Edmonton police looking for help in 2009 homicide investigation

Edmonton police are turning to the public in an attempt to gather information regarding a homicide in 2009.

EPS says around 4:10 a.m., on Oct. 6, 2009, officers responded to a 911 call stating a woman was injured lying on the road near 79 Street and 121 Avenue.

Officers and paramedics attended the scene, and took the woman to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, where she died two days later.

Police identified the woman as 37-year-old Michelle Lee Hadwen.

The Edmonton Medical Examiner later completed an autopsy on Hadwen and ruled the death to be a homicide.

Due to the investigation, police say they are continuing to withhold the cause of death. However, did rule out a vehicle collision.

Through an investigation, police spoke to Hadwen’s friends and acquaintances to try and determine what led to the injuries she sustained and her death.

“While Michelle lived a fairly transient lifestyle, she was a highly social person and was well known in several circles that she frequented in areas such as 95 Street and 118 Avenue,” says Detective Kim Jay with the EPS Historical Homicide Section.

“Michelle spent quite a bit of time in establishments such as Reno’s Pub, The Hub, and The York Hotel and we are hopeful that someone who remembers her from these places may have information about the hours leading up to her death.”

Police say on the evening of Oct. 5, 2009, Hadwen had spent several hours at the York Hotel. Video surveillance shows her socializing with several people before she left. Police note, it appears she left alone around 9 p.m., and walked west on 104 Avenue.

“We believe someone saw Michelle between the time she left the York at 9 p.m. on Oct. 5 and the time she was located injured in Eastwood just after 4 a.m. on Oct. 6,” says Jay. “Perhaps someone saw her walking, talking with others, entering a business, travelling in a vehicle, or boarding transit.

“Seemingly minor details could be instrumental in progressing our investigation and may help us finally bring some comfort to Michelle’s grieving family.”

“I have advocated for her since she left fourteen and a half years ago and I will continue to do that,” said Vera Roy, Michelle Hadwen’s Aunt while crying during a police press conference on Friday.

“She left us a long time ago but in my heart, I know somebody is out there who can help us solve this unsolved murder. I’m not going to let this go, we need to have some form of peace and justice. Let Michelle rest in peace.”

“I believe today there is somebody out there who can help and find closure for our families so we can live in peace, and let my daughter rest in peace,” said Andrew Quewezance, Michelle Hadwen’s Father.

“I don’t want to leave this earth without knowing what happened to my Daughter. It’s a hard thing to go through when you don’t have any answers I plead with anybody out there to come forward.”

Police have looked into Hadwen’s case multiple times since 2009, and have not been able to make any arrests.

“There’s been numerous detectives involved. And still, we’re at a point where no one’s been arrested,” said Detective Jay.

“Since I took over the file, I just thought there’s got to be more I can do to generate some leads and generate that information that’s so crucial. I can’t close this file the way it is. So I have to use the platform I have, the tools I have in my roll to try to get justice and advocate for this family.”

An additional newly released video can be found on the Edmonton police website.

If anyone has any information, contact investigators at 780-423-4567 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

-With files from Laura Krause