07/16/2010
More tips on missing couple
A credible tip about an elusive SUV at the heart of the search for two St. Albert seniors wasnt acted on for a day, Mounties say.
And since the initial sighting of the light green Hyundai Tucson was reported Tuesday in Prince George, more tipsters have come forward.
We have received two more confirmed sightings of this vehicle in town, said Prince George RCMP spokesman Gary Godwin.
We feel they are credible.
The Prince George RCMP detachment received its first report July 13, indicating the Tucson was in the area last Tuesday.
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RCMP ignored tip about missing couple's SUV
Two people who told police they saw an SUV matching the description of a missing Alberta couple's vehicle in Prince George, B.C., say staff at the local RCMP detachment weren't interested in the information when they reported it Tuesday.
"They said, 'Well, that was last Thursday' and we came in on Tuesday and they said it was irrelevant because it was four days ago, five days ago," Diana Bjorklund told CBC Radio in Prince George.
Bjorklund went to the detachment with her father, Evert, to report seeing a vehicle matching the description of the Hyundai Tucson, belonging to Lyle and Marie McCann, who haven't been seen since they bought gas in their hometown of St. Albert, Alta., on July 3.
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Foul play suspected in case of missing couple
The RCMP now suspect foul play in the disappearance of a missing couple from St. Albert.
"There is foul play involved in here some how. There is criminal act already. Burning a motorhome is a criminal act in itself -- you put that together with the missing persons there something with foul play happening here," said Sgt. Patrick Webb with the RCMP.
The RCMP have released video footage of the missing couple on what is believed to be the day they were departing for a trip to B.C.
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Daughter frantic when parents no shows at airport
Trudy Holder knew something was wrong when her parents weren't waiting to meet her at the Abbotsford, B.C., airport.
"I was totally shocked that they weren't standing there to give us a hug," said Holder, 49.
The last time anyone saw Lyle McCann, 78 and his wife, Marie McCann, 77, was July 3 around 9: 30 a.m. in St. Albert, when they refuelled their RV. By July 10, Holden reported her parents missing after they didn't meet her and their nine-year-old granddaughter Morgan at the airport. They were supposed to head out together on a two-week vacation to Cultus Lake.
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RCMP respond to criticism for McCann investigation
RCMP say the investigation into the disappearance of a St. Albert couple will be reviewed for possible procedural mistakes, and new details into the investigation are expected to be released this afternoon.
Sgt. Patrick Webb says the RCMP are reviewing handling of evidence in the disappearance of Lyle McCann, 78 and his wife, Marie McCann, 77, last seen refueling their RV July 3 around 9: 30 a.m. in St. Albert. The review is automatic and is not a more formal step of internal investigation.
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Person of interest in McCann case identified
RCMP announced at a news conference on Friday that they're looking for Travis Edward Vader as a person of interest in the case of Lyle McCann, 78 and his wife, Marie McCann, 77, who have been missing since July 3, 2010.
"A person of interest might be a witness, it might be someone who becomes a suspect, it might be someone who becomes an accused. It is a person that we feel can provide us with information to further this investigation." said Assistant Commissioner Peter Hourihan said at the news conference, adding that Vader became a person of interest in the last 24 hours.
Vader is described by police as dangerous, and they say they are trying to locate him.
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Missing couples SUV found near Edson, Alta.
The RCMP said Friday they have found an SUV belonging to an Alberta couple who were last seen on July 3 and they are hunting for a man with a long criminal record.
The SUV was found in an area near Highway 16 and Range Road 144, about 30 kilometres east of Edson, Alta.
The scene is close to the Minnow Lake campground where the missing couple's burned motorhome was found July 5.
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RCMP announce two new leads in missing couple case
Mounties say they have two new leads in the case of an elderly Alberta couple who vanished during a road trip to the Rockies 13 days ago.
Not only do police have a "person of interest" in the disappearance of 78-year-old Lyle McCann and his 77-year-old wife Marie, but they have also found the couple's Hyundai SUV, which had been missing since July 3.
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Man sought in missing couple case 'crazy'
Acquaintances of Travis Edward Vader - the person of interest in the case of the missing St. Albert couple - are confirming RCMP warnings of Vader's dangerous past.
"I can tell you he's crazy. He's not the one you'd want to meet in a dark alley, or anywhere really. He has always been like that," said a woman from Edson who dealt with Vader's Oilfield company and who asked to remain anonymous.
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07/17/2010
Father of man sought in missing couple case warns of violence
The father of the man wanted for questioning in the disappearance of a St. Albert couple is warning residents in his community not to try to apprehend his son.
If anybody ever tried to corner his son, Travis Vader, they'd probably be attacked, Ed Vader told a group of 50 people Friday night at a MacKay, Alta. community meeting. Vader led the meeting that had been previously scheduled to discuss an increase in crime in the area.
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Edmonton police suspect foul play in elderly couples disappearance
Edmonton police said Friday they now suspect foul play in the disappearance of an elderly Alberta couple, and disclosed they have identified a "person of interest."
