ABERDEEN HOUSE - Future of notorious Aberdeen house unclear after owner passes away
The family of Billy Jussila says the future of the his Aberdeen Street residence is not settled, but there is a certainly a better picture ahead for the home that twice been seized by police in the last 12 months.
Jussila, 72, was found dead on the morning of July 28, reportedly of a drug overdose at the home that sits near the intersection of the Fourth Ave. business block.
It had been frequently visited over the years by authorities, which twice fenced the house in hopes of quelling drug activity.
Bob Jussila, the man’s brother, holds a caveat on the property due to a clause in his mother’s will, but has said that estrangement between the two men prevented a sale.
He now believes that his brother’s will leaves to property to another relative, but he is confident the house will either be renovated or sold, but certainly cleaned up.
“It could hardly be worse than it was,” said Bob, who lives in Langley, B.C.
“It will be eventually resolved, but we’re not sure how. At this point (the family) has only discussed funeral arrangements.”
Right now, however, Bob Jusilla said he has begun the legal process to move tenants out, and discussed the matter with the Alberta Sheriffs office.
That agency had moved twice to take temporary possession of the residence in hopes of quelling criminal activity.
In the six months between the two orders, however, police responded to eight calls to the address, including two alleged overdoses.
In the neighbourhood, the news of Jussila’s death brought a sense that the property changing hands would mean change for the better, but also mixed emotions.
One nearby resident said it would discourage a bad crowd from congregating.
Another said the situation as a whole was “sad.”
“I’m pleased things will change but I’m just sorry that it had to end like this for him,” said one Fifth Street resident. “I knew him. I liked him. He was a nice man.”
Inspector Mike Latourneau, of the Alberta Sheriffs, told the News that court ordered conditions will remain in place on the property until his office is confident the issues have been resolved.
“It appears as thought things are moving in the right direction,” he said.
Another relative of Jussilas told the News on Monday that while the issues caused great embarrassment for the family, its painful to lose a family member.
Bob Jusilla, 82, still works as a real estate agent in Langley, B.C., where he moved decades ago.
The pair’s mother, Martha, also sold real estate in Medicine Hat through the 1960s to augment the family’s farm income, then as a widow until the late 1980s. Also known for a wide array of volunteer work, Martha lived at the home, with Billy as her caretaker, until shortly before her death in 2013 at age 104.
He was the main beneficiary of the estate, but on condition that if farm land near Manyberries or the home were ever sold out of the family that the proceeds would be split between the brothers.
In May, Billy told the News that discord between the two men and his conscious prevented him from selling.
Bob, too, said the brothers were estranged, but that it would be best for all, including Billy, if the home was sold for Billy could live “a calmer life” elsewhere.
“All I want is to live in peace here in this house," Billy told a News reporter in May. “If I was just left alone by everyone I would be very happy."