UPDATE: On Oct. 26, 2022, the RCMP issued a news release saying Joseph was found and arrested earlier in the day in Millet, Alta. They identified the suspect who was already arrested as 49-year-old Stanley Victor Howse and said he has been remanded into custody on a charge of first-degree murder. Joseph is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 27 and Howse is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 1.
The daughter of a man killed in Wetaskiwin, Alta., is remembering her father, Brian Dupe, as a man with a big heart.
Wetaskiwin RCMP said one man is arrested and they’ve deployed several resources to find another suspect after Dupe’s body was found on an “extremely remote oil field lease site” near Alder Flats on Oct. 22.
Dupe had been reported missing on Oct. 20 and hadn’t been seen for about a week. The Alberta major crimes unit was called in and with tips from the public, remains believed to be Dupe were found about 90 minutes southwest of Edmonton on Oct. 22. After an autopsy, the remains were confirmed to be that of Dupe.
Police have now obtained an arrest warrant for Cashtin Lee Joseph, 27, for first-degree murder. Joseph was last seen in Wetaskiwin on Oct. 24 driving a blue 2013 Dodge Ram pickup with Alberta license plate BYK-4577.
Officers have arrested a second suspect. Charges against him are pending.
Cpl. Troy Savinkoff said he believes Dupe and Joseph knew each other. Dupe had been accessing social services in Wetaskiwin around the time of his death.
According to Dawn McIsaac, Dupe’s daughter, he lived with a lot of pain, but his heart was big.
“One of the last times we video chatted he had a sweater on and I said “Oh Dad, nice sweater! Jordan – his oldest grandson – would love it,” McIsaac said from her home in Nova Scotia.
“Couple weeks later, there was a package on my doorstep addressed to Jordan. My dad literally took the shirt off his back and gave it to his grandson just because I said he would love it,” said McIsaac.
McIsaac said her dad was homeless towards the end of his life and he could have used the sweater he sent across the country.
“He was so selfless and full of nothing but love. He mattered so much and he was taken from us.”
Savinkoff said the RCMP is putting as many resources as it can into finding the accused.
“It’s very important that if anybody sees him, don’t approach him. He does have the ability to harm you and we do believe he’s dangerous,” said Savinkoff.
RCMP is asking anyone with information on the investigation to contact the Wetaskiwin detachment at 780-312-7200. Those looking to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at http://www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.