Alberta RCMP have charged two men in connection with the murder of a local dentist, whose body was discovered following a house fire in St. Albert in February.
Global News spoke to neighbours who said their father noticed a garage door at the home had been wide open for hours, and smelled smoke – calling it in as suspicious.
Firefighters responded to the home on Keystone Crescent on Feb. 19, putting an interior fire out quickly.
They then found the body of 59-year-old Mai Diab, who has been identified as a local dentist. The RCMP major crimes unit was called in.
Investigators said they came to believe that Diab was targeted specifically for financial gain.
An online profile says she worked at Windermere Pediatric Dentistry. When contacted by Global News, a voicemail said the business is closed for an undetermined amount of time and all appointments have been cancelled.
Diab’s neighbours in St. Albert said she was quiet and kept to herself.
Thanks to help from members of the public and businesses in the community, RCMP said they were able to quickly identify possible suspects.
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On March 9, officers arrested Edmonton resident Mouhamad Fadi Orfahly, 44, and charged him with first-degree murder.
Global News went to his home and spoke to his wife, Alsaka Amini.
She said they knew Diab, as she was the aunt of their friend. Both families are from Syria, and moved to Canada years ago.
Amini described Mai as a nice person, who became their child’s dentist.
She said her family had no conflict with Diab and she doesn’t know why her husband has been arrested. She’s hired a lawyer for him.
“I’m pretty sure he’s innocent. And I’m pretty sure he would never do it,” Amini told Global News.
On March 12, a second suspect, Mahmoud Ali Abdallah Mansour, 43, was arrested in Toronto.
He has been charged with indignity to human remains and being an accessory to murder after the fact. Mansour has been brought back to Alberta.
Amini said she does not know the accused.
Both men are being held in custody pending future court appearances.
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