Two area men face charges including second-degree murder and accessory to murder in relation to the death of a Redwater man who had been missing since late January.
RCMP have recovered the body of 56-year-old Randy Lopushinsky, who was last seen Saturday, Jan. 23, and reported missing Jan. 26 — police have not released where or when the body was found.
“Two individuals have been charged and it’s going to court,” said RCMP ‘K’ Division spokesperson Cpl. Hal Turnbull.
Prior to the discovery of his body, Lopushinsky’s 2007 Ford Escape was recovered in a rural area northwest of Westlock on Sunday, Jan. 30.
On Feb. 13, Redwater RCMP turned over the file to the RCMP Major Crimes Unit when the investigation shifted from a missing-person case to a homicide investigation.
“It was determined at about that time that Mr. Lopushinsky was a victim of homicide,” Turnbull said.
Following their investigation, 41-year-old Jon Irwin Ward, of Thorhild, was charged with second-degree murder on Saturday, Feb. 13.
Three days later, on Tuesday, Feb. 16, Billy Joe Deren, 36, of Rochester was arrested and charged with counts of accessory to murder and offering an indignity to human remains.
Deren appeared in Fort Saskatchewan Provincial Court on Thursday, Feb. 18, while Ward was scheduled to make his first court appearance Feb. 22. RCMP say there are no other suspects in relation to the case.
