Edmonton police looking for serial killer
CTV.ca News Staff

Edmonton Police formally announced Friday that they are looking for a serial killer in the deaths of at least eight women involved in the sex trade.

"It is our belief that one person is responsible for more than one offence but not necessarily for all of these murders," the RCMP said in a statement.

Project KARE, an RCMP-led task force looking into the deaths, says it's offering a reward of up to $100,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the death.

The task force "strongly believes that a member of the public holds information that will assist in identifying who is responsible for these murders."

The police said they believe:

the suspect drives a truck, van, or a sport utility vehicle, and is comfortable driving in rural areas. The vehicle will be suitably maintained and likely has a significant amount of mileage. The vehicle may be used for work and outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, or farming.
the suspect may participate in outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, camping, etc.
the suspect may have periodically cleaned the interior and exterior of his vehicle, perhaps at times that are unusual for this particular individual.
the suspect likely has a past or present connection to the areas south of Edmonton, perhaps Leduc, Camrose, New Sarepta, or the surrounding communities. He may have lived or worked in those areas, has family or friends in the area, or has used the area for recreational purposes.
Experts from the RCMP's Behavioural Sciences Branch in Ottawa helped the task force develop the profile of the suspect.

Police noted that the profile includes a cooling-off period between murders, but concede that the time between killings is getting shorter.

The task force says it typically would not release a profile in a serial killer investigation. However, they say they believe there are people in the Edmonton area who know the offender and may suspect his involvement.

"Someone out there holds the key information for the successful resolution of these homicides. The offender is someone's neighbour, friend, brother or son," the RCMP said.

Since 1983, the bodies of almost two dozen bodies of prostitutes have been found in and around the Alberta capital.

Police say they are linking the serial killer to just the deaths since 1998. Eight prostitutes have been murdered since then.

The most recent discovery was in early May, when a body of a murdered sex-trade worker was found in a field in Sherwood Park, east of Edmonton. Police would not reveal the cause of death of the 33-year-old woman, identified as Ellie May Meyer.

The body was found by a farmer who was tilling a field a few kilometres from the site where the bodies of two other sex-trade workers, Monique Pitre and Melissa Munch, were found in January 2003.

A month before, the burned remains of Charlene Marie Gauld were found down a dirt road near Camrose. She was just shy of her 21st birthday.

The bodies of at least four other prostitutes have been dumped south and east of Edmonton in the past two years, usually in fields.

RCMP have admitted there could be a link between some of killings but have always been reticent to admit that they suspected a serial killer. Yet police have not managed to generate any strong leads in any of the deaths.

On Thursday, Alberta Justice Minister Ron Stevens said he is pushing for a new law so that all convicted johns would be obligated to provide a DNA sample.

He said the idea could help generate a list of possible suspects linked to the deaths.

Anyone with information is asked to contact:

Project KARE, Toll Free: 1-877-412-KARE (5273)
or locally: 495-KARE (5273)


S what do you think is a mass murderer cruising the streets of Edmonton killing prostitutes?

   

Hello to everyone, I am new to this site and I wanted to put up a link with info in the Edmonton, Alberta murders.

http://primetimecrime.com/Recent/murder ... Serial.htm

One killer may be behind AB sex trade deaths

After an extensive review, investigators believe that one person may be responsible for more than one of these cases," RCMP spokesman Cpl. Wayne Oakes said in a news release. The discovery of Quinney's body prompted police to call investigators from the special RCMP task force investigating the unsolved deaths. Project Kare is investigating about 79 cases of missing persons and homicides throughout the Prairies and Northwest Territories, some dating back as far as 20 years ago. (CTV) RELATED: Still no sign of missing woman, two years later Task force proves its worth in Edmonton murders In memory of the dead Prostitution Awareness and Action Foundation

   

Project KARE has issued a missing person alert for:

