Wanted man turns himself in to RCMP

Police had issued a Canada-wide warrant in relation to murder of Beaver Bank man in Edmonton

Laker-COMMUNITY

EDMONTON, Alta.: A man wanted on a Canada-wide warrant in relation to the death of a Beaver Bank in Western Canada turned himself in to RCMP in B.C. on Sept. 10.

Edmonton Police Services had issued the warrant for the arrest of Austin MacKenzie Southworth on Sept. 7 in connection to the murder of Brad MacDonald. His body was found in a ditch in Edmonton.

Southworth turned himself into Mounties in Campbell River on Vancouver Island at around 11 a.m. local time, said Edmonton police.

He was wanted on charges of second-degree murder in connection with the death of 37-year-old MacDonald, whose body was found in a ditch near Stony Plain Road and Winterburn Road on the morning of April 10.

An autopsy showed MacDonald died of blunt-force trauma, police said.

MacDonald grew up in Beaver Bank, but had spent the past few years working in Alberta, friends told media.

According to Global News, police said Southworth was also wanted on charges of possession of a dangerous weapon and robbery in addition to second-degree murder.

phealey@enfieldweeklypress.com