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Post by Sher on Jul 18, 2005 1:38:12 GMT -5
Edmonton police report finding body in search CTV.ca News Staff
Searchers in Edmonton have discovered a body, but police aren't saying yet if it's that of a missing pregnant woman.
People last reported seeing Liana White, 29, early Tuesday morning.
A police spokesman said Sunday the body was discovered about 5 p.m. local time.
He wouldn't say if it was a man or a woman.
Nor would he say if the search for White would continue on Monday; however, police did say Michael White, Liana's husband, was with the volunteer search team when the corpse was found.
"A positive ID of the deceased will not be available until an autopsy is completed,'' police spokeswoman Lisa Lammi told reporters later Sunday evening.
She could not say when an autopsy will be scheduled.
White worked as a medical clerk. Her SUV was found at a local park. Her keys were in the vehicle's ignition and some of her belongings were scattered on the ground.
The official search for her got underway on Saturday.
Volunteers and police covered about eight square kilometres of land in north Edmonton.
Michael began his own unofficial search Friday night. He used friends and family members to try to find Liana. His search focused on areas outside the official zone.
Police said he has been helpful and co-operative during their investigation.
To this point, the police had described the case as a missing persons case.
While a forensic team had examined the White home on Saturday, police said it was routine.
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Post by Sher on Jul 18, 2005 20:26:16 GMT -5
As the questions mount in the Liana White case, so do the suspicions.
A husband pleads for his wife's return - and then he happens to be in the search crew that finds her body. The body is found on the city's outskirts - like that of several others killed by someone apparently stalking Edmonton women -but police don't want to talk about it.
Michael White is barred from his home while police comb it for clues, but investigators continue to insist that there is no evidence of a crime.
A police source told The Canadian Press on Monday that White, a 28-year-old heavy-duty mechanic, was brought in for questioning Sunday night - the same a day he issued a heartfelt denial of any involvement in his wife's disappearance. It was news that city residents both dreaded and expected ever since Liana White was reported missing last Tuesday.
Her Ford Explorer was abandoned just blocks from her home, with her purse, shoes and cellphone scattered nearby. Nothing appeared to have been taken, said police, nor were there any signs of a struggle.
Michael, a former soldier, and Liana, a medical records clerk, lived an apparently happy life with their two-year-old daughter in the north Edmonton neighbourhood of Castle Downs. Down the street from their home Monday, Noreen Day's eyes filled with tears as she switched off her lawnmower to talk about the missing woman.
"I'm hoping it's not her body," Day said. "There's a little girl who will be without a mom now, which is pretty sad."
Day said she's been tense and nervous all week and watched closely as search teams looked behind her home Sunday afternoon.
"Even when it has rained, I've thought about her out in the rain - and it's really bothered me," she said.
Day and her husband have watched as a steady stream of vehicles drove up and down their street, trying to get a look at the home in the centre of the tragedy. The neighbours are abuzz about the case, she said.
"It doesn't make sense for how her stuff was spread out," she said.
"Her cellphone, everything is there. No skid marks. It doesn't make sense."
On Sunday, before he and a crew of volunteer searchers came across the body near a farmer's field, Michael White said his nights over the last week have alternated between nightmares and sleeplessness.
"If they're thinking it was the husband, forget the husband. Let's find my wife," he told the Edmonton Sun.
Police have always said White is not a suspect but they began combing through the couple's single-storey home Saturday and the house remained off-limits to all but police on Monday. They have not said what, if anything, was found and did not return media calls on Monday.
The fact that Liana White is four months pregnant has prompted chilling comparisons to Scott Peterson, a California man convicted of killing his wife, Laci, and their unborn child. But White told the Sun that unlike Peterson, he was thrilled to discover Liana was pregnant again and both were looking forward to having a sibling for their two-year-old daugher.
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Post by Sher on Jul 18, 2005 20:26:54 GMT -5
Missing woman's husband facing murder charge CTV.ca News Staff
Michael White -- husband of a missing, pregnant Edmonton woman -- has been charged with second-degree murder and committing an indignity to a dead body.
