All language subtitles for A.U.S01E02.Heat [eng]

(tense music)

(suspenseful music)

- [Narrator] An
unidentified body

is found in Exshaw, Alberta,
the same day Airdrie resident,

Ruth Degayo, is
reported missing.

- Ruth is a good friend,
reliable employee,

and a devoted mother
to a son, Justin.

She's not the kind of woman who

would leave her son
alone willingly.

- [Narrator] Could
the case be connected

to the body in Exshaw.

Until the body is identified,
the RCMP must treat it

like two separate cases.

(camera snapping)

- The building is
scorched from the fire,

but only the body is burned.

- There is no evidence
the murder happened here,

meaning this is the
secondary crime scene.

- [Narrator] With no
eyewitnesses, they have to rely

on a few small
pieces of evidence.

- Experts will have to
rely on dental records

or muscular tissue that
remains on the body.

- [Narrator] While police try
and find the person who could

do such a horrific act,
just a car ride away,

at the same time,
a drama is unfolded

that sets family
and friends into

a panic trying to
find their loved one.

It will take nearly a decade
for this vicious killer

to be put behind bars
and figure out just where

the loved one that has
gone missing actually is.

(intense music)

- The unsolved ones,
we have to stand up.

- And approach these cases,
in a way, outside the box.

- Let the world know
there's those out there

that did commit a murder,
and there are people

that are comin' after you.

- There's just a lotta
good people trying

to do the right thing.

- Because it's
something that you have

to be passionate about.

- Solve this, bring some
peace to the family at least.

Just doing my job.

(tense music)
(gavel bangs)

- [Narrator] It's January
8th, 2006, in Exshaw, Alberta.

Fresh white snow covers
the peaks of each mountain.

It's a quiet Sunday morning.

Four people brave the cold
to play a game of paintball.

In order to escape the weather,

the group enters a
large white shack.

Inside this abandoned building,

they make a shocking discovery.

The four paintballers
discover a charred body.

Sergeant Garth Patterson
of the Airdrie RCMP

and Corporal Patrick Webb
of the RCMP K Division

are investigating
the crime scene.

(suspenseful music)

- The fire is contained to
the inside of the building.

The building is
scorched from the fire,

but only the body is burned.

Police look at how the
body was positioned.

- There is no evidence
the murder happened here.

The position of the
charred body suggest

that the victim didn't
try to escape the fire.

This implies the victim died
before the body was burned,

meaning this is the
secondary crime scene.

The murder takes place
at a different location,

known as the
primary crime scene.

(suspenseful music continues)

Fire can severely alter
characteristics of a body,

making it difficult to
determine cause of death

or to identify a body.

This is a big challenge
for forensic scientists.

- [Narrator] Immediately after
the body is found in Exshaw,

the RCMP receives a
missing person's report.

Duane Redelback, Ruth's
common-law partner,

tells the authorities
that Ruth is missing.

- This early period is
when people's memories are

the sharpest and provide the
best recollection of events.

As time passes, your
chances of solving

the case fall dramatically.

- [Narrator] Sergeant Patterson
and Corporal Webb learn

about the missing person's
report in Airdrie.

Could this case be connected
to the charred body in Exshaw?

Until the body is identified,
the RCMP must treat it

as two separate cases.

Exshaw is a hamlet near
the Bow River Valley.

It is 90 kilometers
from downtown Calgary.

Airdrie, Ruth
Degayo's residence,

is 110 kilometers
northeast of Exshaw.

Airdrie, Alberta is a
bedroom community facing

the Rocky Mountains to the west,

with plenty of prairie
and parkland surrounding,

and lots of outdoor opportunity.

It's a great place
to raise a family.

Ruth Degayo lives in Airdrie
with her common-law partner,

Duane Redelback, and her
two-year-old son, Justin.

Ruth immigrates to Canada
from the Philippines in 1991.

She's the daughter of a
fisherman and a farmer.

In 1993, she's hired to work
at the records department

at the Peter Lougheed
Centre in Calgary.

Ruth is a generous person,
she's a very reliable

and conscientious employee.

- Ruth grew up in a
low-income household.

Once she gets a job, like
many new immigrants to Canada,

she starts sending money
home to her six siblings.

She wants them to get
a higher education.

It's a difficult
journey for immigrants

from the Philippines.

They're adapting
to a new culture,

while at the same time feeling
isolated from their families.

- Challenges are
enormous for some

of the newcomers to the country.

There can be language barriers,

they might not understand
immigration policies,

they might not fully
understand their rights

in Canadian society.

- [Narrator] In 1999, Ruth meets

an electrician named Duane
Redelback on the internet.

They begin dating and
later move in together.

- Ruth wants to have a
family of her own in Canada.

