Police have confirmed that the remains of a 55-year-old man were found on the morning of Jan. 7 in a Village of Boyle alley. Two days after the alley between 3rd and 4th Streets was cordoned off, Cpl.
Police have confirmed that the remains of a 55-year-old man were found on the morning of Jan. 7 in a Village of Boyle alley.
Two days after the alley between 3rd and 4th Streets was cordoned off, Cpl. Ronald Bumbry with Alberta RCMP media relations said investigations have concluded the death a non-suspicious sudden death.
“On Jan. 7 around 10:30 (a.m.), a local resident discovered a male’s body in an alley of the centre of town of Boyle,” he said. Bumbry added an autopsy concluded Jan. 9 and ruled out any possibility of the death being suspicious.
Bumbry said he could not release information about the man’s cause of death.
Over 48 hours passed before any information was released on the incident, despite repeated requests from members of the public and media. When asked about the delay, Bumbry said these types of investigations “are somewhat thorough” in regard to tracking events that occurred in the last 24 hours of the individual’s life.
“We do need to speak to several people, there’s possibly sometimes surveillance that’s involved, depending on the places the individual was at or located near,” he said. Bumbry added these actions take time, along with the autopsy.
“In regards to these types of things, very tragic incident obviously,” Bumbry said. “Our thoughts are obviously with the family and friends of the deceased at this time.”
One day after blocking the alley in Boyle, RCMP had not released information about why the area was cordoned off.
“It's a bit early yet,” said Sgt. Mike Kendall with the Major Crimes North, Serious Crimes Branch of the RCMP's ‘K' Division Jan. 8 shortly before the Advocate's deadline. “We really don't have anything to release at this point. And if we did release anything, it would kind of compromise what we're doing, so (you) may have to wait another 24 (hours), wait until tomorrow, unfortunately.”
Requests for more information from the Boyle RCMP detachment were denied. A representative of the detachment also said the staff sergeant was unavailable the morning of Jan. 8.
“We don't have any information right now, and media relations will be done at a later time,” the representative said. “I do understand, but right now we don't have any information. Like I say, a media release will be done at a later time, OK?”
Const. Roxanne Genereaux with the Lac La Biche detachment was on scene Jan. 8, and she said she could not provide any information.
Village of Boyle chief administrative officer Charlie Ashbey said he knew of two businesses that had been affected by the police block. He said employees at an office had to go through the cordoned-off area as they enter through the back door, and another business called him as they get deliveries through the back door in that alley.
Ashbey also said had spoken with an officer on the cordoned off scene, and she said they are still investigating, and the alley will remain closed until they are done.
“The investigation is going to take, well, as long as the investigation takes,” he said.
He added that he did not hear exactly when the scene was blocked, and the earliest mention he knows of is via a social media post made around 2 p.m. Jan. 7.
“There's all kinds of talk,” he said. “Usually, you go on the ‘K' Division's site, and they post bulletins, and there's nothing on there ... which is strange.”
“It's blatantly obvious that there's something,” Ashbey added.
In a later email, Ashbey said the alley was open as of noon Jan. 8. As of Jan. 9, RCMP had yet to send a press release or bulletin regarding the blocked area.
