A man suspected of shooting to death a 70-year-old rural Rimbey man has been found dead.
RCMP said investigators identified and located the suspected killer of farmer Paul Michaniuk on Saturday but found the man deceased.
Michaniuk had been found mortally wounded by passersby around 6:15 p.m. two days earlier on Medicine Lake Road, a few kilometres northwest of Rimbey.
“He was in the ditch and when police arrived (he was found to be) deceased. He had suffered a gunshot wound to the torso,” said RCMP K-Division spokesman Const. Jason Curtis.
Curtis couldn’t say if there were other wounds, however, the medical examiner determined the cause of death was from a single gunshot wound.
Red Deer RCMP’s Major Crimes unit was contacted and their investigation led them to a single male suspect, who was found dead at a residence in the Rimbey area.
“We are not seeking any further suspects and we have no cause to believe the second death (involved) any criminal actions,” said Curtis.
No further information was available on Sunday about the second man, whose name has not been released.
Curtis said investigators are still trying to determine the relationship between the two men.
Rimbey resident Bill Patey said he helped out as a driver for Paul Michaniuk and his wife Adele for the last two years, bringing them into town from the farm to go shopping and do their banking.
He heard what had happened from Adele, who phoned him to tell him her husband was dead.
“I didn’t hear anything until she phoned me the other day. She just said, ‘Paul’s dead,’ and she was crying. That’s it.
“It’s a real shock, really.”
The quiet couple had farmed in the area for some time, said Patey.
Paul Michaniuk had worked on the drilling rigs as a mechanic.
“Anybody around the neighbourhood who had any problems with farm tractors stuff like that would phone him up and say, hey, this is what I’ve got and he’d come over and get it fixed.”
The Michaniuks’ farm was about 40 km northwest of Rimbey.
Mayor Rick Pankiw said Michaniuk had attended his church, St. Margaret Catholic Church, but he had not seen him for some time.
“It’s a tragic thing that happened. We are a very small town and community and you’re not used to waking up and hearing on the radio or (seeing) in the paper that there’s been a homicide in your area.
“I’m sure we’ll find out more once the full investigation is done.”
Police are asking the public that if anyone has any information that might be helpful to call Red Deer Major Crimes Unit at 403-396-4047.
“We’re not seeking any other suspects but we would still like to know what had happened,” said Curtis.
pcowley@www.reddeeradvocate.com