Suspicious death at Calgary motel investigated as homicide, man in custody

The Calgary police homicide unit is investigating the death of a woman at a northwest Calgary motel Friday.

Police said at about 7:10 a.m. they were called to the Red Carpet Inn at 4635 16 Ave. N.W. for a report of a suspicious death.

Calgary police Staff Sgt. Martin Schiavetta told reporters police found a woman in her 40s dead in one of the rooms.

One man was taken into custody. Police would not say as of noon Friday whether charges would be laid.

Police said the suspect and victim knew each other, but the nature of their relationship is still under investigation.

“Due to the injuries and the information that we received, we’re investigating that death as a homicide,” Schiavetta said.

Police spent most of Friday interviewing people staying at the hotel.

Catherine McVeigh said she was a friend of the victim. She said they were both clients at the Calgary Drop-In Centre and would occasionally stay at the motel.

“It’s an opportunity to get out of the shelter.”

McVeigh said the victim was in her early 30s.

McVeigh said she’s known the victim for three months and everything seemed fine when they saw each other on Thursday

“I’m shocked. She’s a really nice girl,” she said. “She just came here a few months back. She just came to the shelter. She was planning on going home. Not sure why she didn’t.”

An autopsy has been scheduled for Dec. 24.