Man Accused Of Murders Of Calgary Mom And Child Had Criminal History

In a case that has gripped Canada, the man who stands accused of the murders of Calgary mom Sara Baillie and her 5-year-old daughter Taliyah Marsman has been revealed to have had a 20-year criminal history, according to Toronto Star.

The Calgary murder has been called “devastating” by Calgary police involved in the search for Taliyah, and according to CKMW, there is an ongoing investigation into the case, although Edward Delten Downey is currently the only suspect in the murder.

“The family is devastated, the investigators involved obviously impacted, but there’s lots of work to still do,” Inspector Don Coleman noted of the case.

Downey is apparently believed to be known to Baillie, Taliyah, and her father Colin Marsman, though as yet, it is uncertain as to how well that knowledge ran.

“We believe that Mr. Downey is known to all three; Sara, Taliyah and the father Colin, we believe that to be the case… [but] I don’t know what the level of trust would have been there,” he said.

According to Toronto Star, Downey is also forbidden from contacting Marsman – an order filed when documents were filed against Downey. Alberta Premier Rachel Notley and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau both offered their condolences about the tragic Calgary murder. Both were in town for the Calgary Stampede.

“In the face of such senseless and tragic loss we reach out with love and with a desire to help each other,” Notley said.

“We all need to take a moment to send our love and hearts out to Taliyah and Sara’s family,” said Trudeau.

Baillie and Taliyah were sharing a basement suite in Calgary prior to the murder, according to Sudbury. Coleman noted that there was still evidence being collected in the field where Taliyah’s body was found. The investigation has concluded thus far that Taliyah was already dead by the time police were called Monday, July 11, when Baillie did not show up for work.

Taliyah was last seen by relatives on Sunday and was seen with her mother later that day via a security camera when the two visited a local Dairy Queen. By Monday, there was a girl who matched Taliyah’s description carrying a suitcase and following a man.

An Amber Alert was issued in the case when Taliyah could not be found after Baillie’s body was discovered in the home on Monday. Taliyah’s body was discovered east of the city on a rural property on July 14.

Calgary Police Chief Roger Chaffin said that there had been 100 officers working nonstop trying to get some answers with regard to the murder case. He also acknowledged that the officers were struggling with the tragic outcome.

“Unfortunately they are completely devastated by the loss, as am I,” he said.

The Calgary murder case’s only suspect has also been previously sentenced to 18 months for aiding and abetting prostitution in 1998 and fined $250 for using a stolen credit card in 1990.

Downey, 46, has also dealt with other charges over the years related to stolen property, drugs, weapons, and prostitution, but they were withdrawn. He has currently been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the Calgary murder case.

According to CBC, Downey and Taliyah’s father, Colin Marsman, share a gang connection to North Preston’s Finest, a gang known for its ties to prostitution and human trafficking. North Preston’s Finest was on CBC as recently as June 2016, when a gang that reportedly evolved from the Nova Scotia-based gang was dismantled following Project Sizzle, where more than 250 charges were laid and thousands of dollars worth of drugs, weapons and jewelry were seized.

The Calgary murder case continues to unfold.

[Image via Dave Cournoyer from Edmonton, Canada (Rachel Notley) [CC BY-SA 2.0] via Wikimedia Commons]