Charges laid in Memorial Drive homicide

A woman has been charged in relation to a homicide that occurred last week inside a vehicle travelling on Memorial Drive.

At approximately 8:50 a.m., on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, we were called to the intersection of 36 Street N.E., and Memorial Drive, for reports that a man was found dead after exiting a vehicle, that was stopped at a red light. Police and EMS were dispatched, however the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

The victim was identified as David BAWDEN, 59, of Calgary. Investigators believe that the victim was picked up while walking along Memorial Drive several minutes before he was fatally assaulted inside the vehicle.

After receiving a significant amount of information from the public, we located the vehicle on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020, and executed a search warrant on a residence located in the 2600 block of 17 Street S.W. A man and a woman were taken into custody from the residence, however they were released without charges.

Based on additional evidence, and with the assistance of Calgary Transit peace officers, a third person was taken into custody yesterday, Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, and is now facing charges. Detectives are still working to determine a motive for the killing, as well as if the victim and offender were known to each other.

Ronita WILDMAN, 34, of Calgary, is charged with one count of manslaughter. She will next appear in court on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020.

“Information from the public was instrumental in helping us solve this case so quickly,” says Staff Sergeant Martin Schiavetta of the Calgary Police Service Homicide Unit. “Sometimes a member of the public might think that the information they have is insignificant, but this demonstrates how a small piece of information may be exactly what investigators need to solve a case.”

We are not looking for any additional suspects in this case.