught the car.
Police were called. When they arrived, officers also found something else.
Inside the scorched vehicle were human remains.
An autopsy was conducted by the medical examiner's office and though they couldn't positively identify the person found, police had a pretty good idea of who it was and what had happened – and it wasn't an accident.
On July 29th, at a media availabilty in front of police headquarters, Det. Dan Jones broke the news of the find and announced that the death was a homicide – Edmonton's third in nine days.
The nature of the find had the veteran officer scrambling for words.
"I can say that the state of the car was probably the most significant burnt-out vehicle I've ever seen," Jones said.
"Basically there was nothing left of it."
Normally a 2010 Chevrolet Impala looked like this – see image »
"There's nothing that wasn't burnable left, if that makes sense. Like the tires and everything were totally burnt out."
Jones was slow to reveal details. It became apparent police were treading a fine line despite having deciding to go public with little in the way of factual information to offer.
"When we went in there it was an obvious significant fire and we believe – obviously – it's a homicide," Jones said.
The detective explained the difficulties the case presented.
"In these types of events when you have a burning, and the evidence gets destroyed like this, it puts us back and we're in a different stage," he said.
But Jones added that all was not lost.
"I can say that the scene has given us some understanding of what happened.
"Rarely do you see people getting rid of all the evidence," Jones said in a later interview.
"There's certain things – I can't really discuss what they are – but certain things at the scene made us make the determination that it is a homicide."
One report indicated the victim was killed inside the car before it was torched. Police didn't confirm this and they also didn't identify who the person was.
"The individual is known to police," was all Jones offered.
"The person we think this could be has an age, but we'll wait until the M.E. comes back to see what they say the approximate age is," he said, adding that there was evidence found at the scene that helped identify the man – see images »
Even after police had cleaned up the scene, media cameras were able to glean some idea of what investigators may have found.
Tempered glass has a melting point of about 650°C. That unmelted glass was found on the ground suggested the car's windows had been somehow broken out before the fire started.
Jones said investigators were waiting for dental records, DNA or anything else the medical examiner could use to identify the man.
Police also said cause of death was not being released at this stage of their investigation.
Jones would not rule out a drug or gang connection in the death, saying only that the gang unit had been notified and that a list of suspects had yet to been drawn up.
He did say the blaze was "absolutely" intentionally set with the victim inside the vehicle, and that the location of the blaze – on private property hidden from view – seemed chosen – read more »
The car was found on an abandoned farm now owned by a development company.
As Det. Jones said, the location was some distance from where activities could be observed.
The car was found in the trees between a pair of barns built at a right-angle to each other and the City Ford car dealership on 156th Street to the south.
Looking north from City Ford, the crime scene was some distance away.
Looking south from St. Albert Trail, just inside Edmonton city limits, the barns offered a shield.
Looking west from the scene, the newly-built Christcity Church was some distance away.
The car was found on a dirt road that comes south from the barns before heading east towards St. Albert Trail.
Police believed the vehicle could have been at the location for about two weeks before being discovered. They asked for public recall to help them narrow down the timeline.
"Potentially someone saw smoke or smelled it – or even saw the flames – and assumed it was a bush burn or something on that land and just didn't call it in," Jones said.
"Assistance from people coming forward and talking to us is huge and would assist our investigation greatly."
Almost as a sidebar to the story of the burned-out car, Jones was asked about Edmonton's 2011 sure-to-be-record-setting homicide rate.
"That's unfortunate – but we also went 28 days without having a murder. It's what it is," he said.
Leaving the impossible task of homicide prevention to others, Jones deftly confined his answer to describing his department's role.
"Our mandate is working active homicides – that's what we do," he said, curtly ending the line of inquiry.
Victim identified
On August 4th, 2011 police tentatively identified Edmonton's 31st homicide victim of the year as 27-year-old Kyle Gayda.
Gayda was originally from British Columbia but had been in Edmonton for several years.
