Two men were apprehended and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the vanishing of a woman from Calgary in February, the Calgary Police Service stated Wednesday.
Chelsea Davidenas, 29, was last seen on Saturday, Feb. 17, and was reported missing by her family on Tuesday, Feb. 27, after they couldn’t reach her. Since then, police said they received multiple tips and have taken “several investigative steps” to try and locate Davidenas.
Police said considering the evidence they have, investigators believe that foul play was involved and Davidenas was a victim of a homicide.
As per the news release, Davidenas was allegedly enticed into a residence in the 5600 block of Rundlehorn Drive Northeast in the early hours of Saturday, Feb. 17 by two men she knew.
CPS said it believes Davidenas was killed hours after her disappearance in the same residence but her body has not yet been found. The news release also said police believe Davidenas was targeted because of her history as a sex worker and investigators do not believe that this case is connected to any other missing persons case in Calgary.
Steven Aaron Zwick, 26, of Airdrie, and Paul Joseph Rushton, 52, of Calgary, have each been charged with one count of first-degree murder. They are scheduled to appear in court on Thursday.
Police said two men were taken into custody on Tuesday based on “a significant amount of physical and digital evidence” that was collected. No further charges are expected, CPS said.
“She was called to the location on a date. When she arrived there, what she was expecting was not what she was anticipating and it ultimately led to her death,” Staff Sgt. Mark Rahn said at a news conference on Wednesday afternoon.
“After the collection of a lot of evidence, CCTV footage and cellphone records, we determined that the individual Mr. Zwick was known to Chelsea. They have had a previous relationship and he became our prime suspect.”
Officers are still trying to locate Davidenas’ body and are asking anyone with information to call police at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers. CPS said investigators believe that her body was taken from the residence on Feb. 20, and transported in a stolen dark blue, low-profile 2001 Honda Civic with white rims to a rural, lightly-tread area southeast of Chestermere.
Rahn said the area southeast of Chestermere is being investigated by the Calgary Police Service.
“The area where we believe her remains may be is very vast. It is a very large area. We are taking the information that we have learned and trying to narrow that down. Once we do, we will engage with Calgary Search and Rescue,” the police officer said. “We are asking rural property owners to check their properties and if they notice anything unusual to contact RCMP.”
