Death of 92-year-old man in central Alberta ruled homicide

The death of a 92-year-old man in central Alberta last week has been ruled a homicide.

Mounties were called to a sudden death at a rural property in Ponoka County last Tuesday and found the victim outside his home.

His death appeared to be suspicious and a Thursday autopsy confirmed it to be a homicide.

Maskwacis resident Elroy Strawberry-Rain told CTV News Edmonton he was a longtime neighbour and friend of the victim.

“I’m saddened … I knew him all my life. My entire life,” Strawberry-Rain told CTV News Edmonton on Monday.

The 92-year-old man used to farm but sold his equipment years ago, Strawberry-Rain said. His wife died over a decade ago and he didn’t have children, he added.

“I find it very strange what happened to him.”

The RCMP are looking for dashcam video around Bear Hills Casino and Highway 2A, from Highway 611 south to Ponoka, between 9 p.m. on Feb. 23 and 3 a.m. on Feb. 24.

Anyone with information or footage is asked to call Ponoka RCMP at 403-783-4471.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Nicole Weisberg