Calgary police have laid first-degree murder charges against a 37-year-old father following the tragic deaths of his two young children, whose bodies were discovered in a vehicle in the city's northwest Thursday morning.
The children — a five-year-old boy and a three-year-old girl — were found in the 4300 block of 14th Street Northwest after the man called 911 around 10 a.m. Thursday. He was arrested at the scene.
During a Friday afternoon press conference, Calgary Police Service Homicide Unit Staff Sergeant Mark Rahn provided additional details about the case. The accused cannot be identified due to a court-ordered publication ban.
Investigation Timeline
According to investigators, the man arranged with the children's mother to pick them up around 5 p.m. Wednesday, stating he wanted to spend a few hours with them. Police said there were no apparent warning signs at the time.
"There were no indications of anything untoward at that point in time," Rahn told reporters.
When the children did not return as expected, their mother became concerned and contacted police. Officers attempted to reach the man by phone, but calls went unanswered.
Investigators allege the man travelled west of Calgary on Wednesday evening, and the children were killed shortly before midnight, though police have not disclosed the cause of death.
The accused reportedly returned to Calgary around 8 a.m. Thursday and called 911 approximately two hours later. Upon arrest, he was brought to police headquarters, interviewed, and provided a statement confessing to the incident.
Prior History with Police
Police revealed the man had been in a six-year domestic relationship with the children's mother. The couple separated approximately one year ago and shared custody of the two children.
"There was no protective order in place," Rahn said. "The couple had a domestic history with the Calgary Police Service on four instances. We have attended their communal address in the past."
However, no charges were ever laid from those previous investigations, and police indicated there had been no prior reports of violence directed at the children.
This story is based on reporting by Global Calgary. For additional details and updates, visit Global Calgary News.