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RCMP continue to investigate the discovery of the dead bodies of two men found near Lamont, Alberta.

Family identified the men as Thomas Joseph Shaughnessy, 46, and Thomas Robert Howells, 40. Both were reported missing in early April 2008.

Shaughnessy and Howells were the Edmonton metro region's third and fourth homicide victims of the year.

Case status is open and active.

latest update

On May 30th, 2008 Fort Saskatchewan RCMP received a call around 2:00 p.m. from a farmer who found human remains in a wooded area near the Skaro Shrine, along Township Road 192 near the intersection of Highways 45 and 831.

The farmer, who made the discovery when he got out of his tractor to adjust some equipment, declined interviews with media but a neighbour he spoke to offered details.

"He was seeding that field and he smelled something and he went to see what it was," said Curtis Melnyk, who operates a nearby grain and cattle farm.

Thinking the smell might be coming from a dead animal, the farmer followed it into some bushes beside the field. The smell got stronger as he walked about 24 metres into the bushes and came upon a large black mass, Melnyk said.

"He thought it was a moose. He went a little farther and he saw a black sock and then he saw a person," Melnyk said. "Moose don't wear socks, around here at least."

When police arrived they blocked off Township Road 192 south of Highway 45, closing the area to traffic until late afternoon on the 31st.

"It was like Fort Knox," Melnyk said.

Initially police said little. RCMP Media Relations Officer Cpl. Wayne A. Oakes confirmed a team of investigators was involved in an operation near the town of Lamont, 67 km northeast of Edmonton but did not provide further details.

"There is an RCMP investigation," he said. "However, we are not in a position to be able to provide details until ... I hear from the lead investigators."

Two marked RCMP vans attended and officers were seen sweeping through fields in the area.

Melnyk said the intersection near where the bodies were found was a high-traffic area, one of several routes used by workers travelling to and from Fort McMurray.

On June 1st, RCMP confirmed a homicide investigation was underway and that two bodies were involved.

The remains were transported to the Medical Examiners Office in Edmonton for autopsies scheduled for the next day, June 2nd.

Police initially did not comment on how long the bodies may have been in the area and were waiting for the post mortem examinations to determine the gender, age and identity of the deceased, the manner and causes of death, and when the deaths may have occurred.

Whenever human remains are discovered in a manner such as this the matter is treated as a homicide investigation, police said in a statement.

Later at a media briefing at the scene, Cpl. Oakes said the bodies were there for a period of time.

"It is not what we could call a fresh scene," he said. "It's going to be up to a forensic specialist to give us a more definitive timeline.

"This didn't just happen with in the last couple of days. But how far back in time, I don't know. We don't have an ability to comment on that yet."

The investigation was being led by RCMP "K" Division Serious Crimes Branch, with Edmonton Major Crimes Unit, Edmonton Forensic Identification Section, an RCMP Police service dog and handler, RCMP Air Services and Fort Saskatchewan General Investigation Section and general duty members assisting.

"They're looking for anything that could be potential evidence in this investigation," Oakes said. "The old proverbial saying everything from soup to nuts that could apply in any investigation."

It was noted the area was searched by RCMP helicopter.

"What can we see from the ground?" Oakes said. "Our vision is very limited. The bird's-eye view often times in many investigations is one of great advantage."

When the media relations officer was asked how strong the odors of the bodies was he replied that there is nothing quite like the smell of a dead person.

"It's something you never forget," Cpl. Oakes said, likening it to the unpleasant equivalent of fresh-baked bread or laundry, all smells that are instantly distinguishable.

Appearing on camera, Curtis Melnyk talked about the man who made the gruesome find.

"I imagine it would affect anybody who came across a couple of bodies," he said. "But he seems to be alright it doesn't seem to be affecting him like he's traumatised or anything like that."

Melnyk also mentioned another unusual discovery that took place recently, about 1.5 kilometres away from where the remains were found.

"There was a truck found out here that was burned," he said. "It's kind of suspicious. We don't know if somebody stole it and got rid of it or what the deal was on it.

"I think we're the new dumping grounds for these people," Melnyk added, referring to the area immediately east of Edmonton where the bodies of numerous persons living high risk lifestyle have been found over the last fifteen years.

Neighbour Nicole Hofer said the truck fire incident took place at the end of April. She and her boyfriend came across the vehicle engulfed in flames in a field across from where the bodies were found.

"We didn't really think much about it, but then they found those two bodies, so we think it's connected," she said. "It was a random, brand-new truck on fire in the middle of a field. That doesn't happen around here."

Regarding the report of the truck, Cpl. Oakes offered little.

"That is information that I have not been advised has any link to this," he stated.

Project KARE, the task force looking into the disappearances and murders of those working in the sex trade, was advised of the discovery of the bodies but was not actively involved in the investigation.

Media canvassed the sparsely populated farming area looking for reaction to the news of bodies found. Most interviewed were understandably shocked.

"It's a quiet rural community. We are very tightly knit here, we know our neighbours and for something to happen like this is actually frightening," Darlene Strychar said.

"It's just awful that they could do something like this – dump the people off in the farmer's field. And for a farmer to find these people just by sense of foul smell – it's just awful."

"Well disbelief," Sid Hoculak said. "You think that something like this shouldn't happen anywhere, never mind close to home."

Mary-Ann Oshust has lived about a mile north of where the remains were discovered since 1972. She said that in recent months, she's felt uneasy in her home.