Corrie Ottenbreit

Maggie Lee Burke

Delores Dawn Brower



Bonnie Lynn Jack (Lovie), 37

March 2006 Police added the name Bonnie Lynn Jack to the list of victims. Jack, also known as Bonnie Lynn Loyie, 37, lived a high-risk lifestyle, including involvement in the Vancouver and Edmonton sex trade. Jack's body was found Tuesday by a couple walking near Township Road 542 and Range Road 225, south of Fort Saskatchewan. Latest victim was street prostitute Police identify body



Theresa Merrie Innes 36

Aug. 7, 2005 Theresa Merrie Innes was allegedly killed in High Level and her body stuffed into a hockey bag and taken to Fort Saskatchewan. The 36-year-old mother of two was last seen by officials in High Level on Aug. 7, 2005. She wasn't reported missing to Edmonton police until March 16. Thomas George Svekla has been charged with her murder. Victim a 'lot more than a prostitute' Victim missing 2 months Another sex worker slain





Sheri Lee Hitlz, 44

April 9, 2005 The badly beaten body of Sheri Lee Hiltz was found in a back yard in the 800 block of Surrey Ave, Kamloops. Pathologists used fingerprints to identify her. Kamloops Crime stoppers





Ellie May Meyer, 33

May 6, 2005 A farmer tilling his field is discovered her body just a few kilometres from where three city prostitutes have been found slain and dumped in Strathcona County just east of Highway 21 and north of Township Road 534. Dead woman worked in sex trade, murdered: police



Charlene Marie Gauld, 20

April 16, 2005 Charlene Gauld, a 20-year-old Edmonton prostitute whose body was found in an oilfield near Camrose over the weekend had been burned, RCMP said Monday. (CBC)





Samantha Tayleen Berg, 19

Jan. 25, 2005 The partially-clothed body of Samantha Berg, 19, was found frozen under snow in an industrial area parking lot on Jan. 25, 2005




Sharene Rae Oswald, 42

Sept. 2004 A positive identification has been made on the human remains discovered last month by local youths southeast of Airdrie. The skeletal remains of Sharene Rae Oswald, 42, - a Calgary resident originally from Ontario, who also went by the last names of Williamson, Elliott and Pearson – were discovered Feb. 27 in a wooded area two kilometres south of Yankee Valley Road near Range Road 290. RCMP identify human remains





Lynn Minia Jackson, 34

June 21, 2004 The woman's skeletal remains were found by local hikers Monday night in a coulee area below the steep Chickadee hiking trail, about seven kilometres northeast of Wetaskiwin, not too far from Forster Nurseries on Range Road 233. RCMP news release





Rachel Liz Quinney, 19

June 11, 2004 The body of Rachel Quinney, 19, was discovered by a man walking through a grove of trees south of Sherwood Park on the southwest corner of Township Road 540 and Range Road 224. Rachel worked in the sex trade.







Shana Ile LaBatte, 30

March 23, 2004 The body of Shana Ile LaBatte, age 30 years of Kamloops B.C. body was located at Mission Flats Municipal Park. Kamloops Crime stoppers Police seek suspect in 2004 murder





Denise (Melissa) Heather Hamill, 31

August 1, 2003 The Kamloops RCMP are able to confirm the identification of the decease female who was found in the North Thompson river at Kamloops. The female is identified as Denise Heather Hamill also known as Melissa Heather Hamill age 31 years, a resident of Kamloops.





Katie "Sylvia" Ballantyne, 40

July 7, 2003 The body of Sylvia Ballantyne was found in a farmer's field near Range Road 235 and Township Road 500 east of Leduc, about 20 km south of Edmonton.. She was last seen in Edmonton, April 27, and was reported missing a week later. Her body was too decomposed to provide a cause of death.





Debbie Darlene, 29

April 12, 2003 The skull of Debbie Darlene (Lake) was found near Micquelon Lake, approximately 70km southeast of Edmonton. A DNA match confirmed it was her August 28, 2003. RCMP searched the area at the time but were unable to find the rest of her body. Without a body, experts have been unable to determine how she died.





