last link on the left › deadmonton

WARNING

Alex Fred Semenovich, 77, was shot to death and his body was found in an incinerator on April 29th, 2008.

Semenovich was the Edmonton metro area's second homicide victim of the year.

Anne Semenovich, 71, was charged with first-degree murder and interfering with human remains.

Laurie Semenovich, 49, and Brian Semenovich, 22, were each charged with accessory after the fact and interfering with human remains.

Those charged were the elderly man's wife, daughter and grandson. That three generations of a single family were charged in connection with a murder was unprecedented in Alberta history.

latest update

Stony Plain RCMP laid charges of first-degree murder, interfering with human remains and accessory after the fact in the wake of the discovery of a man's body inside an incinerator.

At about 11:54 a.m. on April 29th, 2008 a 911 call from a service worker brought police to 26502 Township Road 514 (at Woodbend Road near Range Road 265 – about 10 kilometres west of Edmonton city limits).

The worker had been called to a rural home to fix an outdoor incinerator. Someone had tried to use the machine and found it wasn't working.

"When the maintenance worker was called to the scene, he opened up the incinerator to work on it and he found a body inside," Const. Barbara Roy told media.

No one was home when police arrived but they soon arrested a man and a older woman who came to the property. Two other men showed up in separate vehicles and were also taken into custody.

"Three people were driving different vehicles and all three were taken into custody," Const. Roy said, adding she wasn't sure why the family all happened to return to the property.

"They may have known that the worker was coming to work on the incinerator, so they came to check. I'm not sure how the logistics of that was," she offered.

All four were then taken to the RCMP Stony Plain detachment. Police said those arrested, already referred to in reports as "suspects," were thought to be somehow involved in the man's death which at the time was only being considered as suspicious.

Three vehicles were towed from the scene – a RAV4, a Toyota Corolla and a GMC pick up truck – and police taped off the area while waiting for a warrant so a forensic team could closely search the property.

RCMP didn't indicate how long the body may have been in the furnace before it was discovered. One report suggested there were no obvious signs of decomposition.

The man's body showed no evidence of being burned or that the incinerator had ever been fired up.

"That was one of the reasons for the service call, because it wouldn't work," Const. Roy said.

The contents of the incinerator were left in place until 10:58 p.m. when the body was removed and taken to the medical examiner's office. An autopsy was scheduled for Thursday morning.

On Wednesday Stony Plain RCMP laid charges against three individuals listed as Spruce Grove residents.

Anne Semenovich, 71, was charged with first-degree murder and interfering with human remains.

Laurie Semenovich, 49, and Brian Semenovich, 22, were each charged with accessory after the fact and interfering with human remains.

All three appeared in Stony Plain Provincial Court to face formal charging. The hearing was adjourned until May 7th, 2008 when applications for bail were expected.

The three accused were transported to the Edmonton Remand Centre with their next appearance in court to take place by way of a video link to the Stony Plain courthouse.

The identity of the victim was confirmed by RCMP on Friday, May 2nd as Alex Fred Semenovich, 77, of Spruce Grove, Alberta. His cause of death was not released.

RCMP said Anne Semenovich appeared in Alberta Court of Queens Bench on May 2nd for a bail hearing but it was adjourned until May 8th, 2008.

Those charged were the elderly man's wife, daughter and grandson. That three generations of a single family were charged in connection with a murder was unprecedented in Alberta history.

Immediately after he was released from custody, Darryl Semenovich, Alex's other grandson, spoke to CTV Edmonton. The man didn't seem to be aware of all the facts surrounding the matter.

"RCMP just arrested me for a connection to murder," he stated.

When asked if he had just been let go he replied, "Ah ... yeah, as far as I know."

Asked if he knew whose body was found in the incinerator he said, "Ah ... not offhand, but it could be my grandpa."

Probing the man for a reaction, the reporter suggested that recent events must have a big shock.

"Yeah, I would say," he replied. "I know it is bizarre. It's one massive shock, man."