They also revealed they had found the couple's missing SUV, which has been the subject of an intensive search.
Police are looking for Travis Edward Vader, 38, in connection with the disappearance of Lyle McCann, 78, and his wife Marie, 77. At a news conference Friday in Edmonton, police warned the public not to approach Vader, who they described as six-foot-two and about 220 pounds, with hazel eyes.
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RCMP scour area where couples SUV found
An RCMP forensics team combed an area west of Edmonton on Saturday where the SUV of a missing Alberta couple was found.
The SUV belonging to Lyle McCann, 78, and Marie McCann, 77, was discovered Friday.
Investigators are looking for Travis Edward Vader, 38, described as a person of interest in the McCanns' disappearance and possibly armed and dangerous.
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Residents fearful as police probe McCann case
Several residents in the Niton Junction area report seeing the man identified as a person of interest in the disappearance of a St. Albert couple as recently as last Tuesday.
A number of people who live in the area told CTV News they recall seeing Travis Vader driving a light green SUV around the community earlier this week.
Alberta RCMP want to speak with the 38-year-old, who they describe as a violent man with a history of drug use, as part of their investigation into the McCann case. Lyle and Marie McCann haven't been seen since July 3rd when they left their home for a vacation in southern B.C.
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7/19/2010
2 arrests made in McCann disappearance
RCMP in Alberta say they have arrested a second man along with Travis Vader, whom they describe as a person of interest in the disappearance of Lyle and Marie McCann.
Vader, 38, is now in custody at the Edson, Alta., detachment on outstanding warrants, police said. He was to be interviewed about the disappearance of the couple, who were travelling from Alberta to B.C. in a motorhome pulling an SUV.
The second man was arrested Monday morning with Vader at a home in Niton Junction, about 150 kilometres west of Edmonton. Police did not release his name or any pending charges. He was being questioned Monday afternoon, they said.
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Travis Edward Vader Arrested on Outstanding Warrants
In the early morning of July 19, 2010, the Edmonton RCMP Emergency Response Team with assistance from the Edmonton City Police Tactical Unit and the Fugitive Apprehension Sheriff Support Team (FASST) arrested Travis Edward Vader on outstanding warrants without incident at a rural residence near Ninton Junction. Travis Vader is currently in custody on the outstanding warrants and will be interviewed concerning the McCann missing persons case. The location of Travis Vader's arrest will be the subject of our continuing investigation.
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St. Albert neighbors worry for couple 'very much in love'
Long before they disappeared somewhere between St. Albert and Chilliwack, B.C., Lyle and Marie McCann were famous in their own world, one of a handful of close couples in a quiet crescent, known for their immaculate lawn and their habit of stopping by to say a friendly hello.
"They were very, very much in love," said Norm Muffitt, a neighbour of nearly 40 years. "They would go for walks hand-in-hand at their age and he would call her 'darling,' which was pretty old-fashioned."
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Relief in Alberta town after Vader arrested
Niton Junction-area residents are expressing relief after police arrested Travis Edward Vader -- a person of interest in the disappearance of St. Albert seniors Lyle and Marie McCann.
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7/20/2010
Vader remains in custody, police continue to investigate
The RCMP continue to investigate and question who they say is a person of interest in the disappearance of Lyle and Marie McCann of St. Albert. Investigators focused on a rural home where Travis Edward Vader was arrested Monday.
Vader was expected to make his first appearance in court Tuesday morning, but his lawyer appeared instead.
Vader, along with an unnamed man, was arrested Monday following an early morning raid at a rural residence near Niton Junction. The unnamed man has since been released from custody and has not been charged. Police have not released the individual's name.
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McCann family optimistic after Vader arrest
Lyle and Marie McCann's granddaughter says her family believes they are one step closer to finding them.
Nicole Walshe says her father, Bret McCann, received a phone call from the RCMP regarding Travis Edward Vader's arrest, while he was sleeping.
"He got a phone call at two in the morning," said Walshe. "[RCMP] just saying they had Vader in custody in Edson detachment."
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Vader's lawyer quits
A defence lawyer has withdrawn as the legal representative for the man Alberta RCMP describe as a person of interest in the disappearance of Lyle and Marie Ann McCann.
Travis Vader, who was arrested Monday morning, has a number of outstanding warrants, including three charges of possession of stolen property, legal issues unrelated to the McCann case.
On Tuesday, Brad Thomlinson, Vader's lawyer on those charges, asked provincial court Judge Donald Norheim to allow him to officially withdraw from all matters relating to Vader.
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Vader remanded, second male released
Travis Edward Vader, the person of interest in the disappearance of Lyle and Marie McCann, has been remanded in custody until his next appearance in court July 27 on matters unrelated to the McCann investigation. Vaders lawyer appeared for him in Edson court this morning on those matters.
Vader was arrested Monday morning along with an unidentified male. That man has been released from custody and no charges were made against the individual. RCMP are still conducting an investigation at the arrest scene.
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