White was taken in by police Sunday night, shortly after volunteer searchers found a body on the outskirts of Edmonton.
A police spokesperson said Sunday the body was discovered about 5 p.m. local time. Police would not say if the body was that of a man or a woman. An autopsy will be done Tuesday.
Police say they still haven't confirmed the identity of the body that was found.
Liana White, 29, hasn't been seen since early Tuesday morning. She was four months pregnant with the couple's second child.
In a statement Sunday, police said Michael White was with the volunteer search team when they found the body.
Liana White worked as a medical clerk in a hospital, where she missed her shift on July 12. Her SUV was found at a local park. Her keys were in the vehicle's ignition and some of her belongings were scattered on the ground.
Police said there were no signs of a struggle, and nothing appeared to have been taken.
The official search for her got underway on Saturday. Volunteers and police covered about eight square kilometres of land in north Edmonton.
Michael -- a heavy-duty mechanic and former soldier -- began his own unofficial search Friday night. He used friends and family members to try to find Liana. His search focused on areas outside the official zone.
The couple lived in the north Edmonton neighborhood of Castle Downs. They have one two-year-old daughter.
While a forensic team had examined the White home on Saturday, police said it was routine.
Police dispatched a forensics van on Monday to the site where the body was found.
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Post by Sher on Jul 19, 2005 14:39:07 GMT -5
Here is the latest on this case guys. Police have confirmed through dental records that the body found Sunday evening is that of Liana White. The cause of death has yet to be released, they are estimating that she was killed between the 11th and 12th of july. As far as the state of the body, there were signs of deterioration and she was wearing some clothing. Michael White, her husband, made his first court appearance today and I will have an update on that as soon as I know more. LE did state however that they laid the 2nd degree murder charge because there is no sign that this was a premeditated murder. I'll post more as soon as the information becomes available.
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Post by Sher on Jul 19, 2005 17:18:19 GMT -5
A bit more information for you on this case. LE stated that there were signs of a struggle on Liana's body. Still are being hushed about the cause of death as well as a motive. Michael White, showed no emotion while in court today and new information is surfacing about his time in the Canadian Forces. It was reported that in 2002 he was courtmartialed because of theft. Later tonight I will have more information about Michael and his time in the military and such.
And on a personal note, I just want to say that I pray for their three year old little girl who is now without a mother and a father.
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Post by Sher on Jul 19, 2005 17:25:43 GMT -5
Woman's body showed signs of struggle: Police CTV.ca News Staff
Edmonton police have confirmed a body found Sunday evening is that of missing woman Liana White.
But despite an autopsy performed Tuesday morning, police say they still don't have a cause of death, although they say there were signs of a struggle.
Detective Michael Campeau said her body was in a state of decomposition. Dental records were used identify her.
Police charged Michael White, 28, Monday afternoon with his 29-year-old pregnant wife's killing.
He made a court appearance earlier today and reserved plea on charges of second-degree murder and committing an indignity to a dead body.
"Because it was found in a rural area, disposed of improperly," Campeau said, to explain the second charge.
Michael's next court appearance is set for July 26.
Liana's body was found Sunday in a roadside ditch near a farmer's field located about a 15-minute drive from her family's home.
White showed little emotion as he scanned the courtroom while the charges were read out.
The Edmonton woman, who was four months pregnant, had been missing since last week, when she failed to show up for work on July 12. She leaves behind a three-year-old daughter named Ashley.
Her SUV was found at a local park. Her keys were in the vehicle's ignition and some of her belongings were scattered on the ground. Police said there were no signs of a struggle, and nothing appeared to have been taken.
Michael began his own unofficial search Friday night. He used friends and family members to try to find Liana. His search focused on areas outside the official zone.
"Just stay there, we'll find you. We will. I'll find you," he said tearfully in a television interview last week.
While the case began as a simple missing person investigation, "clearly throughout the week last week, we became aware of certain evidence that changed our focus to Michael White," Campeau said.
"There's still many leads to follow up on," Campeau said.
