EDMONTON – Homicide investigators were called to a cemetery in south Edmonton after two bodies were found in a vehicle there about 8 a.m. Tuesday.
Police blocked traffic around the Rosehill Cemetery at 13951 Ellerslie Road.
Det. Kevin Schindelier said the deaths are considered suspicious.
A man who works in the area said he called police after seeing a truck parked in the cemetery about 7 a.m.
The man, who did not want to give his name, said the vehicle caught his attention because it had its lights on and may have been running.
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“It wasn’t normal, right?” he said. “We haven’t seen vehicles around here.”
He described the vehicle as a black truck, but said he didn’t get close to it.
Officers would only say Tuesday morning they were in the process of containing the area.
Father Greg Faryna, chancellor of Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton, said police called him about 9:30 a.m. to say officers they would be gathering evidence in the cemetery Tuesday and probably Wednesday. No burials were scheduled at the multi-denominational cemetery run by the Ukrainian Catholic Church.
Rosehill Cemetery opened about a decade ago on about 24 hectares, only a small portion of which has been developed, Faryna said. There is normally not much traffic in the area, he said. At least one cemetery gate is always left open for visitors. Both gates have remained open recently because of construction going on nearby, Faryna said.
“The land is always open for people to pay their respects and I guess that means it is open to other uses as well,” he said. “We certainly do pass our prayers on for those that have lost their lives and for all those who have lost their lives this past year in Edmonton … It’s a sad tragedy that, unfortunately, the city is undergoing such violence this year.”
Police spokeswoman Lisa Sobchyshyn said investigators hope public tips will help officers piece together what happened.
“If somebody has information, if they saw or heard anything unusual at that location, they need to call us,” she said.
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