The verdict is still out for a Red Deer woman who stands accused of the first/second degree murder of Tyler Johnson, 26, of Grande Prairie. The much-delayed trial has now been scheduled to be continued next year.
Johnson’s remains were found in a burned-down house near Ermineskin Cree Nation on March 8, 2021, although it wasn't until Oct. 2021, that the remains were identified as his.
The RCMP Major Crimes Unit's investigation included the assistance of the Maskwacis RCMP, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, an anthropologist, and an RCMP Police Dog Services member.
Firestorm Consulting Group was also contracted to determine the origin and cause of the fire.
Johnson was last heard from on Jan. 12, 2021. His last-known locations were south Edmonton, Wetaskiwin and Maskwacis. Edmonton Police Service released a missing person notification about Johnson on Feb. 4.
Investigators were also searching for his vehicle, a 2004 Audi A4.
Following the investigation, Brianna Lindsay Ruf-Deitz, (now 34), who was a resident of Red Deer at the time, was arrested on Oct. 12, 2021, in Edmonton and charged in connection to Johnson's death.
After several adjournments between Oct. 2021 and April 2023, a jury trial for Ruf-Deitz was set for March 4 to 15, 2024 at the Wetaskiwin Court of King’s Bench.
While the trial started as scheduled on March 4, it was adjourned on March 8 with a new court date set for March 19. The court file information didn't include the reason for the adjournment.
While the file doesn’t indicate if the accused was present for the March 19 hearing of not, according to court documents, an F8 Warrant for Committal was issued for Ruf-Deitz.
In Alberta, a Form 8 Warrant for Committal under the Mental Health Act is an order from the courts to apprehend an individual and take them to a facility or secure location for an examination.
A Form 8 can be issued if the individual is suffering from a mental disorder and is considered likely to harm others or suffer negative effects such as substantial mental or physical deterioration or, is subject to a community treatment order and is not complying with the order. (formsmgmt.gov.ab.ca)
Ruf-Deitz was to appear in Wetaskiwin Court of King's Bench on April 9, to set a date, then April 26, in Edmonton, and again on May 14 in Wetaskiwin.
On May 14, a warrant for committal was again issued.
The continuation of the trial has been scheduled for Feb. 3, 2025, at the Edmonton Court of King's Bench.
