Travis Vader charged with murder of elderly Alberta couple

By Postmedia News

RCMP have charged Travis Vader, 40, with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Lyle McCann and Marie McCann — an elderly Alberta couple who vanished in July 2010 while on their way to meet their daughter in British Columbia.

Vader had been identified for some time by authorities as a suspect in the disappearance, but had yet to be charged.

The McCanns bodies have never been found, but the RCMP have said they believe the couple from St. Albert, Alta., were murdered near nearby Edson, Alta., the day they were last seen.

Lyle, 78, and Marie, 77, left their home with their motorhome and an SUV in tow, on their way to B.C.

The burned motorhome was found two days later at Minnow Lake campground, about 150 kilometres west of Edmonton.

The SUV was found abandoned less than two weeks later in a remote wooded area not far from the motorhome.

Police linked Vader to the case within days and released his name and mug shot as a “person of interest,” and warned the public not to approach him.

After Vader’s arrest on unrelated charges, RCMP upgraded his status to “suspect.”

Edmonton Journal

PN 4/23/12 13:19:55