Pass murder suspect returns
Posted By Joni MacFarlane, Reporter
Posted 7 months ago
On July 10, 1992, Gordon Mills, 44, left his home in Edmonton after telling his family that he was going to be sightseeing through the Rocky Mountains in the Banff area. He indicated that he would be returning home within four to five days.
In fact, he never returned, nor did he make any further contact with his family. He was last seen at a service station in Banff.
On Aug. 29, 1992, Mills’ body was located near Leitch Collieries. An autopsy revealed that he had been shot, the likely cause of death.
Forensic and witness evidence located by the RCMP during the investigation identified a Canadian citizen, Michael Desmarais, 35, as a suspect in the homicide.
On July 14, the same day Mills was reported missing, an American was fatally shot near Sentinel Butte, Washington. His body was found in the men’s bathroom at a rest stop in North Dakota. He was shot once in the chest and beaten. A credit card belonging to the man was used within 30 minutes of his slaying.
Police stopped Desmarais during a routine licence and registration check. He told officers that he didn’t have a licence, but gave them his name. He was driving Mills’ 1988 Ford Bronco II with stolen U.S. licence plates.
A police chase ensued until the suspect finally pulled over and surrendered.
Desmarais was convicted in 1993 of the murder of William Menz, 72, and was sentenced to 20 years in jail in the United States.
The RCMP continued with the Mills investigation and a charge of first-degree murder was laid on Jan. 19, 1993 against Desmarais for the murder of Mills.
The RCMP were then required to await the sentence completion of the U.S. murder conviction before proceeding with the Canadian charge of murder.
Desmarais was released from serving time in an Oregon penitentiary and on June 15 was escorted to the Canadian border and turned over to Canadian officials.
According to Richard Mills, the victim’s brother, RCMP notified him of Desmarais’ release about two weeks ago.
“My brother was a confirmed bachelor, a very happy-go-lucky kind of guy,” said Mills. “He would help anybody out and was the life of the party.”
Gordon Mills worked for the City of Edmonton for many years and was very “hard working” according to his brother.
Richard Mills said that his mother is still alive and that the ordeal has been very hard on the family.
“When it first happened, my mother said children shouldn’t die before them (parents). We all still miss him.”
He said Desmarais’ release “opens everything back up again... all the old wounds.”
When asked how he wanted to see events play out, Mills said he would like Desmarais to plead guilty.
“I’d like him to save everybody’s time and money, and then they throw away the key,” said Mills.
“We’re hoping to have it go that way.”
Mills said there is no indication from the RCMP as to whether this will happen or not. Desmarais might plead not guilty because he has already spent so much time in prison and is getting older.
Desmarais appeared in Lethbridge Provincial Court on June 16 to answer to the first degree murder charge in the death of Gordon Mills in 1992.
He has been remanded in custody and is awaiting a court date.
