October 28, 2022
Baldwinton, Saskatchewan
In February 2022, Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes charged two men with kidnapping and first-degree murder in relation to a 2011 missing persons investigation. Edward "Ted" Geddes was 64-years-old when he was last seen in April, 2011, in the Baldwinton, Saskatchewan area.
After a nearly month-long search, human remains were located on private land in a rural area approximately three kilometers southwest of Baldwinton, Saskatchewan in mid-October, 2022. This comes as a result of continued, extensive investigation by Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes investigators and the support of and collaboration with a forensic anthropologist, North Battleford Forensic Identification Services and RCMP officers from various Saskatchewan RCMP detachments.
"While positive DNA results are needed to confirm the identity of the deceased person, investigation to date has determined the person located is believed to be Edward "Ted" Geddes," shares Superintendent Josh Graham, Officer in Charge of Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes. "We do not anticipate laying further charges in relation to this investigation. While we await DNA confirmation, we hope this development assists with giving Ted's family some closure after over ten years of wondering where he is. His loved ones have been notified and our thoughts are with them."
Specific details related to the search and recovery of the human remains will be part of the ongoing court proceedings.
Two individuals are charged in relation to Ted Geddes' death: Robert Wesley Pich's next court appearance is October 28, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. in North Battleford Provincial Court and John Robert Gregoire's next court appearance is November 8, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. in North Battleford Provincial Court.
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Backgrounder
Kidnapping and first degree murder charges laid in 2011 missing person investigation
2022-02-09
Nearly ten years after Edward (Ted) Keith Geddes was last seen, two men who were known to him are charged with kidnapping and first degree murder in relation to his death.
Ted Geddes was 64-years-old when he was last seen in April, 2011, in the Baldwinton, Saskatchewan area. When RCMP officers went to his residence in Baldwinton as part of an unrelated incident in mid-April that same year, they located Ted's dog dead in the entranceway. The dog's death was not from natural causes.
"When Ted could not be located, RCMP officers started a missing person investigation," shares Insp. Josh Graham, acting Officer in Charge of Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes. "Ted's disappearance was believed to be suspicious in nature shortly after. Concentrated investigative efforts were renewed in 2021 by the Saskatchewan RCMP Historical Case Unit, with the assistance of the RCMP Major Crimes Unit, which ultimately led to our announcement of charges laid."
After a nearly year-long investigation by the Saskatchewan RCMP Historical Case Unit, with the assistance of the RCMP Major Crime Unit, and consultation with Saskatchewan Crown Prosecution, two men were arrested and charged on February 6, 2022 in relation to the death of Ted Geddes.
Robert "Bob" Welsey Pich from the Baldwinton area, is charged with:
- 1 count, first degree murder, section 235(1) of the Criminal Code
- 1 count, kidnapping with a firearm, section 279(1.1)(a) of the Criminal Code
- 1 count, careless use of a firearm, section 86(1) of the Criminal Code
John Robert Gregoire from the Baldwinton area, is charged with:
- 1 count, first degree murder, section 235(1) of the Criminal Code
- 1 count, kidnapping with a firearm, section 279(1.1)(a) of the Criminal Code
- 1 count, Indecently interfering with human remains, section 182(b) of the Criminal Code
Both made their first appearance in North Battleford Provincial Court at 9:30 a.m. on February 8, 2022.
Their next appearance is in North Battleford Provincial Court on March 8, 2022.
This investigation was conducted with the assistance of multiple RCMP units including Cut Knife RCMP Detachment, Saskatchewan RCMP Historical Case Unit with the assistance of the Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crime Unit, RCMP Forensic Identification Section, among others.
Search warrants were executed yesterday at a rural property outside the community of Baldwinton. There will be an increased police presence in this area for the next day.
"As time passes, people responsible for these types of crimes might assume the police aren't investigating them – this is simply not the case. This is just one example that demonstrates the continued perseverance and commitment of our homicide investigators in helping bring a sense of closure for the family and friends of victims of homicide in Saskatchewan. Even if that takes nearly 10 years, as with this case," says Insp. Graham, adding, "This investigation is still ongoing because Ted has not been located. We want to bring that closure to his family, so our investigators will continue to work diligently to try and locate Ted and bring him home."