Darryl added he hadn't seen his grandfather in weeks.

Police believed Alex Semenovich had been killed on or about April 15th at or near Spruce Grove and was placed in the incinerator on April 18th.

It was also revealed that it was Laurie, seen above shielding her face, who called the incinerator repairman. It remains to be heard in court whether she knew her father's body was in the device when she made the call.

According to Darryl, the incinerator was on the property for only a few weeks.

The Edmonton Journal looked into the history of the outdoor furnance and found that in August 2007 members of the Semenovich family had asked for an inspection of the machine.

"It was just deteriorated," said the owner of a north-end industrial shop. "It was old and needed refractory work."

The family told the man they were hoping to use the incinerator to burn small animals.

It was a repairman from a different company who was called out to service the incinerator and made the discovery.

As in the case of the April 26th, 2008 suspicious death of Alex Pinzauti in the Garneau district of Edmonton, the cause of Alex Semenovich's was not released pending toxicology tests.

Medical examiner Ron Jacobs told the Edmonton Sun his office was now waiting for the results of the tests, which could take up to four months, before officially determining the exact cause of death.

In the Pinzauti matter, senior investigator Dennis Caufield told the paper his office is cautious in what it reveals in cases when ongoing tests could reveal new evidence.

"It can cause significant grief to families if they're thinking one thing and then they learn something else later on," he said.

However, it soon became apparent that the manner of death in this case was cut and dried.

It was revealed in court documents obtained by media that Alex Semenovich had been shot to death, likely while he slept.

Semenovich was shot at pint-blank range and the shotgun blast woke up other members of the household.

The documents also brought to light the acrimonious nature of the relationship between Alex and his wife, who at one time wanted to commit him to the Alberta Hospital.

In 2007 Brian had told the RCMP that Alex threatened his grandmother's life on a daily basis and cited one incident when a flashlight was thrown.

Brian said that "his grandfather was a mean man and his grandmother got him first."

The court documents also suggested it was Laurie Sememovich who called a combustion products company on April 28th to look into the non-operation of the incinerator.

When two repairmen opened the burn chamber they saw human legs. An RCMP officer who arrived soon afterwards saw two legs bound with yellow rope, with Semenovich's upper body covered with vehicle tires and tree branches.

The affidavit, used by RCMP to obtain a search warrant, indicate police believe Semenovich was killed between April 27th and April 28th.

Allegations contained in the documents had yet to be proven in court.

On May 7th, 2008 Anne Semenovich made a brief court appearance by closed circuit television. Her case was then put over until May 28th.

Her daughter Laurie and her grandson Brian were also scheduled to appear in court on May 28th.

All three remained in custody in the Edmonton Remand Centre.

On May 22nd, 2008 the three persons charged in connection with the death of Alex Semenovich were granted bail.

Anne Semenovich, 71, charged with first-degree murder, was released on a $1,000 surety and must abide by a strict set of conditions.

The woman was to reside on her Parkland County property and was not allowed to contact her daughter and grandson who were also charged in the case. She must have a landline telephone and abide by an 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. curfew.

However, she was allowed to break curfew hours to help transport another grandson, Darryl, to and from work or school. She was also allowed to leave her Parkland County home during the day to see a doctor, go shopping or report to her parole officer.

Anne Semenovich nodded in agreement as she heard the details of the bail conditions but appeared to cry when the judge told her she could have no contact with either of the co-accused. She also wept when she learned Darryl could live with her.

The elderly woman was also banned from possessing or having access to firearms.

Laurie Semenovich, now 50, and Brian Semenovich, 22, each charged with accessory after the fact and interfering with human remains, were granted bail with $5,000 sureties.

Laurie must remain in her home in Clareview between 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. and seek employment.

Brian must live with his aunt in Leduc and was not allowed to work in Nisku as long as Darryl attends school there. He also must obey a 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. curfew and report to Leduc RCMP on a weekly basis.

