A 32-year-old man has been charged in relation to a historical homicide in Edmonton that dates back to 2013.
On June 5, 2013, Ivan Stamp was found dead in a wooded area behind a synagogue in the area of 68 Avenue and 170 Street in the west end.
Police said he was last seen by his family on June 1, 2013.
At the time, the medical examiner confirmed the 31-year-died of blunt force trauma. His death was ruled a homicide.
Despite conducting numerous interviews and exploring various investigative avenues, the case was left unsolved. It was eventually transferred to the Edmonton Police Service’s historical crimes section as a cold case. It was reopened in 2021, according to police.
Police said additional evidence was discovered that led them to a suspect.
“A team of investigators from historical crimes section and investigative support services vigorously pursued this investigation to gather additional evidence,” Staff Sgt. James Vanderland said in a news release Friday morning.
“It’s important to be able to bring those individuals responsible for such heinous crimes to justice. I personally worked as a task investigator on this file back in 2013, so I’m hopeful this arrest will bring some level of comfort to Mr. Stamp’s loved ones after all of these years.”
Stamp’s sister spoke to Global News on Friday and said she felt relieved to hear someone had been charged in connection with the death.
“My brother really deserves justice,” Chantell Stamp said. “I”m overwhelmed and happy and really grateful that somebody actually took the time (to keep working on the case).”
Chantell said when her brother died, she remembers how devastated his nieces and nephews were.
“Kids loved him,” she said. “He never had a chance to have his own children and that’s what’s sad.
“He was just a good person. I just loved his company… We all loved him.”
Chantell said she is grateful that she was able to tell Ivan she loved him the last time she saw him before he died and that he told her the same.
“I feel like I got to say my piece before he was gone,” she said. “It’s a good memory.”
Edward Steven Robinson, 32, is charged with second-degree murder.
–With files from Phil Heidenreich, Global News