Saturday, Oct 11, 2014 06:00 am

By: Amy Crofts

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  FREE MAN - Once charged with the murders of Lyle and Marie McCann, Travis Vader was acquitted on unrelated charges and set free Wednesday night.

  File photo
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The man once charged with the murders of Lyle and Marie McCann was set free Wednesday evening.

Travis Vader was acquitted of nine charges including theft, drug trafficking, careless storage of a firearm and breach of recognizance – charges unrelated to the McCann case – in an Edmonton courtroom Wednesday.

Vader was previously convicted of the charges but a mistrial was declared in October 2012 due to a lack of proper disclosure of evidence.

Vader, 42, was formally charged in the disappearance of the St. Albert couple nearly two years after he was named a suspect.

The elderly couple went missing in July 2010 on a trip to British Columbia to visit family. The burnt-out shell of the McCanns' motorhome was discovered at a campground near Edson a few days later.

Crown prosecutors stayed the first-degree murder charges against Vader in March, one month before trial, stating "the Crown cannot continue prosecution unless there is opportunity to review all the evidence, especially if there is new evidence from investigators."

Prosecutors can bring the charges back to court within one year.

In April, Vader launched a $1 million lawsuit against 60 people including Crown prosecutors, RCMP and the attorney general of Canada.

The statement of claim stated RCMP and the Crown deliberately prolonged the prosecution of the homicide charges despite there being "no reasonable prospect of conviction."

It also includes allegations made in an earlier statement of claim filed in February for $150,000. That claim stated that RCMP held Vader in custody under fraudulent charges to buy them more time to gather evidence for another investigation.

Prior to being released Wednesday, Vader had been in custody more than four years.

McCann investigation still active

When contacted by the Gazette on Thursday, Oct. 9, the McCanns’ son Bret did not wish to comment on Vader’s release, instead issuing a brief statement to the media:

"Our parents went missing in July 2010, and the past four years have been extremely difficult for us. However, during that time we have come to realize that Mom and Dad raised us to be resilient, strong, patient and loving people."

"This was their gift to us and it has served us well throughout this ordeal, and will continue to do so until the investigation into their deaths is resolved."

Although the McCanns were legally declared dead in July 2011, their bodies have never been found.

The family still regularly meets with RCMP to discuss the investigation, said Bret.

A $60,000 reward, raised by the McCann family, the City of St. Albert, Crime Stoppers and several private donors, is still available for any information relating to their whereabouts.

Anyone with any information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or the St. Albert RCMP at 780-458-7700.