RCMP have arrested a man in Thunder Bay, Ontario in connection to a body that was found in a ditch near Olds.
Jenna Cartwright’s body was found in a ditch near the town on May 3 by a passerby.
The 21-year-old was reported missing by a family member on April 12 and was last seen in Red Deer on March 29.
On June 10 after what RCMP describe as an exhaustive investigation involving
about 30 police investigators and over 4,000 hours, charges were
sworn and a warrant was obtained for 29-year-old Bashir Gaashaan of no fixed address. On June 13, an arrest team of three police officers flew to Thunder Bay where Gaashaan was arrested on the warrant and escorted back to Red Deer to answer to the charges. Gaashaan also had additional outstanding warrants for his arrest totaling seven charges for unrelated matters.
Gaashaan has been charged with one count of first degree murder, one count of unlawful confinement, one count of offering an indignity to human remains, one count of sexual assault and one count of trafficking in cocaine.
Gaashaan has been remanded in custody and will appear in Red Deer provincial court on June 29.
Meanwhile, at 7 p.m. on May 3, the RCMP in Olds were advised about the discovery of a body in a rural location about 4 kms northeast of the town. The discovery had been made by a resident of the area who had been driving at the time. The body was seen lying adjacent to a roadway.
The scene was examined by the RCMP Forensic identification Section and the Calgary Major Crimes Unit was called in to assist in this investigation. The remains were removed to the Calgary Medical Examiner’s Officer who conducted an autopsy.
The results of the autopsy concluded that this death should be consider as a murder, but the actual cause of death is not being released. RCMP continues to investigate the crime.
Anyone with information that will assist investigators is asked to call the RCMP at 403-343-5575.
Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477
or report it online at www.tipsubmit.com. If the information leads to
an arrest, tipsters are eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.
efawcett@reddeerexpress.com
