Travis Vader parked his truck in a rural driveway outside of Carrot Creek, Alta., Saturday evening, and now the suspect charged in connection with the murder of two St. Albert seniors is back in custody. Vader has been charged with driving infractions and breaches of court conditions.
RCMP spokeswoman Cpl. Sharon Franks said police were called to a residence near Carrot Creek, about 160 kilometres west of Edmonton, around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday. She said the owner of the home noticed a strange vehicle in his driveway but did not know the truck nor could identify the driver. After the truck remained parked on the property for some time, the resident called the police.
Franks did not know whether Vader tried to leave in the truck when police arrived, or whether he had already left. But “at some point they were able to gather enough evidence to lay dangerous driving charges,” she said.
Police identified Vader as the driver of the truck, which is also registered under his name. He was charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and six counts of failing to comply with court-ordered conditions.
Based on information from Alberta Justice and the Solicitor General, the charges include breaching conditions not to possess any firearms, ammunition, explosives or weapons, not to have contact with a named individual and not to be in possession of non-prescription drugs.
Vader, 42, is charged in connection with the murder of St. Albert seniors Lyle McCann, 78, and Marie McCann, 77. The couple went missing in July 2010 on a trip to British Columbia to visit family. The burned-out shell of their motorhome was discovered at a campground near Edson a few days later. The McCanns were declared legally dead in July 2011, and their bodies have never been found.
Vader was formally charged in the disappearance of the St. Albert couple nearly two years after he was named a suspect. The charges were stayed in March 2014, a few weeks before Vader was to face a jury trial. He was rearrested in December and ordered to remain under house arrest.
On Feb. 12, he was arrested in St. Albert after police were called to the residence where he lived. Vader was charged with assault but a judicial interim hearing determined to release him once he was able to comply with the conditions of the hearing. Franks could not say whether Vader had lived in the Carrot Creek area since.
Carrot Creek is a small community about 35 minutes by car east of Edson. Vader and his family are from the area.
Vader is expected to appear in Edson court on his latest charges on March 17. He will be in St. Albert court on the earlier assault charges on March 9.
