eric olsen › deadmonton 2007 › deadmonton › edmonton

Eric Olsen, 20, was beaten on May 27th, 2007. He succumbed to severe brain injuries four days later after he was taken off life support.

Olsen was the Edmonton surrounding area's fourth homicide victim of the year.

Danny Michael Friedrick, 18, Charles Montana George-Maze, 18, Colin Peter Bibaud, 19, Joel Luke Machmer, 19, Murrray Haydey, 19, and Cody Trautman, 21, were charged with second-degree murder. Friedrick was also charged with aggravated assault; Trautman was also charged with common assault.

Daniel Robin Furey, 23, and Tristan Anthony Beyer, 19, were charged with aggravated assault.

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may 27th, 2007 - an 18th birthday party
may 31st, 2007 - assault becomes murder
june 1st, 2007 - pleas for calm
june 2nd & 3rd, 2007 - a peaceful weekend
june 4th, 2007 - seven men charged
june 6th, 2007 - five men appear in court; eighth person charged
june 8th, 2007 - a subdued funeral
june 15th, 2007 - six accused get bail

During the early hours of May 27th, 2007 RCMP were called to check on a weekend-long house party northwest of Stony Plain.

Several Dartmoor Meadows subdivision residents had complained of a noisy gathering that attracted between 100 and 200 people in connection with an 18th birthday party.

When RCMP arrived they found an unconscious male at the scene. He was transported to an Edmonton Hospital and was listed in serious condition suffering massive head injuries.

A second male, also injured at the party, had gone for medical treatment for a serious eye injury – the result of having taken a bottle to the face.

Even though at the time police were dealing with what they thought was an assault case, an intensive effort was made to gather forensic evidence.

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May 31st, 2007

Four days after the party, the family of the first victim made the decision to withdraw life support.

20-year-old Eric Olsen then died of his injuries, and as a result the Stony Plain RCMP detachment was now conducting a homicide investigation. (Initially, at the request of the family, Olsen's name was withheld and police only indicated he was from the local area).

"There have been some arrests," RCMP Cpl. Al Fraser said. "No charges have been laid yet and more arrests are expected."

In a news release, RCMP made the rare request of encouraging the public, and those close to the investigation, to "remain calm and allow the police time to complete their investigation."

"Any acts of violence in retaliation for this incident will be dealt according to the law. Police are also relying on parents to talk to their kids about their involvement and to discourage them from further violence," read the statement.

Cpl. Fraser underscored the message in an interview with Global Television.

"A lot of people who may have known the suspects, a lot of people who may have known the victims."

"So because of that police are asking everyone to remain calm out there."

"There was some hundreds of people that may have been in that area are asking for calm."

"Allow the police to conduct the investigation and let's not retaliate in any way, shape or form to try and bring justice on themselves."

630 CHED radio had reported that rumours were circulating the attack was in response to an earlier incident between two rival groups.

Police added they were preparing a "risk assessment" but declined to elaborate. Whether the incident was gang-related was not confirmed.

It was reported the man with the eye injury, Nathan Trelenberg, was released from hospital on May 31st.

Through the media, details emerged about events that led to the assault on Eric Olsen.

Teens who were at the party told the Edmonton Sun that the 20-year-old was beaten off a roof with a two-by-four or similar weapon, then suffered a further beating after he fell to the ground. 630 CHED reported he had fallen head first.

A 19-year-old woman told the Sun that Olsen had been attacked because a more than a year-long dispute recently flared up again, and that a group of his enemies showed up looking for him.

"Eric went running and hid on top of the roof of one of the neighbours' houses. They saw him with a golf club and they all told him to get down," she said. "He wouldn't, so they got up on the roof."

A fight ensued with people on the roof hitting Olsen with logs, golf clubs and batons, she said.

"Then Eric fell off the roof and a swarm of kids from the party came and started kicking him in the head. Everybody was screaming. It was horrible, it all happened so fast."

630 CHED also reported a teenaged girl who came to Olsen's aid was hit with a golf club and had rocks thrown at her.

Ironically, Olsen only came by the party to pick up a friend.

