Residents of a northeast Edmonton neighbourhood are shocked after the discovery of a human head in an alley Wednesday morning, which CTV News has learned is linked to a homicide near Ranfurly, Alta.
The human head was discovered just before 7 a.m. Wednesday, after police were called to the area of 72 Street and 131 A Avenue where it was reported that human remains were found in an alley at that address.
Police say homicide detectives are investigating and an autopsy is scheduled for Thursday.
Residents in the area say they are shocked and upset by the discovery - many saying the neighbourhood isn't safe and one person saying it may be time to move.
Jesse Whitnack saw police in the alley Wednesday morning and started taking photos of the scene with his camera.
"They were putting stuff in bags, more than likely body parts, and then when we were looking at pictures after, we distinguished it was a head," Whitnack said.
"I was supposed to be at work but didn't want to leave my wife at home wtih a decapitated body in the back alley."
The head is linked to a homicide case involving a dead body found in a rural area near Ranfurly, approximately 137 kilometres east of Edmonton, on Saturday night.
A passerby driving on Range Road 121 northeast of Ranfurly noticed an empty pickup truck parked by the side of the road wit the engine running. The passerby discovered a lifeless body lying in the nearby ditch and contacted RCMP.
RCMP said the person died as a result of a homicide, but did not release cause of death or gender of the victim.
Residents in Ranfurly told CTV News they had been hearing repeatedly that the victim was decapitated.
RCMP ask anyone with information to call 780-853-4111 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8277.
Meanwhile Edmonton police are asking anyone with information to call 780-423-4567.
With files from David Ewasuk and Serena Mah
