A Red Deer man is facing first-degree murder charges in connection to the deaths of two Indigenous women nearly a decade ago.
Gordon Alfred Rogers, 59, has been charged with two counts of first degree murders in the deaths of Violet Marie Heathen, 49, and Jeanette Jean Chef, 48, from the Onion Lake Cree Nation
Police made the announcement about the historical homicides at a special news conference on Thursday.
Given that these cases are now before the courts, the RCMP will not release any further details.
Police say Chief’s body was discovered on June 6, 2007 in a river near Lloydminster by a passerby.
The last known sighting of the 48-year-old woman was in Lloydminster on June 2. An autopsy confirmed her death was a homicide.
Heathen was last seen in Lloydminster on May 15, 2009. Her family reported her missing to the Onion Lake RCMP Detachment after not hearing from her for two weeks. Her remains were located in a rural area near Kitscoty by hunter on Nov. 7, 2009. Positive identification on the remains was obtained on Dec.22, 2009.
Police were able to connect the two cases after the evidence from extensive investigations.
Rogers was arrested in Edmonton on Tuesday.
Rogers is scheduled to make his first appearance in provincial court in Lloydminster on April 5.