"Strange vehicles drive by, and we see people we don't know," Oshust said. "We see strangers, but who's going to go ask them what they're doing here? I don't feel comfortable any more, and my doors are locked always."

Late June 2nd, feeling pressure from a hungry media, RCMP media relations officer Cpl. Wayne A. Oakes issued a statement advising that given the nature of the medical examiner's process and the fact that two examinations were required, autopsy results weren't yet available.

With a verdict in the Thomas Svekla trial expected the next day, speculation that the bodies may be linked to other murders of sex trade workers was high. Svekla was the first person charged by the Project KARE task force and faced second-degree murder charges in connection with the deaths of Theresa Innes and Rachel Quinney.

Facing Global Edmonton cameras during a live supper-hour news stand-up, Oakes suggested the RCMP was equally anxious.

"Those (autopsy) results are really going to be critical for investigators in determiniing what the true nature of the investigation is and ultimately identifying who these individuals are."

Oakes said the location of the bodies and the manner in which they were discarded added challenges to the investigation process. He added that tips had come in from the public that may be of benefit to detectives.

Once the identities and the causes and times of death was established, Oakes said investigators would be able to start checking into the backgrounds of the deceased and ultimately lead police to those responsible for their death.

On June 3rd, 2008 the Edmonton Sun reported the victims were two men with drug connections who had been shot in the head during an execution-style killing.

Later the same day, RCMP released details of the autopsies conducted that partially confirmed the Sun story.

Both deceased persons were males, believed to be adults. The cause of death was determined but was not being released. However, both deaths were being treated as homicides.

Cpl. Oakes said the cause of death was held back as an investigative tool should persons come forward claiming knowledge of the crime.

"On many occasions, individuals come forward and for whatever reason try to lay claim to a crime when they're not responsible," Oakes said.

"If they don't know the fine details, it makes that whole process easier for investigators to weed out the would-be confessors from those who are actually responsible. That information would be exclusively known to the person or persons responsible."

Oakes hinted at the difficulty in determining how long the remains may have been at the site.

"Obviously from the condition or state of the bodies, that process in all likelihood is being somewhat frustrated," Oakes said.

Speaking to reports the deaths were gang related, the RCMP officer was able to offer little.

"To my knowledge that's not part of the investigation so far. Could it be in the future? Anything is possible."

Oakes acknowledged the coincidental deaths of two males was unique.

"In most cases, we are here because of a single death. Unfortunately recent history has had those as being female and in many of those cases, sex trade workers."

Oakes said investigators were trying to match post-mortem results to fingerprint records, medical records, and old photos the RCMP have on file.

"You have to be able to say in confidence that yes, this is this person. But that exercise can sometimes be complicated."

On June 6th RCMP confirmed the identity of one of the men but were not releasing details until they positively identify the second man. How the identity was determined was not revealed.

"We are keeping any context of that nature until the second victim is identified," said RCMP spokesman Cpl. Wayne A. Oakes.

Police did say the person they were able to put a name to was a 40-year-old man from the Red Deer area.

Those with information about the matter were asked to contact Fort Saskatchewan RCMP at 780-992-6104, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.tipsubmit.com

Tips can also be text messaged. In Edmonton, text TIP250 + message and send to CRIMES (274637). In Northern Alberta, text TIP205 + message and send to CRIMES (274637).

Police asked the public to think back over a period time, ranging from weeks to months.

On June 10th, the Edmonton Journal published a story covering a memorial that took place at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wetaskiwin the day before.

At the service, family revealed that Thomas Joseph Shaughnessy, 46, and Thomas Robert Howells, 40, were the victims of the double homicide near Lamont. The RCMP has not officially released their identities.

The two men were longtime friends and had been reported missing in early April 2008.

Police contacted both families and Howells' body was turned over to his family for cremation.

Shaughnessy's family believes the second man was their son and brother. DNA tests weren't yet considered definitive and the medical examiner was continuing the forensic examination.

Thomas Shaughnessy grew up in Wetaskiwin, playing hockey as a youth and later becoming a journeyman electrician. He had been a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, IBEW Local 424, for 30 years.

His uncle Bill Shaughnessy told the Journal that Thomas was also an instrument mechanic, working in Yemen five weeks at a time for the last three years.

"He had an awful lot of friends here, as you can see from the crowd," Bill said of those gathered at the ceremony. "He was a happy-go-lucky guy, wouldn't hurt a fly."

Thomas Howells grew up in Red Deer and worked in an autobody shop.

Wes Wilber was friends with both men and used to drink beer with them on the weekends.

"They were my best friends, man. (Howells) would give you the shirt off his back," he told the Journal outside the church. "All of us, we were like brothers."

On July 29th, 2008 RCMP finally and officially released the identities of the two men found.

Investigators held back the details until a forensic process enabled positive identification of the second deceased individual.

Confirming earlier media reports, RCMP identified the men as Thomas Robert Howells, 40 years of age from Red Deer, and Thomas Joseph Shawghnessy, 46 years of age from the Wetaskiwin/Red Deer area.

Police again appealed to public and asked those with information related to the case to contact Fort Saskatchewan RCMP at 780-992-6104, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or online at www.tipsubmit.com

Tips can also be text messaged. In Edmonton, text TIP250 + message and send to CRIMES (274637). In Northern Alberta, text TIP205 + message and send to CRIMES (274637).

The cause of death for the two men continued to be withheld.

The Edmonton Sun had earlier reported the victims had drug connections and had been shot in the head during an execution-style killing.

deadmonton 2008 - the lamont double murder