UPDATE: First degree murder charge laid in connection with death of Shannon Collins

EDMONTON- First degree murder charges have been laid in connection with the death of a woman in 2008.

In June 2008, RCMP were called to a rural property located in the Belvedere Heights Subdivision in Strathcona County, after human remains were found on both the property and in a nearby wooded area.

The remains were identified as those of 29-year-old Shannon Collins.

Collins was last seen in December 2007. She was known to lead a high-risk lifestyle and wasn’t reported missing by her family until September 2008.

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Thirty-nine-year-old Shawn Lee Wruck, of Kelowna, has now been charged with one count of first degree murder in Collins’ death.

Superintendent Gary Steinke – Officer in Charge of the Strathcona County RCMP- says the investigation presented numerous challenges over the years and he’s pleased a charge has been laid.

“Once we found out who our victim was, some six months after the fact, we were able to focus our investigation much more quickly. And again, we were able to take our investigation as far as we could for periods of time, but we never give up on these cases,” Steinke said Friday. “This is another example where hard work and dedication and long hours resulted in a successful outcome.”

Steinke says RCMP have contacted Collins’ family members, and they’re pleased a charge has finally been laid.

“I know the family’s very happy. Many hours we spent with them, telling them to keep hope.”

RCMP say Wruck, who once lived in Edmonton, was arrested in Kelowna Thursday.

Saturday morning RCMP said Wruck had been remanded in custody in Alberta. He is scheduled to appear in court in Edmonton Monday, April 8.