Red Deer man charged in two historical homicides

Gordon Alfred Rogers, 59, of Red Deer, has been charged with two counts of first degree murder in relation to the deaths of Jeanette Jean Chief and Violet Marie Heathen.

Rogers was charged Wednesday by investigators from Alberta (“K” Division) and Saskatchewan (“F” Division) RCMP.

The body of Jeanette Chief, 48, was discovered on June 6, 2007, in a river near Lloydminster, Sask., by an individual who had ventured down to the water. RCMP investigation revealed that the last known sighting of Chief was in Lloydminster on June 2, 2007. An autopsy confirmed that her death was a homicide.

Violet Heathen, 49, was last seen alive in Lloydminster on May 15, 2009. After not hearing from her for approximately two weeks, Heathen’s family reported her missing to the Onion Lake RCMP Detachment. On Nov. 7, 2009, her remains were located in a rural area near Kitscoty, Alta., by a hunter.  Positive identification on the remains was obtained on Dec. 22, 2009. 

The RCMP were able to identify a connection between the two cases after the evidence from extensive investigations conducted by the “K” Division Historical Homicide Unit and “F” Division Historical Case Unit identified Rogers as a person of interest in each file. 

Investigation has determined that Rogers had known Heathen for a few years but that Chief had not known him.

Working collaboratively, investigators arrested Rogers on Tuesday evening in Edmonton. 

Rogers is scheduled to make his first appearance in provincial court in Lloydminster, Alta., on April 5.