Tips sought in ‘violent’ death of senior in central Edmonton; missing truck found in Calgary – Edmonton
Editor’s Note: The death was previously thought to be the city’s first recorded homicide of 2023, but police later said he died on December 27, 2022.
An Edmonton senior was dead at his central Edmonton home for five days before he was discovered, police said, and homicide detectives are seeking the public’s help to solve the crime.
Ronald Bell, 70, was found dead January 1 in a bungalow at 106 Street north of 107 Avenue in the Central McDougall neighborhood.
Police were called around 1pm on New Year’s Day to reports of a sudden death at the home.
“An extinguished but unreported fire was found at the residence, along with an active water leak,” EPS Homicide Det. Jared Buhler said Thursday afternoon during a news conference outside the downtown home.
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He said homicide detectives were contacted about the nature of Bell’s apparent injuries and the crime scene.
“Based on our crime scene investigation and autopsy, I can say with certainty that a very violent event occurred.
“There was a fight. A kind of violent confrontation.”
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An autopsy on Wednesday found the manner of death to be homicide, but for investigative reasons the cause of death is currently being withheld.
Investigators now need help identifying other tenants and visitors to the home where his truck has disappeared since the day he died.
The victim’s black 2011 GMC Sierra truck was last seen on video exiting the alley between 106 Street and 107 Street and onto 107 Avenue at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 27, 2022 drove west.
Edmonton murder victim Ronald Bell, 70, owned this black 2011 GMC Sierra truck, Alberta license plate 77N 728, which was last driven westbound on 107 Avenue on Tuesday, December 27, 2022 at approximately 4:30 p.m. Supplied by Edmonton Police Service
Bell last communicated with friends at noon that day, Bühler said.
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“We suspect that Mr. Bell was already being murdered at his home when this vehicle was observed traveling westbound on 107 Avenue.”
He is believed to have been killed sometime between 12:30 p.m. when the truck was spotted four hours later.
Given it took five days for the death to be discovered, police said during an update Thursday afternoon that the truck could be anywhere.
Read more: 4 deaths in violent crime series in Edmonton over New Year’s weekend
Just hours after that press conference in Edmonton, the truck was found in southern Alberta.
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An update Thursday night from EPS said the GMC pickup truck was found unoccupied around 4:20 p.m. in southeast Calgary and sporting a stolen Spruce Grove license plate.
EPS homicide detectives are still looking for information about the truck and its whereabouts since it was driven away from Bell’s home nine days ago.
Edmonton murder victim Ronald Bell, 70, owned this black 2011 GMC Sierra truck, Alberta license plate 77N 728, which was last driven westbound on 107 Avenue on Tuesday, December 27, 2022 at approximately 4:30 p.m. Supplied by Edmonton Police Service
According to police, Bell was the main occupant of the home and rented space to other tenants. Other people also came over the holidays, either to see him or the other residents.
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Investigators hope to speak to anyone who stayed at or visited Bell’s home (10714 106 St.) that Tuesday or in the days before and after.
“While our investigation has determined the whereabouts of some individuals associated with the residence during this time, others have yet to be located,” Buehler said.
“We are asking that those who were living or visiting Mr. Bell’s home at the time and who we have not spoken to, please contact police immediately.”
“What these people know and may have seen leading up to Mr Bell’s death is critical to our investigation and we also want to confirm their wellbeing.”
1:21 AM Homicide detectives seek answers in the ‘violent’ death of a senior in central Edmonton
In addition, detectives are looking for conversations with local residents or anyone who was inside the home and noticed activity outside or behind the home between last Tuesday and Sunday.
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The home is right next to a Husky gas station on 107 Avenue, which police say has heavy traffic.
“People may have come to refuel, buy groceries at the supermarket, and may have walked or driven past this address during that period.”
Everything that was observed in the house during these five days is important for the investigation, Bühler said.
“We are interested in any activity front or back during this time – particularly anyone who may have moved property from the home.”
Buhler said the condition of the home’s interior suggested items may have been dumped in the days after the death.
“We have a pretty good sense of what happened in the alley, so we’re more worried about what happened here on the street.”
Edmonton Police Department at the scene of a suspicious death near 107 Avenue and 106 Street in downtown Edmonton, January 1, 2023.
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Anyone with information is encouraged to call the EPS at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a cell phone.
Anonymous information may also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.
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