City police rule three suspicious deaths were homicides

On one of the final days of the year, Edmonton police confirmed three suspicious deaths in 2019 are now being treated as homicides, bringing the city’s yearly total to 27.

Spokeswoman Carolin Maran confirmed the November deaths of Franklin Hudson, 72, and Rebecca Hunter, 35, are homicides. The December death of Breianna Schamber has also been ruled a killing. All three cases were previously ruled as suspicious while further testing was conducted.

Hudson was found dead in his home near 99 avenue and 106 street on Nov. 12 during a check on welfare. An autopsy was completed on Nov. 14. Officers want to speak to anyone with information on his activities between Nov. 6 to 12.

Hunter was killed outside a residence near 133 Avenue and 140 Street on Nov. 13. The following week her family held a candlelit vigil for her outside the residence.

“I’m really angry about what happened. I’m really angry that I have to even stand here, but I have to do it for my sister,” Hunter’s sister Robin Buglar told Postmedia during the vigil. “She was amazing, she was strong … she always put everybody else first before herself. If someone didn’t have a coat on their back she would give them a coat and have nothing for herself.”

Buglar said the vigil, filled with songs, drumming and a smudge, showed just how much support Hunter, a mother of three, had.

Schamber was found the first week of December inside a residence near 35 Avenue and 107 Street. Neighbours of the home said it was a problem home in the neighbourhood and they were not surprised to see a police presence there.

“It’s not very surprising,” said neighbour Sandi Harpham. “Sometimes there’s screaming going on the front sidewalk when they arrive or whatever. You know you just get the vibe … It was just there was enough going on and it accumulates over the years.”

A cause of death was not released for any of the cases.

Homicide counts kept by Postmedia and the police vary by one because the police do not include officer-caused deaths as homicides.

On Jan. 3 Devlin Neyando was shot and killed by officers in a standoff. Police later said he was armed with knives.

If the number of homicides remains 27 through the final days of the year, it will be one of the lowest since 2010 and 2009, which both came in at 27.

“I think we gotta be careful not to think that one year we have 40, then you’re down to 25, that you’ve accomplished anything … Those things can flare up and they can also go down,” said police Chief Dale Mcfee in a recent year-end interview.

To date, there have been 11 charges laid in the 27 deaths. While the number is slightly below the near 60-per-cent average of homicides where suspects have been charged over the past few years, Mcfee said he believes they will all eventually be solved.