But he also offered this perspective: "It's not a victory for the police service, it's a tragic day for two families."
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Post by Sher on Aug 25, 2005 14:03:05 GMT -5
Michael White, who is accused of killing his pregnant wife, will be in provincial court tomorrow for a bail hearing on a charge of indignity to a dead body.
He has been charged with second-degree murder, as well as indignity to a dead body in the death of his 29-year-old wife, Liana White.
White's lawyer, Larry Anderson, said they are still waiting for full disclosure from the Crown in the case. He said he hopes that will come this week.
White made a brief court appearance yesterday. Anderson said White can't ask for bail on the second-degree murder charge in provincial court. Liana's abandoned vehicle was discovered in a soccer field parking lot around 7:30 a.m. on July 12.
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Post by Sher on Aug 25, 2005 14:03:43 GMT -5
Liana White 29 years old ... 5'4 ...150lbs...brown hair and eyes...fair complected...4 months pregnant
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Post by Sher on Sept 22, 2005 17:54:18 GMT -5
A heartbroken Maureen Kelly stood in front of the wooden cross that marks the place where the decomposing body of her daughter, Liana White, was found.
"It was a brutal murder," she said, touching the cross she erected with the help of friends and EPS Det. Mike Campeau.
"It bothers me to think she must have been so scared. To have this happen to her is outrageous ... I miss her so much. I miss her phone calls, I miss seeing her. My heart's broken."
White, 29, disappeared July 12, when her Ford truck was found abandoned in a parking lot next to a soccer field at 157 Avenue and 116 Street.
Her body was discovered at Range Road 251 and Township Road 542 on July 17. A medical examiner concluded she died of "homicidal violence." She was four months' pregnant when she died.
Her husband, Michael White, has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with her death.
Kelly visits the cross from time to time, just to make sure it's still there and no one has disturbed it. A passerby placed a yellow ribbon on it, she said.
Among the broken branches, some of which were used to cover Liana's body, there are still visible tufts of the woman's long, brown hair.
"I just want to know everything," said Kelly, 51. "I want answers. I want to know what happened ... I'm trying to understand what happened."
Kelly recalls that terrible day in July when Michael White called her at 8 a.m. to say Liana was missing. She ran over to their home.
"I was absolutely terrified," she said. "I was stiff. The fear was indescribable. I heard a helicopter flying overhead and I asked the detective if that was for Liana, and he said yes. It really sunk in how serious this was."
She worried as it began to grow dark that police wouldn't be able to find her daughter. She went outside in the middle of the night.
"I thought, 'Oh, what a large city ... Where will they even begin looking for her?' "
Five days later, a search party led by Michael White found her body at Range Road 251 and Township Road 542.
The body was so badly decomposed police had to use dental records to identify her, said Kelly.
An exhausted Kelly said she was shocked. But she's been able to pick up the pieces of her life and go on.
She's received custody of White's three-year-old daughter, Ashley and the two are going to counselling.
"I have a child to care for now," said Kelly. "I am caring for her, I have to continue caring for her. And I want to do it.
"She's my focal point now. Poor little girl. One day she has a mother and a father and a home and the next day mom's dead, dad's in jail. Her world's been turned upside down."
An Edmonton police chaplain explained to Ashley that her mother was "broken" and couldn't be "fixed."
"Ashley wants to know if she can be alive again," said Kelly.
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Post by Sher on Oct 7, 2005 19:14:04 GMT -5
Ok, this is being reported on the news today about Michael White, Liana's husband.
He has been charged with her murder but yet a judge today has granted him bail at 10,000.
Now, he killed his 4 month pregnant wife, faked a scene to lead police to believe she was abducted, dumped her body in a ditch just outside of the city. And now he is going to be out on the streets again. Granted they set conditions. 1. No weapons 2. Curfew 3. Cannot leave the province 4. Must have court permission to see his three year old child.
Umm come on. He should not be let out. What is wrong with LE and judges? Why are these people being let out to be free???
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Post by Sher on Oct 26, 2005 8:45:09 GMT -5
More than 2,000 people have signed their names to a petition to have accused wife killer Michael White's bail revoked.
