Travis Vader's sister testifies about drugs and guns at his Edmonton murder trial

By Tony Blais

Travis Vader’s sister testified at her brother’s murder trial Thursday about drugs and guns, but appeared to backtrack from statements she earlier made to police.

As a result, the Crown asked the judge to look at whether her testimony was inconsistent with the statements so she could be cross-examined as a hostile witness.

A decision by the judge is expected Friday.

Bobbi Jo Vader, 40, testified she had seen her brother "agitated" and "frustrated," and making "funny mouth movements." She figured he was on some kind of drugs.

Crown prosecutor Ashley Finlayson asked her about statements she made to police in 2010 in which she said her brother was using methamphetamines and had told her he was helping make the drugs. She replied she had simply been making assumptions and had never seen him use meth.

"Who knows what he really meant by that. I thought it meant that he used to cook meth," she said, adding that people had told her he was using the drug and she was using drugs herself at the time.

"I assumed the worst. I assumed my brother was using meth, but I shouldn’t have assumed that," she said.

When asked why she would have told police she "knew he was on meth," Bobbi Jo Vader said it was based on what others told her. "I don’t know why I said it ’cause I didn’t know for sure."

She was also asked about seeing her brother on July 4, 2010, and helping unload his belongings from a pickup he was driving.

She testified she told police about being warned by her brother that there were some guns in a blanket in the back of the truck, but said she had never saw any guns and was "a little confused about it" and "couldn’t give an honest answer."

After reviewing the police statements, Bobbi Jo Vader reiterated she hadn’t personally seen any guns and was "confused" by the statement.

"Maybe he did tell me. I’m not really sure and can’t give an honest answer." she said.

On Wednesday, Vader’s ex-girlfriend, Amber Williams, testified that both she and Vader used and sold crystal methamphetamine and were addicted to the drug.

Vader, 44, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the 2010 disappearance of Lyle McCann, 78, and his 77-year-old wife Marie. Their bodies have never been found.

They were last seen July 3, 2010, leaving a Superstore in St. Albert.

Two days later, their motor home was found ablaze and abandoned at a campground by Minnow Lake, near Edson.

The SUV they were towing was found in the woods on a rural property just off of Highway 16 east of Edson on July 16, 2010.

The trial has heard police found Vader’s fingerprints, blood and DNA in the 2006 Hyundai Tucson SUV. A witness has also testified he saw Vader following the couple’s disappearance driving an SUV that looked like the one belonging to the McCanns.