One teen said the gathering was to celebrate a local boy’s 18th birthday and that it had been a low-key affair.

“It wasn’t out of hand or anything – his parents were there and everyone was drinking around a fire. It didn’t feel threatening at all.”

Debbie Roberts said the gathering turned rowdy around 11:30 p.m.

“There was popping noises and lots of yelling and screaming. My dogs were just freaked,” said the woman who lived across a field from the house.

“Around 2 that night, we got a call not to come back to the party,” said a girl who had earlier left the celebration.

Witnesses who spoke with reporters weren't clear what motivated the attack, and speculation remained it may have been linked to a fight between two groups a few nights earlier.

Rumours swirled among area young people that retaliation was planned for the Farmers Days parade in Stony Plain.

In e-mails received by 630 CHED, teens said they expected more violence and didn't feel safe, not even at school.

A girl in Grade 11 asked: "When will this end? When will enough be enough? My friends and I are scared to walk alone in Stony for the fear of getting jumped. There's a chance we might be next. Why isn't this being stopped now? Why are the cops waiting?"

A devasted father joined police in urging for calm.

“Retaliation won’t bring Eric back and he would not approve of it. He would not want to see anyone get hurt,” said Grant Olsen*.

“It scares me that things could escalate to this level. At some point it needs to stop. I know Eric would not want that. This is bad enough. It certainly doesn't need to get worse."

Grant said his son, a first-year apprentice welder, had no shortage of friends.

“He was a fun-loving, outgoing kid. He really took his friends seriously. We’re all devastated by his passing.”

Eric also left his mother Gail, a twin sister and a younger brother.

*The father's first name was also reported as Greg.

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June 1st, 2007

Working almost at odds with a police request that asked everyone to exercise calm in the matter of Eric Olsen's death, the electronic media descended on the small town west of Edmonton.

RCMP Cpl. Al Fraser again urged restraint during Stony Plain's upcoming Farmers Days fair, especially to persons closely involved.

"They all have friends and family and we understand they are loyal to those."

"However, we're asking cooler heads prevail here. Allow the police to carry out their investigation."

"Police have the investigation well in hand so we're asking everyone please remain calm."

"It's going to be a great weekend out there; this is an annual activity that they have with the rodeo and that sort of thing."

"No good is going to come from any actions on the part of anyone with regard to this incident."

"Anyone else being harmed or violence of any nature or anything of that nature is not going to change the events of last weekend."

"This is a tragic situation as it is. Let's not make it a bigger incident than it already is."

A heightened police presence in the town of nearly 13,000 was obvious. As a number of teens gathered in a local park, they were met with almost an equal number of RCMP officers.

TV cameras captured the anxiety of many of the murdered man's friends and high school students who would normally would have looked forward to the summer break.

Justin Matiejewski spoke of seeing his friend attacked and how urban crime has descended upon the once-sleepy community.

"Losing one friend is the worst thing you could ever go through."

"Seeing him beat to death in front of you is just the worst thing you could ever go through and I hope that nobody ever sees that again."

"But you can't promise nothing in this town anymore. I'm almost scared that he's not even close to first or last. I'm very scared with that."

"This town is going right down to any other big city. There's been murders and it's just going to escalate."

Tension brought about by the shocking crime prompted Eric's father Grant to make a public plea through the media as the RCMP looked on.

"This event has been very devastating to Eric's family and to his friends. He's gone ... he's not coming back."

"It is my expectation that anybody who considered Eric a friend that they respect his wishes and not get involved in any kind of retaliation or upsetting behaviour that would dishonour his memory."

Edmonton's CTV and Global stations spoke to some who attended the house party and witnessed the attack.

Friends said Eric was jumped at the party held at the house on the left and then ran to a second house (seen on the right) to escape his assailants.

There he jumped onto the roof seeking safety. Evidence of a struggle can been seen in damage to the eavestrough ...

... in broken glass in a window and broken siding on the house.

Word of revenge to take place during the upcoming Farmers Days events had young people concerned to the point of not attending. Several expressed their fears to media cameras.

"I've heard lots of people – that something's going to happen at Farmers Days," said Kayla Claerhout, a Grade 12 student.