Castledowns resident Dena Gallant is giving the petition to Edmonton-Castle Downs MLA Thomas Lukaszuk today.
"We knew the Crown was appealing (the bail) and we wanted to support that appeal," she said.
The petition calls on Lukaszuk and Alberta Justice Minister Ron Stevens to urge the province to "use any and all means" to revoke White's bail.
White, 28, faces charges of second-degree murder and offering an indignity to a dead body in the July slaying of his pregnant wife, Liana.
Lukaszuk said he plans to send the petition to Federal Justice Minister Irwin Cotler along with a request to review parole, bail and alternative sentences in the Criminal Code.
"The fact that they managed to get 640 signatures in the span of one day tells me this is an issue that is on top of Canadians' minds," Lukaszuk said.
"I'm convinced this is not just about the White case."
He said he thinks support for the petition reflects the public's level of dissatisfaction with the judicial system.
Gallant said people far beyond the Castledowns neighbourhood where White lives called her to sign the petition.
She said another petition being circulated by a Stony Plain resident has at least 250 signatures.
A Court of Queen's Bench justice granted White $10,000 bail on Oct. 7. He returned to his Warwick Crescent home five days later, sparking outrage among neighbours.
A date of Nov. 9 has been set for arguments on whether a panel of three Court of Appeal judges will hear the Crown's appeal of White's bail.
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Post by Sher on Feb 22, 2006 17:21:27 GMT -5
Bail revoked for Michael White By TONY BLAIS, Court Bureau Michael White leaves his north end home to speak to reporters July 19, 2005. (David Bloom, Sun Media) The revolving doors of justice have been slammed shut on accused wife-killer Michael White after Alberta’s highest court revoked his bail and ordered him kept in custody. As well, a three-judge panel of the Court of Appeal of Alberta ruled there is no ban on publication of the proceedings and alleged incriminating evidence gathered by the police in the July slaying can now be reported. About an hour after the appeal court decision was released at 9:30 a.m. yesterday, White, 29, left work and turned himself in at city police headquarters. The appeal court panel ruled White should be kept behind bars pending his trial – which they recommended should be held in May or June – in order to maintain confidence in the administration of justice. “We think that this too is one of those rare cases where it is necessary to deny bail in order to maintain public confidence in the justice system,” says the ruling. White is charged with second-degree murder and offering an indignity to a dead body in the death of Liana White, who was four months pregnant at the time. The 29-year-old mother disappeared on July 12, when her Ford Explorer was found abandoned in a parking lot next to a soccer field at 157 Avenue and 116 Street. Five days later, a search party led by Michael White found her body at Range Road 251 and Township Road 542. The body was so badly decomposed that police had to usedental records to ID her. The day after the body was found, White was charged. The heavy-duty mechanic was released from the Edmonton Remand Centre on $10,000 bail in October. White’s release was greeted with community outrage and one Castledowns resident organized a petition of more than 2,000 names to have the accused killer’s bail revoked. A preliminary hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to warrant a trial is slated for March 1.
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Post by Sher on Feb 22, 2006 17:25:03 GMT -5
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Post by Sher on Feb 24, 2006 4:32:21 GMT -5
Disturbing evidence gathered by police in the murder case against alleged wife killer Michael White can now be revealed.
That's thanks to a decision by the Court of Appeal of Alberta, which sided with lawyers for the media, including the Edmonton Sun, and agreed there is no justification to order a publication ban on proceedings before the appeal court similar to the order by the Court of Queen's Bench.
Slaying victim Liana White, a 29-year-old mother who was four months pregnant, disappeared on July 12 when her 1991 Ford Explorer was found abandoned in a parking lot next to a playground at 157 Avenue and 116 Street.
In evidence before an appeal court panel, police allege the Explorer was recorded on a video security camera at Richard's Pub about 5 a.m. going from the direction of the White home to the playground where it was abandoned.
Twelve minutes later the video shows a man, whom police identify as matching White's description, running from the playground area back toward the nearby White home.
