As the search for evidence continues into the disappearance and presumed murder of Jasmine Lovett, 25, and Aliyah Sanderson, 22 months, police believe the suspect may have attempted to destroy evidence related to the homicide by means of burning, some time between Tuesday, April 16 and Saturday, April 20 in the area of Bragg Creek, Elbow Falls, Priddis and/or East Kananaskis. Anyone who may have seen signs of a suspicious fire in an unusual area, not in a designated fire pit, is asked to contact police.
Snow is hampering search efforts but officers are set to resume as soon as possible. In the meantime, the public is asked not to search on their own as there is a risk of destroying or contaminating evidence hidden under the snow.
Investigators are continuing to request to the public for information that could help the investigation into a suspected homicide of a mother and her child. Specifically, anyone who witnessed a Caucasian man in his mid-30s driving a grey, luxury SUV in the Bragg Creek and/or East Kananaskis area between Tuesday, April 16, and Thursday, April 18, 2019.
The man may have been alone or with either of the victims, and may have been carrying mulch in his vehicle. Investigators specifically believe the man was in the Fullerton Loop/Elbow Falls area between 2:30 and 4:30 p.m., Thursday last week (April 18).
Bragg Creek residents are also being asked to check around their properties for anything suspicious as police search for evidence of the whereabouts or bodies of Lovett and her daughter, who were reported missing yesterday after family and friends had not heard from Lovett since April 16. The last activity on Jasmine’s financial accounts was two days later. There have been no signs of life since. At this point, The Calgary Police Service has been unable to find any evidence confirming the pair are alive and are treating the investigation as a homicide.
Investigators had a suspect in custody for questioning but that person has since been released and no charges have been laid, however, he remains the primary suspect in the case. Police cannot release the suspect’s identity as he has not been charged with a crime. Police do not believe this incident to be random because the suspect and victims knew each other. Police are currently working with multiple other agencies to search Cranston and the area around Bragg Creek for evidence. Property owners in and around Bragg Creek are asked to check their property and report anything suspicious.
Bragg Creek Coun. Mark Kamachi only learned of the news late yesterday (Thursday, April 25) when driving home from B.C.
"Everybody is talking about it," said Kamachi, adding that news spreads quickly in the small hamlet south of Cochrane, west of Calgary.
Kamachi said the forested hamlet with abundant wildlife naturally has made it a desirable "dumping ground" for crime over the years but that in times like this, the community bands together to assist authorities – either by combing the shorelines along the Bow River or by staying out of the way of authorities.
"We all try and connect with each other quickly ... we have to be active. That's part of living out here where it's isolated," he said, with reference to community mobilization with respect to any kind of crime.
Over 50 police officers from multiple units continue to search the area around Bragg Creek and Priddis after information from cell towers showed that there may be evidence related to this case in that area. Officers from the Mounted Unit, the Public Safety Unit, Patrol and HAWCS are all assisting in the search, as are members of the RCMP, local search and rescue groups, and Alberta Fish and Wildlife officers.
The investigation is ongoing and investigators are still working to determine what occurred. Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact police by calling the non-emergency number at 403-266-1234, or the Homicide Tip Line at 403-428-8877.
Tips can also be left anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers through either of the following methods:
TALK: 1-800-222-8477
TYPE: www.calgarycrimestoppers.org
Case #19167468/4700