"But I've heard there's going to be cops there too, so I dunno. My parents don't want me to go."

Alyssa Lalonde, another Grade 12 student, said attacks between teens have become more frequent and more brutal.

"People really don't get along anymore and they just make up stupid rumours to fight somebody."

"They're bringing nuks into the schools and those pool balls. People don't even want to go out – like they're fearing for their lives."

Evan O'Brien spoke of what he knew of the attack on Eric.

"No one tried to help him or anything 'cause everyone was afraid there were going to get hurt or something."

"I know that one guy that got that eye injury – he was trying to help him. He got bottled."

The fear of violence connected to the agricultural fair was extended by some.

"Half of the people that I've talked to they've said not to go out at all this summer," said Jamie Brocho.

"Now we're not going to parties and stuff – it's too dangerous," added Jamie's friend.

Concerning the investigation, police said they had a few more people to talk to and that charges in connection with Eric Olsen's death would soon be laid. They also said Olsen's death was not gang-related.

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June 2nd & June 3rd, 2007

No incidents of violence during the weekend-long Farmers Days event was reported.

RCMP made good on their promise to be seen in force, and whether their presence, Grant Olsen's plea or collective common sense made the difference, the agricultural fair was reported to a peaceful affair held in near record-breaking sunny weather.

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June 4th, 2007

Stony Plain RCMP reported they had charged seven people in connection with the death of Eric Olsen.

Danny Michael Friedrick, 18, Charles Montana George-Maze, 18, Colin Peter Bibaud, 19, Joel Luke Machmer, 19, and Darwin Murrray Haydey, 19, were charged with second-degree murder.

Friedrick was also charged with aggravated assault on Nathan Trelenberg, the man who suffered the eye injury.

Daniel Robin Furey, 23, and Tristan Anthony Beyer, 19, were charged with aggravated assault.

Furey was set to appear in Stony Plain Provincial Court June 20th, 2007.

The other six were to appear in Stony Plain Provincial Court June 6th, 2007.

Grant Olsen said he knew some of the accused through his son.

Police said they were continuing to investigate the incident and more arrests were expected. Police are also continuing to look into all aspects of any threat made in connection with the Olsen investigation.

The RCMP indicated that there were no reported incidents of retaliation during the weekend in Stony Plain. Cpl. Al Fraser reiterated that police do not believe the killing was gang related.

In the shadow of Olsen's death, the Edmonton Journal ran a story profiling key members of a recently formed victims group. It can read be on the Why Edmonton? - Citizens' Rights Group Forms page.

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June 6th, 2007

The five men first charged in connection with the death of Eric Olsen made an appearance in a Stony Plain court by way of a video link from the Edmonton Remand Centre.

Wearing dark blue prison jump suits, the five accused were seen huddled shoulder-to-shoulder in a tiny room. Little was heard from them other than the confirmation of their names.

The five reserved their pleas and the case was put over to June 20th. A hearing to decide on bail applications was set for June 15th in Edmonton in a Court of Queen's Bench if space was available.

Just prior to the hearing, Stony Plain RCMP announced that Cody Trautman, 21, had also been charged with second-degree murder in Olsen's death. Trautman was also charged with common assault in the matter of Nathan Trelenberg.

Trautman did not make an appearance with his five co-accused by video as he had only been arrested the day before. His lawyer represented him during the brief hearing.

Several people who were at the fateful house party were also in attendance at the hearing.

"We lost one of our best friends," a 16-year-old girl told reporters gathered outside court.

"There's been talk about people trying to get revenge, but I think they're realising it's stupid," said a girl who was both a friend of Olsen and the men accused.

In addition to the first court appearance of those accused of Eric Olsen's murder, the drama of the day was heightened by an appearance by the mother of the other victim of the events of May 27th.

Samantha Trelenberg, whose son Nathan suffered a severe eye injury stemming from being attacked with a bottle, faced media cameras to describe the events surrounding his assault.

"There was people that showed up there that weren't supposed to be there – Nathan wanted them to leave."