Later in the day, CTV Edmonton's cameras caught sight of Anne Semenovich leaving the Edmonton Remand Centre. The videographer tried to get a comment from the woman.

"Is there anything you want to say?" he asked.

"Buzz off," said Anne.

"Beg your pardon?" the cameraman prodded.

"No!" said Anne.

"Happy to be out?

"What do you think?" came the woman's reply after she collected her thoughts.

The next day Brian Semenovich was observed leaving the centre. This time the cameraman did not approach for a comment.

Early in the case, when police were revealing little in the way of details, media reports offered some pieces to the puzzle.

Neighbours said an elderly couple lived at the residence along with two men in their 20s, thought to be grandsons. They were described by some as quiet people who usually kept to themselves – an impression not shared by all.

One man interviewed by investigators shared his story with reporters.

"Police really did not tell me what happened. I just heard a shot yesterday," area resident Peter Johner said. "I was in the driveway working on my trees and I heard a shot ... around four or five o'clock."

"Big gunfire you remember because you don't hear it very often," Johner said. "It's rare that you hear gunshots here."

Johner's girlfriend said she heard another gunshot later in the evening.

It was later thought what residents heard were fireworks set off by local teens.

Notice was also taken of the unusual bright blue incinerator.

"It was something new," said Alan McIntyre, a neighbour who lived across the road south of the property. He said the family who owned the place had lived there for more than 20 years.

"It was fairly shocking (to hear of the body) but in some ways not all that shocking – just all the yelling and screaming. It seemed like a pretty violent place," he said.

"I'm surprised. I don't know to what extent their relationship was, but I don't think they had much feeling about it. I'm a little bit shocked, but they seemed to be fairly stressed out over there. I could hear them shouting through the walls."

500 metres down the road at Cannor Nurseries where she worked, Maria Ruley heard a gunshot coming from the area over the weekend. She also commented on an unusual smell that had recently become quite noticeable.

"We were wondering what that smell was. It was peculiar and was awful."

Environment Canada recorded temperatures in the upper teens and light winds in the days prior to the discovery of the body.

Few residents in the acreage-dotted area of Parkland County burn their own garbage. To some the presence of the recently installed industrial-grade incinerator seemed out of place.

After the charges were announced, McIntyre recalled Alex Semenovich worked as a security guard at one time but couldn't recall when he last saw the man.

One neighbour recounted that about 25 years ago, before Brian and Darryl were born, their 2-year-old sister was killed when she ran out onto the road and was struck by a vehicle.

A police presence at the Semenovich residence remained for several days after the senior's body was found.

With little coming in the way of hard news, the Edmonton Journal found a neighbour willing to talk about the couple at the centre of the story.

Longtime neighbour Margaret Bruner described Alex, who she knew as Al, as a stocky man – under six feet tall – and pleasant.

However, as a couple, Alex and Anne had their issues.

"They didn't get along with a lot of people," the 88-year-old Bruner told the Journal.

She first met the couple over 25 years ago. Bruner was working in product testing at the time and one day gave them a brand of soap to try out. Afterwards they became friendly.

Bruner recalled that when the Semenovichs first moved into the area they lived in a small trailer on the property where Alex's body was later found. Over time the acreage became an assemblage of dilapidated structures which was also home to chickens and jersey cows.

In later years the quiet countryside was punctuated by the sounds of loud, late-night arguments coming from the Semenovich property.

Anne had rheumatoid arthritis, Bruner said. She seemed to have trouble walking. "It's hard for her to even take a step.

"She was different as time went on," Bruner said of Anne. "I don't think she was thinking properly."

Prior to the discovery of the man's body in the incinerator, RCMP in the region had only one other homicide to deal with in 2008.

On February 21st Brianna Danielle Torvalson, 21, was found dead on the driveway of a remote acreage west of Elk Island National Park and about 20 kilometres northeast of Sherwood Park.

Her murder remains unsolved.

deadmonton 2008 - alex fred semenovich