Rural Alberta community mixed about Vader re-arrest

Residents in Carrot Creek have mixed emotions about the recent arrest in their rural community of Travis Vader -- the man accused of killing two St. Albert seniors who vanished nearly five years ago.

Around 10:30 p.m. on Feb. 28, the 43-year-old was arrested when a rural resident of the community called to report a truck had pulled into his driveway, staying in the yard for an extended period of time. It's the second time in less than a month Vader is back in custody for breaching conditions of his release while he awaits his murder trial.

"I am not overly surprised. Travis is probably one of those guys who can't help but be in trouble," said Aime Auriat, who's dealt with Vader a number of times through business transactions over the years. Vader and his family are from the rural area about 160 km west of Edmonton, 30 km east of Edson.

"He was always a pretty darn good guy in that respect. He's not all bad, but he certainly had problems."

Vader is facing two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Lyle McCann, 78, and his 77-year-old wife Marie. The seniors were last seen July 3, 2010, fuelling up their motorhome in St. Albert and were on their way to Chiliwack, B.C., for a vacation. But they never made it.

Two days later, their RV was found engulfed in flames near the Minnow Lake campground, about 20 km east of Edson, in the Carrot Creek area. Their SUV was found six days later near Carrot Creek, located between Peers and Niton Junction, 30 km east of Edson.

The couple's bodies have never been found, but RCMP believe they were killed near Peers on or about the day they were last seen.

Vader was charged with their murders in April 2012, but the charges were stayed last March, just weeks before the trial was slated to begin. The charges, however, were resurrected again on Dec. 19, but Vader was released on bail four days later on house arrest.

On Feb. 12, Vader was back in cuffs again, this time thanks to St. Albert RCMP. He was charged with assault and failing to comply with a condition of his release, but was again granted bail.

Auriat recalled how the massive search for the McCanns came close to his property, which is why he -- and several others living in the area -- have followed the case with interest.

Another resident said everyone in the community knows of or has met Vader at some point.

Ed Brandle sold Vader a few chainsaws in the past and was surprised to hear about the latest arrest.

"I thought he would try and keep straight for a while," Brandle said.

While some residents in the area are not surprised by Vader's trouble with the law, some believe he may just be a scapegoat.

"Once a person is let go that's been accused of murder, how can they re-arrest him for the same crime? It doesn't make any sense to me," said one woman, who did not want to publish her name.

Her husband describes Vader's family as "good people."

"I think most people were stunned to silence. They couldn't understand what was going on," he said, of the murder charges being acquitted, then re-instated.

"That used to be a pretty serious charge being charged with murder. You don't go out and walk around freely when you are charged with that."

Vader is slated to appear in an Edson courtroom March 17 on his latest charges of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and six counts of failing to comply with court-ordered conditions. His murder trial is set for March 2016.

Pamela.roth@sunmedia.ca

@SUNpamelaroth