The RCMP are now investigating the homicide of a 56-year-old man whose SUV was found north of Westlock Jan. 30.
Randy Lopushinsky has not been seen or heard from since Jan. 23 and his 2007 Ford Escape was recovered north west of Westlock one week later.
On Feb. 13, the RCMP issued a statement that the Major Crimes Unit, which had taken over the investigation from the Redwater RCMP, had determined Lopushinsky was the victim of homicide. They did not specify if a body had been found.
RCMP Sgt. Jack Poitras said Major Crimes was not divulge any further information about the case.
Poitras said the RCMP want to hear from anyone who spoke to Lopushinsky or seen him around the date of his disappearance.
“We’re trying to establish if he disappeared (the day of Jan. 23) or after that or prior to that … That would shed some light on when he was last seen and where he was last seen and what he was doing,” he said.
There is no indication where Lopushinsky lived, though he was known to frequent the Westlock and Redwater areas.
“Major Crimes wants to make sure … that there isn’t something out there that we should know that we don’t know, and make sure the investigation is going in the right direction,” Poitras added.
The RCMP is asking anyone with information on this case to call their local police or the Redwater RCMP at 780-942-3600.
They may also contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or report information online at www.tipsubmit.com.
