Homicide detectives have been leading a mysterious investigation in northeast Edmonton, where residents say a van left parked in the area was towed away earlier this week before a police tent was erected.
An extensive police investigation has been underway since Tuesday in the Hollick-Kenyon neighbourhood, in relation to an “ongoing missing persons investigation,” officers said.
In a release issued Thursday afternoon, police said there was evidence found in the vehicle which led investigators to “determine there were suspicious circumstances surrounding the missing persons investigation.” At that point, the homicide unit became involved.
Police said they were continuing to process the area around the van for further evidence. On Thursday afternoon, two large bags were carried out of the tent and taken away by police.
Several police vehicles were on scene in the area of 51 Street and 162 Avenue Wednesday night. The police setup included a large white tent, although it’s not known what was inside the tent.
One area resident told Global News police arrived in the area on Tuesday. On Thursday, a police spokesperson confirmed that officers were called Tuesday afternoon.
The tent was set up on 162 Avenue, behind a strip mall. Propane tanks and a generator could be seen placed outside the tent.
On Thursday, Edmonton police said the homicide section was investigating, as there were “suspicious circumstances surrounding this file.”
Area resident Jean-Jacque Guedam told Global News on Thursday that a red van had been parked where the tent was set up for “quite a long time” and that there had been something stuck on the door that looked like an orange paper.
Get breaking National news
Guedam said he had no idea who the vehicle belonged to, but said police had spoken to him.
“They just asked me if I know something about the car that was parked there,” he said. “I was there the day that they were towing the car—the day after they were building the tent.”
Watch below: Homicide detectives are involved in an investigation in northeast Edmonton, which police say is related to a missing persons case.
The uncertainty surrounding the vehicle and the police investigation has left Guedam uneasy.
“It makes the people feel not very confident in regards to what’s happening here in the neighbourhood,” he said. “It is really stressful to know that something like this could happen in our neighbourhood.”
In the update Thursday afternoon, police said the investigation is ongoing, adding no further information was currently available.
Possible link to missing Edmonton man
Global News went back into recent missing persons cases on the Edmonton police website and found one that mentions a vehicle similar to what neighbours reported seeing.
In November, Chad Stevenson, 41, was reported missing. He was last seen in the Cy Becker neighbourhood in northeast Edmonton. That is less than one kilometre from the current crime scene.
At the time, police believed he may have been driving a 2006 maroon Pontiac Montana van. That fits the desdription of a van that neighbour Karen Madsen told Global News she reported to 311 a few days ago.
“I’m really glad that I did do that call. I’m hoping others do it too, if you ever see a vehicle that’s been sitting for a while. Maybe just take a minute and call it in.”
Global News reached out to a member of Stevenson’s family who didn’t want to comment on the possible connection, but did say it was a difficult time for the family.
Police would not confirm whether the investigation was related to Stevenson’s disappearance.
- Woman in Canada less than 2 months found dead inside suitcase in Newfoundland
- Ball hockey referee left with fractured skull, jaw after removing player from game
- Boissonnault’s former business partner linked to woman detained in Dominican Republic cocaine bust
- Car theft finally decelerating in Canada after surge — a ‘positive sign’
Comments