A fight broke out and Nathan ran out into the darkness, seeking safety in the shelter of nearby bushes.

"He got away, he made the phone call for help and those people got to help him. So he came out of the bushes where he was hiding and he tried to get to a car to get away."

"He got hit – he doesn't know who hit him – hit him in the side of the face when he got up."

"Somebody we don't even know pulled him out of the ditch and took him to the hospital."

"From what the doctors have said he has an 80% chance still of losing his eyesight – he actually gets to keep his eye because the retina was okay."

"It will be three months before we know whether or not it will heal and not cataract over."

“He's very upset. This is one of his friends that didn't make it. He's very emotionally upset.”

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June 8th, 2007

The funeral for Eric Olsen was chiefly a private affair.

A gathering of over 150 came to celebrate Olsen's life.

Friends of the young man stood shoulder-to-shoulder across the front of the Stony Plain Parkland Funeral Chapel shielding family members from the view of media cameras camped out across the street.

“It's been rough,” said one friend, one of just a few who chose to speak to reporters.

“We didn't lose a friend. We didn't lose a family member. What we lost was a piece of our hearts,” said friend Tony Fountin in his eulogy, describing Olsen as a caring friend who was full of life.

Eric's father, Grant, chose not speak at the ceremony. His prepared statement was read instead by Fountin.

The father recounted his son's “extraordinary” talent for baseball, and spoke of the close relationship he enjoyed with his twin sister, Kristen, and younger brother, Steven.

In his words to those who had come to pay respects to the young man, Rev. Hugh Bayne pleaded for the end of violence by asking there be no retaliation directed toward Olsen's attackers.

Bayne paralleled Olsen's death, which he termed an “execution,” to the mob-led crucifixion of Jesus Christ. He urged the crowd to follow the example set by Christ and mend their own “bleeding hearts” by forgiving the men who killed Olsen.

A slideshow showing photographs of Eric Olsen's short life caused one young woman to run out of the chapel in tears.

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June 15th, 2007

Danny Friedrick, Charles George-Maze, Colin Bibaud, Joel Machmer, Murrray Haydey, and Cody Trautman appeared in an Edmonton courtroom before Justice Vital Ouellette to make an application for bail.

The six were charged the second-degree murder of Eric Olsen, with Friedrick facing an additional charge of aggravated assault and Trautman an additional charge of common assault in the matter of Nathan Trelenberg.

Arguments were heard in courtroom #317 from the Crown and the defence lawyers representing the men. Family and friends of the six accused attended in great numbers.

A publication ban prevented the release of details of the arguments presented.

Justice Ouellette then granted bail to the accused but first attached a long list of strict conditions.

they must each post a ten thousand dollar no-cash deposit
they must keep the peace
they cannot apply for a passport and must remain in Alberta
they are prohibited from possessing any firearms, explosives or controlled substances
they are to have no contact with each other, other than for employment purposes
they cannot contact upwards of a dozen persons from the party who may later be called as witnesses
they must abide by a curfew of 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
they must refrain from the use of alcohol
they are not allowed to enter any licensed premises or attend any house parties or bush parties
they must report to the Stony Plain RCMP detachment every Friday by phone during business hours
they must provide, on the demand of a police officer, a blood or urine sample

Brian Beresh, a lawyer for one of the accused, said the public interest was served by the decision.

"I was pleased with the grant of release."

"I think it's justified in this circumstance and I truly hope there's not going to be any further violence."

"Let's let justice take its course and the courts will decide properly what has occured."

The Olsen family did not attend the bail hearing.

"I am disappointed with their release, but we have to let the justice system work," sadi Eric's father Grant when contacted by the Edmonton Sun.

The six men were set to appear in a Stony Plain courtroom on June 20th, 2007.

Late in the afternoon, media cameras were caught off-guard as some of the accused left the Edmonton courthouse, tasting their first moments of the bail just provided.

One man in particular showed his appreciation for having been just granted his freedom.

An overnight vigil at the Edmonton Remand Centre paid off for a CTV Edmonton camera man ...

... as several other accused were released at about 3:00 a.m. on June 16th.

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deadmonton 2007 - eric olsen