Sgt. John Redlich of the Blaine Lake RCMP says there's no reason to believe the remains discovered in a grave in a greenhouse in the village of Krydor Monday are anything other than those of Arnoldo Rey Sr.
The remains were recovered during a search taking place on the property of Rey Sr. as a result of information coming from the investigation, Redlich told the Regional Optimist Wednesday morning. An autopsy has been ordered and positive identification will have to be made through either dental records or DNA testing. If dental records aren't available, said Redlich, then DNA tests will be pursued. It could be several weeks for a positive identification, he said.
Charged with second-degree murder and offering indignity to a dead human body is Arnoldo Rey Jr., son of Rey Sr. who was reported missing to Blaine Lake RCMP by his children May 28 of this year.
Rey Jr. is being held in custody until his next appearance on Nov. 12. in Saskatoon Provincial Court. He is also due to go to trial for an offence connected to an earlier conviction as a sex offender. Redlich said Rey Jr. is on the national sex offender registry.
Redlich said Rey Jr. was a sometime resident at his father's home in Krydor, otherwise occupied only by Rey Sr. He was sometimes at his father's home, and sometimes in Saskatoon, said Redlich.
It began with a missing person case. Rey Sr. was reported missing by his children to Blaine Lake RCMP May 28. He had not been seen for several months prior to being reported missing.
Apparently, it was not out of character for Rey, originally from Chile, to travel for extended periods of time, but he usually kept in contact with his family during his travels. When RCMP first announced they were looking for Rey, he had not been seen by, nor had he contacted, his family in Chile or Canada since November 2012. He had most recently been seen in Krydor, 100 kilometres east of North Battleford.
Rey Sr. was born and raised in Chile, but has lived in Canada since the 1980s. It was his children here in Canada who reported him missing, said Redlich. He was 70 years old at the time.
Once the investigation led to the conclusion the disappearance of Rey Sr. was suspicious, the RCMP Major Crime Unit North, out of Saskatoon, was brought in to assist.
Redlich said the Forensic Investigation Unit out of North Battleford was also involved.
Now that charges have been laid, the next step is to prepare for the disclosure process, said Redlich.
The Blaine Lake detachment, the major crimes unit and the forensic unit will be preparing their files for disclosure of all information on the investigation. This information is used by both the Crown and defence in court proceedings to follow, said Redlich.
Until the disappearance of Rey Sr., the Blaine Lake detachment has not had to investigate a murder in recent memory. Redlich said the detachment secretary of 31 years recalls no murder investigations, however the detachment has played minor roles in nearby areas such as Shellbrook and Mistiwasis First Nation.
Blaine Lake detachment currently has five members on duty, short by one member, said Redlich.
The detachment area covers Blaine Lake, Leask, Hafford, Marcelin, Speers, Richard, Mayfair and Krydor and the five rural municipalities of Meeting Lake, Leask, Douglas, Redberry and Blaine Lake.
