Almost four years to the day it happened, charges have been laid in the murder of an Edmonton woman.
The body of Shernell Sharon Pierre, 26, was discovered in a burnt out vehicle on 170 street and 87 avenue on March 12, 2008.
Pierre was last seen leaving her job at the Misericordia Hospital and walking to her vehicle.
She was found 15 minutes later with the car on fire.
Police now have charged Devon Hugh Saunders, 43, with first degree murder.
Saunders was Pierre’s ex-boyfriend.
“This was a very difficult investigation because as you recall, the entire scene was consumed by fire,” Homicide Detective Staff Sgt. Dennis Storey told reporters.
Experts from outside the EPS were brought in to help the investigation, but as time passed more tips and witnesses came forward.
“The crime was so horrific we found there was a certain level of fear in some of the witnesses,” says Storey, “As time went by, this fear dissipated and we re-interviewed the witnesses and from new information we were able to move this investigation forward.”
Pierre’s family says they are happy with the news.
“I have mixed feelings because I’m sad for my family but also the family of the accused,” says Pierre’s sister, Jolin Thompson, “I’m happy it has reached this point and if there is somebody dangerous out there, we don’t need him out there to hurt somebody else.”
“I do miss her but I’ve come to the realization that she is gone. She is not coming back.”
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