When police arrived at the abandoned Explorer, they found the front door open and items strewn about the inside, including the victim's wallet, and a pair of women's shoes neatly lined up outside, court heard.
Cops also noted the placement of the seat and the interior rear view mirror was adjusted to fit a person of White's size, as opposed to his significantly smaller wife.
Two days after the disappearance, police spotted White about 10:30 p.m. in a grassy field between his home and the spot where the body was later found, and saw him pick up two garbage bags and return them to his vehicle.
Cops watched White bring the bags home and later that night saw him put them out for garbage pickup the next morning. They were then seized with a search warrant.
Inside the bags, police found bloody cleaning materials, a broken lamp that matched a lamp found in the Whites' bedroom, gloves, two bloody sponges and bloody clothing identified by White as belonging to him, court heard.
In new evidence presented to the appeal panel, court heard DNA testing of blood found on some of the items in the garbage bags showed it belonged to Liana White. As well, the only DNA found belonged to Liana and Michael.
Blood was also found in various locations in the couple's bedroom and in the back of the Explorer.
Other new evidence included an autopsy report showing Liana White was stabbed to death and she had cuts on her hand consistent with defensive wounds from a struggle.
The report noted two stab wounds to the back area and said the exact fatal wound could not be identified due to body decomposition, but was likely in the neck region.
Court also heard Liana White's body was found face down in a ditch with her bra above her head and her panties pulled down. None of her other clothing has been found.
The panel was also told the Whites' then-three-year-old daughter was either with White or left alone at the home when he allegedly disposed of the body and tried to hide or destroy incriminating evidence.
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Post by Sher on Dec 8, 2006 1:02:16 GMT -5
An Edmonton jury has found Michael White guilty of second-degree murder in the death of his pregnant wife.
"When Michael White entered the courtroom he had that same look on his face that he had during media interviews -- sort of confused, bewildered and sad," reported CTV's Sarah Galashan on Thursday.
"He hung his head down when he heard the verdict, and the jury was stoic when delivering their decision."
Second-degree murder carries a minimum sentence of life in prison, with no chance of parole for at least 10 years. The jury has recommended White serve at least 15 years before he's eligible for parole.
But Maureen Kelly, mother of the victim, Liana White, said that would be too lenient for the killer of her daughter.
"Fifteen years seems quite light for a murder. My daughter lost her life and he still has a second chance," she told reporters outside the courthouse.
Jurors began deliberating Wednesday afternoon, after a judge said the Crown's case was largely circumstantial.
"It would be an unusual case in which the jury could say, 'We know everything there is to know about this case,'" Justice Mary Moreau, of Court of Queen's Bench, told the seven-woman, five-man jury.
The jury also found White guilty of offering an indignity to human remains.
Liana White went missing on July 12 and her husband later made a tearful public appearance, vowing to find her.
He testified in court that he organized his own search party, including his mother, and found Liana's decomposed body in a ditch on July 17, north of Edmonton's outskirts.
Investigators concluded that Liana White, 29, had been stabbed to death. She was four months pregnant at the time.
According to Kelly, the couple's three-year-old daughter Ashley may have witnessed brief glimpses of the murder.
"She was in the house the night it happened. I believe she saw pieces of it. I don't think she saw everything that happened," said Kelly.
Moreau had told jurors they should not reach a guilty verdict unless they were absolutely convinced White murdered his wife.
"It is not enough for you to believe that Mr. White is probably or likely guilty of second-degree murder," she said. "Proof of probably or likely guilt is not proof beyond a reasonable doubt."
The Crown argued that blood matching Liana White's DNA was found in the couple's house. More blood was found in garbage bags in White's possession.
White's lawyer, Laura Stevens, argued investigators did not find nearly enough blood in the house to account for a fatal stabbing.
White testified the blood came from a nosebleed his wife suffered, when their daughter Ashley jumped on the couple's bed with a coat rack.
But the Crown countered that bloodstains on the bedroom wall were consistent with a stabbing, while bruises on Liana White's body indicated she may have been dragged across a carpet and down stairs.
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