EDMONTON - Travis Edward Vader, a person of interest in the case of an elderly Alberta couple missing for two weeks, has been arrested by Edmonton RCMP on outstanding warrants.
Vader, 38, was sought in connection with the disappearance of Lyle McCann, 78, and his wife, Marie, 77.
RCMP said Vader was arrested without incident early Monday morning at a rural residence near Niton Junction, some 70 kilometres west of Edmonton. He was taken into custody by the Edmonton RCMP emergency response team, with assistance from the Edmonton police tactical unit and the fugitive apprehension sheriff support team (FASST).
"Vader is currently in custody on the outstanding warrants and will be interviewed concerning the McCann missing persons case," the RCMP said in a statement. "The location of Vader's arrest will be the subject of the continuing investigation."
During the course of the two-week investigation, police said they received over 130 tips on the whereabouts of Vader and over 170 tips on the McCanns and their vehicles - a 1999 motor home and a light green 2006 Hyundai Tucson.
Over the weekend, Vader's mother had urged her son to turn himself in to police.
"I just want him to come forward," Jennifer Vader said outside the family home in MacKay, a rural hamlet 150 kilometres west of Edmonton. "I want him to turn himself in."
The seniors were last seen July 3 when they filled up at a gas station in their hometown of St. Albert, Alta., on their way to British Columbia. Their credit cards haven't been used since.
Two days after the McCanns went missing, their motor home was found burning at a campground about 60 kilometres southwest of MacKay, where Vader graduated from high school and lived much of his adult life.
On July 10, seven days after they were last seen, the McCanns were reported missing when they didn't arrive to meet their daughter in Abbotsford, B.C.
On Friday, police found their missing SUV in the bush near Carrot Creek, 20 kilometres from MacKay. As recently as a month ago, Vader was living on a acreage just up the road from his parents' home.
Police said the search of the area surrounding the SUV recovery site has been completed and the SUV has been examined by the Forensic Identification Unit.
Vader is wanted in connection with at least 17 drug, gun, theft and arson charges stemming from two separate incidents.
Vader is accused of burning his own property on Dec. 8, 2009 in a manner that threatened someone else or their property.
But on Sunday, neighbour Herb Nichols described Vader as a "good kid" and a "hard worker."
Meanwhile, on July 12, a log house, four outbuildings, two tractors and a truck, along with a pile of wood, were set on fire on an acreage just north of Niton Junction.
The fires were suspicious, and RCMP have been looking into whether they are related to this case.
With files from Edmonton Journal
CNS 7/19/10 12:31:26
