Fort McMurray, AB – Today, the RCMP released the name of the 25 year-old man whose body was found by emergency personnel responding to a fire at his Fort McMurray trailer-home on January 6, 2015. Two days later, an autopsy determined the death of Jonathan Bennett to be a homicide and that he did not die as a result of the fire. The RCMP is not releasing the cause of death and has yet to receive the final report from fire investigators as to the cause of the fire at the Grandview Drive home where Bennett lived with two male roommates.
Today, the RCMP also released video footage of a car driving past Bennett’s home several times on January 6th before the fire was reported. Police believe the car to be a newer model BMW 3 Series four-door sedan. The footage also shows a man wearing a red or orange work coverall with reflective bands on the sleeves and pant legs walking near Bennett’s home shortly before the fire. Police also released a still photograph of the vehicle, which shows the driver wearing red or orange coloured clothing with reflective stripes.
“We’d like to be able to speak with the individuals in the video. The number of people who work in Fort McMurray, but live elsewhere, can make locating people we’d like to speak to a bit harder at times,” said Cpl. Erick Youngstrom of the RCMP. “We are asking the public to look at the footage. If you recognize yourself, the car or someone you know in the video, please call us, so we can get one step closer to finding out what happened to Jonathan.”
The RCMP is asking anyone who may have information that could help them identify the white car, the driver, or the man on foot to contact Wood Buffalo RCMP at (587) 644-1271. Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8977 (TIPS) or at www.tipsubmit.com. You do not have to reveal your identity to Crime Stoppers, and if you provide information to Crime Stoppers that leads to an arrest(s), the recovery of stolen property, and/or a seizure of illicit drugs, you may be eligible for a cash reward.