Calgary police have issued a Canada-wide arrest for a man in connection with the suspicious death of woman in her 20s found in Marlborough Park on Sunday morning.
Homicide investigators were called to investigate after the body was found in the 1000 block of Maitland Drive N.E. just before 9:30 a.m.
Abderrahmane “Adam” Bettahar, 21, is wanted for first-degree murder.
Staff Sgt. Colin Chisholm said Monday that investigators believe the homicide happened in the house where the woman’s body was found and that Bettahar was “associated to that residence.”
“We believe this was planned and deliberate,” Chisholm said.
He said police don’t believe anyone else was involved in the woman’s death.
WATCH: The full press conference from Calgary Police Staff Sgt. Colin Chisholm after police issued a warrant for Abderrahmane “Adam” Bettahar in relation to a suspicious death.
Police would not speak about the relationship between Bettahar and the victim, who has not yet been formally identified by the medical examiner.
Police said Bettahar may be dangerous and should not be approached. They ask anyone who sees him or his vehicle — believed to be a 2004 dark blue Ford Explorer with the Alberta licence plate BZH 5688 — to contact 911 immediately.
Neighbours that spoke with Global News on Sunday said the body was found in the backyard of a home.
One neighbour, who did not want his last name given, said his home security camera recorded suspicious vehicles in the alleyway in the early morning hours. He said police were reviewing his security footage.
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“It’s mostly a family neighbourhood here,” Sam said.
“So we don’t know if they just dumped a body here or if the body was in the house.”
Yamna Hamud lives next door to the house where the body was found and told Global News a neighbour came knocking on her door at about 9 a.m. telling her there was a body in the back of the neighbouring home, then they called 911.
“I was scared,” Hamud said. “This area is good, we never see those kinds of things.”
Police said in a press release Sunday night they do not believe it was a random attack.
An autopsy on the woman’s body is scheduled for Monday.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 403-266-1234 or to contact Crime Stoppers.
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