Melissa Munch, 20

Jan. 12, 2003 Melissa Munch's body was found in a field south of Highway 16, west of Range Road 220 in Strathcona County. Her body was frozen and the cause of death has never been released.





Monique Pitre, 30,

Jan. 8, 2003 Monique Pitre's body was spotted by a Fort Saskatchewan area farmer south of Township Road 540 and Range Road 222. Her body was frozen and the cause of death has not been released but there was trauma to her entire body.





Edna Bernard, 28

Sept. 23, 2002 The burned body of Edna Bernard is found in a field east of Leduc, near Rollyview Road and Range Road 245, north of Highway 623.





Kelly Dawn Reilly, 24

Jan. 27, 2001 The body of Kelly Dawn Reilly was found behind a gravel operation near secondary Highway 633 and Range Road 264 near Villeneuve, 25 km northwest of Edmonton.





Joyce Anne Hewitt, 22

Oct. 19, 1997 The body of Joyce Hewitt is found in Sherwood Park, near 17th Street and 89th Avenue. The circumstances of her death were not available.





Cara (Caralyn) Aubrey King, 22

Sept. 1, 1997 The body of Cara King was found in a canola field near Highway 214 and Highway 16, in Sherwood Park.





Jessica Cardinal, 24

June 14, 1997 The body of Jessica Cardinal is found in an alley behind a commercial building at 9325-111th Avenue. Edmonton. Her body is discovered behind a discarded shelving unit.





Joanne Ghostkeeper, 24

Dec. 25, 1996 Joanne Ghostkeeper is found strangled in her Edmonton apartment at 11925-34th Street East. Police have no suspect in her death.





Elaine Ross, 25

Feb. 11, 1993 The partially decomposed body of Elaine Ross is found stuffed under a bed in a motel room on 183rd Street near Stony Plain Road, Edmonton. Autopsy results were inconclusive and a cause of death is unknown.


Jennifer Janz, 16

Aug 1991 Janz's body was found in a shallow grave on Aug. 13, 1991, one month after she was reported missing.

Jennifer Joyes, 17

Joyes was reported missing Aug. 30, 1991. She was discovered murdered and buried in a shallow grave on Oct. 6, 1991, just two kilometres south of where Janz had been buried. Both had reportedly been attempting to escape life on the streets. RCMP probes 1991 slaying of Calgary prostitutes





Lorraine Wray, 46

Dec. 21, 1990 Lorraine Wray, a masseuse and mother of one, is found strangled in the bathroom of her Edmonton business, West End Studio, at 15526 Stony Plain Road. Several autopsies were performed, leading investigators to determine "manual strangulation" as the cause of death.





Mavis Mason, 29

Oct. 25, 1990 Mavis Mason is found stabbed to death on a rural road west of Edmonton.





Bernadette Lynda Ahenakew, 22

Oct. 25, 1989 Bernadette Ahenakew, the mother of three, is found in a ditch on a rural road near Sherwood Park. No cause of death is determined and police believe she was probably killed the day before she was found.





Georgette Flint, 20

Sept. 13, 1988 Georgette Flint, 20, is found dead in Elk Island National Park. No cause of death is determined.





Melodie Joy Riegel, 21

Sept. 21, 1986 The body of Melodie Joy Riegel is found on a hotel-room bed. She was last seen entering the hotel with a client.





Gail Gardinal, 21

1983 The skeletal remains of Gail Cardinal are found 10 kilometres south of Fort Saskatchewan. No cause was determined in her death.




Stolen Sisters
Sources:

Vancouver Eastside Missing Women

Missing/Murdered Native Women

Last link on the left





Edmonton's murdered women

   

Wonder if this guy is hunting on the Highway of tears as well... working a route from Prince rupert all the way to Edmonton... Trucker perhaps rail worker.... hmmm kinda interesting that it's highway 16 and areas around edmonton..