Pauline Brazeau (Supplied/RCMP)

By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

was 16 at time of death

Sundre man arrested in connection to 1976 homicide of young Métis mother

Nov 8, 2023 | 3:32 PM

A 73-year-old Sundre man has been charged with non-capital murder in connection to a 47-year-old cold case.

Pauline Brazeau, a young Métis woman and single mother originally from Saskatchewan, was just 16 in 1976.

Police say it was the fall of 1975 when Brazeau relocated to Calgary with her infant daughter. On Jan. 9, 1976, she was last seen leaving Peppe’s Ristorante in the area of 7th Street and 17th Avenue in Calgary, at around 3 a.m.

Tragically, a few hours later, her body was discovered outside Calgary, in the jurisdiction of Cochrane RCMP. An autopsy would determine the cause of death was homicide.

RCMP add that Brazeau’s murder was one of many to occur in the Calgary area during the late 1970s and early 80s. By 1995, the RCMP had formed a task force to re-investigate those unsolved homicides, Pauline’s included. But her file remained unsolved despite extensive investigative efforts, police say.

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In 2021, Alberta RCMP’s Historical Homicide Unit (HHU) partnered with Calgary Police Service’s Cold Case Homicide Unit to re-analyze files dating back to the 1970s. With advancements in DNA technology, a tool known as Investigative Genetic Genealogy, was used to identify leads. This is the second time Alberta RCMP have used this method to solve a case.

In 2022, HHU sought aid from Othram Inc., a private lab in the U.S. Calgary Police then worked with two dedicated genealogists from Convergence Investigative Genetic Genealogy, coming up with a suspect in 2023.

“The Alberta RCMP Historical Homicide Unit investigators are committed to speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves. The search for Pauline’s killer has never ended over the past 47 years,” says Inspector Breanne Brown, officer in charge, Alberta RCMP Serious Crimes. “Throughout the years we have always been hopeful that the person responsible would be held accountable. I am extremely grateful for all investigators who have worked on this investigation throughout the years and the partnership and support from the Calgary Police Service. I truly hope that Pauline’s surviving family find some closure as they receive answers.”

Calgary Police Service Superintendent Ryan Ayliffe also shared a message for the public.

“We are grateful that our organizations were able to work together to bring closure to this case and to Pauline’s family,” he says. “If I were to leave you with one assurance, it would be that our investigators will not give up on our Calgary victims, no matter where they are found.”

On Nov. 7, 2023, Ronald James Edwards of Sundre was arrested. The murder charge against him is as it was defined in the Criminal Code in 1976. At that time, Canadian law declared murder to fall under two categories, capital and non-capital. His charge is for non-capital murder.

Edwards has been remanded and is to appear in court again Nov. 14.

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