Arrest made in more than two decade old Calgary murder case
Posted Mar 7, 2018 3:24 pm.
Last Updated Mar 7, 2018 6:33 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Daniel Boysis lived a semi-transient life, according to the Calgary Police Service. He was 22-years-old when he was last seen alive on Dec. 1, 1996, but was not reported missing for another two years.
“His body was never found,” said Staff Sgt. Colin Chisolm at a news conference on Wednesday, when police announced charges in Boysis’ death.
“Sometimes time is of a hindrance to an investigation and sometimes time is beneficial to an investigation. There are times when people’s allegiances change, people’s motivation to come forward changes,” said Chisolm.
On Tuesday, 57-year-old Randolph Edward Westman of Edmonton was charged with second degree murder and indignity to a body. He was arrested while visiting Calgary and officers said he was not being cooperative with their investigation.
CPS first suspected foul play in Boysis’ death in 1998. A homicide investigation was launched but the case went cold until June 20, 2016, when officers reopened the file for review. They believed they had strong DNA evidence in 1998, and officers gathered more information and sent samples back to the lab. They’re still waiting on test results to potentially be used in court.
At the time of Boysis’ disappearance, he and Westman were roommates living together in the Falconridge home where the victim was last seen. Police believe Westman fatally attacked Boysis and disposed of his body.
“From [the family’s] perspective they’re glad to know what has happened to him, but at the same time, to learn that he’s been murdered is difficult,” said Chisolm.
Investigators do not believe they’ll ever find Boysis’ remains.
