Senior’s death being treated as homicide
City police are investigating as a homicide the death of a 67-year-old man found earlier this week in his Alberta Avenue seniors facility.
In a news release Friday, police identified the victim as Lawrence Semeniuk.
Police said the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the body were suspicious, but spokeswoman Clair Seyler said she could not elaborate.
“We’re still moving forward with the investigation,” Seyler said.
“Even though the medical examiner has not confirmed the manner of death to be a homicide, we are still going to treat it as one. Homicide section will maintain the lead in the investigation.”
Autopsy results won’t be released until toxicology tests come back, she said, adding a specific cause of death hasn’t yet been determined. Toxicology tests can take several months, sometimes up to six or even longer in some cases.
Detectives are asking anyone with information about Semeniuk’s activities in the days leading up to his death to contact police.
Officers responded to the Norwood Golden Manor, at 11715 95th St., around 10:45 a.m. Wednesday after an employee at the seniors housing facility discovered the body in a third-floor suite.
Karl Lunnitzer lives down the hall from Semeniuk, who he said had moved in about five months ago. Lunnitzer described the man as mobile and said they would sometimes say hello in the hallway.
He said he was told the building’s office manager phoned police about the body, which may have been in the suite for a few days before it was found.
Officers came to his door this week and “asked me whether I knew him and if I’ve seen anybody getting in and out,” Lunnitzer said, adding that police remained at the scene Friday.
Seyler said that while the building itself is not a hub for police activity, officers are active in the area around it.
Semeniuk wasn’t known to police, but was known to associate with people who have a criminal past, she added.
The building is managed by the Norwood Seniors Housing Association, which describes the facility on its website as being provincially owned.
Each of the eight buildings managed by the association is certified under the crime-free multi-housing program, which is offered by Edmonton police. It’s aimed at reducing the likelihood of crime happening in a residential building.
If confirmed as a homicide, Semeniuk’s death would be the 13th of the year in Edmonton.