The "tentative" identification indicated police were anxious to make progress in the case – read more »
"It is not 100 per cent confirmed, it is still a tentative ID," Det. Dan Jones said.
"Dental records, DNA and all that type of stuff takes time, and unfortunately when we're investigating things, time is of the essence," Jones said.
"So we are pushing this a little bit earlier before our full confirmation, which isn't normal. But our investigation at this time – we believe it is Kyle Gayda."
Jones said Gayda's family co-operated with police in the unusual move.
"The investigation at this stage makes us believe we are dealing with Mr. Gayda as the victim and it is also strong enough that the family supports us in releasing his name."
Gayda was described as Caucasian, approximately 5-feet 9-inches and 150 lbs.
Jones added that the medical examiner was also continuing to investigate, with cause of death yet to be determined.
Police said Gayda's body was burned beyond recognition. They couldn't say if he was dead before the fire started and wouldn't say where in the car he was found.
Detectives were continuing to establish a timeline for Gayda and again appealed for information.
"We know for sure he was last seen alive on the 14th of July," Jones said. "So between the 14th of July and the 27th of July is when we're looking for."
Gayda was not reported missing during the two weeks before his body was found.
Police also wanted to pin down the exact date of the fire.
"There should have been billowing smoke coming out of there for a certain period of time. If they saw that, if they saw anything in that area that made them think the police should know that, then they should call us," Jones said.
"People might think it is a simple, not-significant detail and that piece of the puzzle might be the piece that we are missing."
It wasn't known if police checked surveillance footage from neighbouring businesses.
When asked how Gayda was known to police they said it was "not in a significant way."
Embracing social media
Kyle Gayda's murder also marked a shift in Edmonton police strategy.
Long-comfortable with using traditional media, investigators now tried the new-to-them world of social media to get their message out with a made-for-web video – read more »
"One of the other things we've just done – it's a new technique that we're trying in our homicide section to try and generate some tips – we've done a social media release," Det. Dan Jones said.
"We've done a small video. That video has been posted on our EPS website.
"That video is hopefully going to be circulated to different people that are going to look at the different social-type medias," he added.
Note: as of late 2011, the video no longer resides on the Edmonton Police Service website, nor is there a page devoted to the crime.
Also, the entry on the EPS Facebook page cannot be linked to. Those interested are forced to scroll down for quite some time to find it.
One couldn't help but get a sense the homicide detective was treading tentatively as he waded into the web 2.0 pool.
"People that are looking at different social site media such as Facebook – that type of thing – it will get sent out and people will start to look at that and potentially generate tips from a different target group or audience group.
Still, it was a shrewd move for investigators.
"Some of the friends that this individual has that we've talked to are in a certain age category and that age category is more apt to go on the social media sites rather than watch the six o'clock news," Jones said.
The officer credited a fellow detective with the idea.
"It's something we've never done before. We are trying it for the first time," Jones said. "It's a new technique to gain some insight or investigative direction."
The video can be seen here on YouTube or here within this page.
What police called their "small" social media video got somewhat of a big reaction from traditional media who also road-tested the initiative – read more »
"Got a police tip? There's an app for that," Adrienne Pan quoted as the lead for CBC Edmonton's story about the new idea.
The broadcaster said the "news-style" YouTube video featured a "police detective turned TV reporter."
A CBC TV reporter then hit the street to investigate, tracking down a member of the police target group, questioning where she got her news.
"I just go to a general like CBC website for whatever news I'm looking for," the woman told Michael Dyck, guaranteeing her inclusion on the evening news.
CBC then asked a man, who seemed to know as much about the subject as Det. Jones, if utilising social media was a good idea.
"Absolutely, especially with the younger generation I'd say," he said. "I think they're using a lot of social networking sites. This is definitely a good medium for communicating the message."
The CBC concluded its story with, "If it works, it may just be the newest crime fighting tool in our city."
For their part, Global Edmonton enlisted a social media expert – along with some non-TV viewers – for their analysis.
"Homicide detectives are hoping YouTube hits will lead to tips," Laurel Clark quipped.
