WATCH ABOVE: RCMP are trying to determine what lead to the death of a 22-year-old woman who was found dead in Calmar. Vinesh Pratap reports.
EDMONTON – RCMP have identified the body found in Calmar, Alta. Monday evening as a 22-year-old Camrose woman.
Mackenzie Leah Harris was reported missing on August 1. She had dark hair, brown eyes, and was 5’6”. Harris was last heard from at the Aileen Faller Park in Leduc.
RCMP said late Tuesday night that family members have been told she was murdered.
Those who knew Harris are deeply disturbed. Savannah Wickins and Jennifer Kraus met Harris in passing. Wickins was friends with her on Facebook and showed Global News a cryptic message Harris wrote just before 5 a.m. Saturday:
“Someone please help. I’m in Leduc stranded. They are trying to hurt me. I have no shoes. Someone help.”
“That’s scary,” said Wickins, “that somebody would try to hurt her.”
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“Just thinking about somebody doing this… it honestly breaks my heart.”
RCMP have not said how Harris was found, but said “it would be key to know how she was dressed at the time she was last seen.”
Police said there’s nothing to indicate her death is connected to any historical homicides under investigation in the Rolly View rural area of Leduc County.
Harris – the mother of a little boy – was not known to police.
The RCMP is now asking for the public’s help in the homicide investigation. Anyone who may have seen or heard anything unusual, or may have surveillance video of the area of Aileen Faller Park in Leduc overnight between July 31 and August 1, is asked to contact the Leduc RCMP Detachment at 780-980-7200, Crime Stoppers or their nearest police service.
Leduc RCMP and K Division Major Crimes Unit remained on scene Tuesday. A large area around the remains was taped off.
The medical examiner has determined the cause of death to be a homicide but the RCMP won’t release any other details to protect the investigation.
One resident leaving the area Tuesday morning said police hadn’t shared much information with them.
“There was an incident here last night and they’re investigating it,” she said. “They didn’t say exactly what it was. They said we’d hear it on the news today.”
With files from Global’s Erika Tucker
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