Edmonton – RCMP announced this morning that Travis Edward Vader is now considered a suspect in the McCann missing person case.
Vader had been previously identified by police as a person of interest in the investigation, a status RCMP use to define anyone whom they believe may have information related to an investigation.
A suspect is defined as a person who is suspected of committing a crime.
St. Albert couple Lyle and Marie McCann were last seen on surveillance tape July 3 gassing up their motor home in St. Albert. Two days later, the motor home was found ablaze outside Edson. The couple was reported missing July 10 when they did not arrive in British Columbia to meet a family member. Vader was arrested July 19 outside Niton Junction on a number of criminal matters unrelated to the McCann case.
The RCMP consider the McCann’s disappearance to be the result of foul play; however, they are declining to disclose the details of the suspected foul play to preserve the integrity of the ongoing investigation.
Anyone with information with respect to this investigation is asked to contact the Edson Detachment at 780-723-8800, St. Albert Detachment at 780-458-4300 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.