Police homicide investigators are probing a murder east of Innisfail after passing motorists on Highway 590 discovered a burning pick-up truck in a field. RCMP Staff Sgt.
Police homicide investigators are probing a murder east of Innisfail after passing motorists on Highway 590 discovered a burning pick-up truck in a field.
RCMP Staff Sgt. Ron Campbell, strategic communications officer at Edmonton's K Division, said a Ford F-350 truck was discovered at about 2:30 p.m. on May 15.
He said Innisfail RCMP and local firefighters went to the scene near the intersection of Highway 590 and RR 273, about nine kilometres east of town.
"The vehicle was totally destroyed," said Campbell, adding the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames when Mounties and firefighters arrived.
Campbell said a deceased male was found inside the vehicle. He said the remains of the deceased were taken to Calgary and an autopsy was performed by the Medical Examiner's Office.
"We can say it is a homicide but we don't want to say how he died just yet because it is early in the investigation and we are protecting the integrity of that investigation right now," said Campbell, adding the probe is being spearheaded by the RCMP's Major Crimes Unit from Calgary with assistance from the Innisfail RCMP detachment, RCMP Forensic Identification Section and the RCMP's Police Dog Services.
He said the blaze caused extensive damage to the deceased's remains and police are now focusing on determining his identity.
"It is challenging. We are going to try other means to identify this person," said Campbell, adding the vehicle was so damaged by the fire police can't determine its year or colour at this time. "As we don't have this fellow's identity we can't go backwards yet. We can't find out about personal history."
Campbell, whose office issued a press release on the murder late in the afternoon of May 16, said the burnt out vehicle was taken to the RCMP crime lab in Edmonton for additional forensic examination.
As of Friday evening (May 16), RCMP investigators were still at the crime scene conducting an extensive search and examination, as well as working with the Medical Examiner's Office to try to determine the identity of the deceased.
Anyone with information about this homicide is asked to contact Innisfail RCMP detachment at 403-227-3341, or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, or text: tttTIPS to 274637
