Police are investigating Red Deer’s second confirmed homicide of the year.
On Tuesday, Red Deer RCMP confirmed the man found dead in a residence in Red Deer was murdered.
He was identified as Curtis Leroy Rangen, 43, of Red Deer.
Late Friday afternoon, RCMP were called to a Red Deer residence after the man was found by a support worker making aids to daily living or welfare checks.
Police are releasing few details including the cause of death, the location and any suspects.
But neighbours, who did not want to be identified, said Rangen lived in the Potter’s Hands Housing apartment building at 61st Street and 58th Avenue in Riverside Meadows.
A neighbour who lived on the same first floor called Rangen’s death “upsetting and creepy” and “he didn’t deserve it.”
A woman who visited Rangen regularly said Rangen was “meek and mild” and “kept to himself.” The woman said support workers had tried to contact him over several days because he was not showing up for meetings.
William Cochran, a cook at Loaves and Fishes, said the community needs to step up and get involved so these incidents do not continue to happen.
The RCMP Calgary major crimes unit and the Red Deer general investigative section are investigating.
Red Deer recorded its first homicide on Jan. 1 when Lloyd Robert Sarson, 25, of no fixed address, was found dead as a result of gunshot wounds in a vehicle in an alley in Eastview. A Canada-wide warrant has been issued for a 17-year-old Manitoba boy.
On Jan. 13, Shawn Sattler, 34, of Red Deer, died in Eastview under suspicious circumstances. Police believe Sattler may have been in a physical altercation at a residence before the call to police. Police are not releasing any more information on the incident at this time.
Less than two years ago, Shaughn Lumley, 58, was murdered in his Potter’s Hands apartment on Dec. 25, 2011. Stephanie Lee Walroth, 44, of Red Deer, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and will be sentenced on May 9 in Red Deer provincial court.
crhyno@www.reddeeradvocate.com