The investigation into a missing woman and her child is now being treated by police as a potential double homicide, according to Calgary Police Services CPS).
Police have been unable to find any evidence confirming that 25-year-old Jasmine Lovett or 22-month-old Aliyah Sanderson are alive, according to an April 23 CPS press release. The last place anyone saw either of them, according to CPS, was in the southwest Calgary neighbourhood of Cranston on the evening of April 16. Police report the last activity on Lovett’s financial accounts was two days later, April 18.
“There have been no signs of life since,” the release stated.
Investigators had a suspect in custody for questioning, according to CPS, and do not believe this incident to be random as the suspect and victims knew each other. The suspect was released and no charges have been laid, however, he remains the primary suspect in the case, according to an April 26 update from CPS. Police are currently working with multiple other agencies to search Cranston and the area around Bragg Creek for evidence.
In the update, CPS asked 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 April 16 and 18 to contact police.
"The man may have been alone or with either of the victims, and may have been carrying mulch in his vehicle," the release states. "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]."
Property owners in the Bragg Creek area are still being asked to check their property and report anything suspicious to police, according to CPS, especially if any new mulch has been dumped between April 16 and 20. Hikers and bikers in the area are also asked to be on the lookout for anything suspicious.
Over 50 police officers from multiple units continue to search the area around Bragg Creek and Priddis, according to to the release, after information from cell towers showed 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, according to CPS.
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 at 1-800-222-8477 or calgarycrimestoppers.org
UPDATE - this post was updated April 26 to include the latest information from police.