Would you pay attention to something like that, the Global reporter asked one woman.
"Probably," Darcy Alexis said. "It's easier than waking up earlier and watching it on the news. You can kinda watch it whenever you want."
Whether the problem of getting up earlier involved watching the morning news or supper-hour coverage wasn't explored.
Clark then solicited opinion from two gentleman at a transit centre.
"I go on YouTube everyday," one said.
"If you're trying to reach out to our age group, I guess the internet would be the best place to do it," Mitchell Mabugat said with seeming uncertainty (or perhaps veiled sarcasm).
It should perhaps be noted that for some under a certain age, the internet doesn't exist: their experience is instead a series of applications. For a large group of users, Facebook IS the internet – in addition to programs that run on portable devices such as smartphones and tablets. To them, the concept of the internet – the world wide web's backbone and delivery service – has all but disappeared.
For a more learned opinion, Global consulted the aptly-named Paul Messinger, a University of Alberta social media expert, who said that police use of social media could be a valuable tool.
"In one particular case it depends on if there were witnesses, if there are people who knew facts about the case," Messinger said.
"If there are, this [social media] improves the chances. I think it's an intersting use of the medium."
Strangely absent from all the rhetoric about web 2.0, blogs, Facebook and twitter was the usual favourite media twit, Grant MacEwan criminoligist Bill Pitt.
Police soon called their social media experiment a success.
The video received nearly 300 hits within 24 hours of launch and detectives said they received new and helpful information in the case.
"Having the post on Facebook and YouTube has definitely generated more tips that have come through," a police spokesman said.
Within five months of its release, the video boasted nearly 1,500 viewings.
On August 8th, 2011, media checked in with police to ask how the case was going.
"The investigation is moving along, which is good," Det. Jones said.
The officer also said that family members had chosen to keep a low profile in the investigation.
At last word, no suspects have been identified.
Those with information about the death of Kyle Gayda 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)
A confirmation message and unique code number will then be sent. Tipsters can respond by replying.
Known to police
When Edmonton police said Kyle Gayda was known to them, they were likely referring to the man's past run-ins with the law in Newfoundland, Calgary and Vancouver – read more »
According to the St. John’s Telegram, early on October 5th, 2008 Gayda confronted a man in an alleyway outside a downtown nightclub.
He held him by the throat against a brick wall with two hands and took his money and cigarettes. The victim was treated in hospital after being hit with a beer bottle.
Later in the day, Gayda visited his ex-girlfriend at her home when her new boyfriend was there – the same man Gayda had dealt with earlier in the alley. This time, Gayda threatened to kill him.
Gayda was arrested and charged with two counts of uttering threats, four counts of breaching court-ordered undertakings, and robbery with violence.
He was held in custody until his trial on January 30th, 2009. In court, Gayda pleaded guilty to the uttering charges and a lesser count of assault.
The Crown withdrew the robbery with violence charge and some of the breaches in exchange for Gayda's plea.
During sentencing arguments, the Crown asked for three or four months in prison, in addition to the three-and-a-half months Gayda had already served.
Gayda's defence lawyer asked for time served.
The judge brought out his jailhouse-math calculator and sentenced Gayda to seven months. Applying double-time credit for time served, Gayda was free to go.
When asked if he had anything to say, Gayda apologised for the incidents, and said he used his time in prison to reflect on his life. He also maintained that he never stole anything from his victim.
Gayda must have had some conditions still attached to him. In Calgary be came before a judge after breaching a probation order to stay away from alcohol.
Edmonton police homicide Det. Dan Jones also confirmed that Gayda had been in trouble with the law in Vancouver but he didn't provide details.
 |
Two Facebook memorial sites sprang up in connection with the slain man.
While heartfelt tributes were left at Kyle Gayda RIP, the second page was more speculative in nature.
Kyle Gayda - Jonathan Bacon - Gang Killings? Burnt Vehicles? seemed to want to tie the Edmonton death to others across Canada.
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.