She's eager to have a stable
home, a partner, and a child.

She dreams of becoming a mother.

- [Narrator] Ruth is
also a devoted Catholic,

and eventually, with Duane,
has a baby named Justin.

(soft music)

- Ruth loves Justin;
they've a special bond.

She embraces motherhood.

(baby cooing)

- [Narrator] On
January 8th, 2006,

Ruth's coworker,
Jacqueline Paquette,

waits for Ruth to pick her up.

Ruth is never late.

She's getting nervous.

She contacts her other
colleague, Marilyn Taves,

they're worried something
has happened to her

and she may need assistance.

Ruth has always
been a hardworking

and conscientious
employee who would never

not just show up like this.

She also would always get back

to her friends when they call.

Something doesn't seem right.

It's just not like Ruth
to do something like this.

Marilyn and Jacqueline
know that something

is horribly wrong.

They both decide to look for
Ruth in Airdrie and Calgary.

Meanwhile, Duane Redelback
is cooperative with police.

He tells Sergeant
Patterson and Corporal Webb

that he doesn't know
what happened or why
she would've left.

Sergeant Patterson and
Corporal Webb informed Duane

that a body, earlier that
day, has been found in Exshaw.

- When Ruth is reported
missing, everyone is devastated.

She's a kind person
and a beloved member

of the Airdrie community,
and she's a loyal coworker.

Everyone feels a huge loss.

- [Narrator] Jacqueline
and Marilyn search

for Ruth everywhere.

They come up empty-handed.

They decide to go to her house.

Duane tells them that he filed

a missing persons
report that morning.

This has gone from bad to worse.

(concerned music)

They go to the RCMP station

to see if there's
any information.

The RCMP officer asks them
if Ruth would ever run away?

Jacqueline and Marilyn
are both adamant

that Ruth would never
leave her son, Justin.

This is completely out
of character for her.

Marilyn explains that
Ruth is in good spirits

before her disappearance.

A few days earlier, she spends
the day with her family.

They have a great time together.

(suspenseful music)

Next, Sergeant Patterson
and Corporal Webb

interview Justin's
caregiver, Marla Volf.

Marla tells the
officers that Ruth

would never leave her son,
she is a very devoted mother.

She's also certain she would
never take her own life.

Marla explains that
Ruth would often stop

by Marla's home daycare to
spend extra time with Justin

and help Marla with
the other children.

Thelma Evangelista grew up
with Ruth in the Philippines,

she is the last person
to see Ruth alive

on January 7th, 2006.

(brooding music)

It is early January
before Thelma has time

to drop off Christmas
presents for the family.

Ruth is in a good mood
before her disappearance.

She tells Thelma that she's
going to the mall that night

with Duane and Justin.

- There's nothing unusual
or out of the ordinary

about Ruth's behavior.

Thelma corroborates
statements by Jacqueline,

Marilyn, and Marla.

All four women say this
is out of character.

- [Narrator] Riza Fornier
is Ruth's younger sister.

She works as a nurse in Florida.

The RCMP tells her that
her sister is missing.

They also inform her of the
unidentified body in Exshaw.

Riza has a bad feeling that
the body is her sister, Ruth.

- The forensic experts will
look for any personal items

or other forms of
identification.

They will also look at height,
weight, surgical scars,

tattoos, and dental records.

Unfortunately, they didn't have
any identification on them,

experts will have to
rely on dental records

or muscular tissue that
remains on the body.

- [Narrator] Six weeks later,
on February 16th, 2006,

the RCMP positively
identified the charred body

as Ruth Degayo.

The case has shifted from a
missing person's to a homicide.

- Duane Redelback
breaks down in tears

and tells officers he just
wish she would come home,

and he's having a hard
time functioning at all.

He gives RCMP a
list of suspects.

(suspenseful music)

- [Narrator] Duane
Redelback tells Riza

that the body has been
identified as Ruth.

He tells her that he has
given the RCMP a list

of potential suspects.

- RCMP don't release their
list of suspects to the public,

they don't wanna compromise
the investigation.

- [Narrator] Riza, along
with Ruth's friends,

have a different
suspect in mind.

(soft music)

(soft music)

(suspenseful music)

Ruth Degayo starts a new
life in Canada in 1991,

she's in a common-law
relationship with
Duane Redelback,

and a devoted mother to her
two-year-old son, Justin.

- Ruth loves Justin;
they've a special bond.

She spends all her
spare time with him

and would do anything for him.

- [Narrator] On January
8th, 2006, Ruth Degayo

is found dead in
Exshaw, Alberta.

The body is severely
burned and unrecognizable.

- Everyone is devastated.

She's a kind person
and a beloved member

of the Airdrie community.

Everyone feels a huge loss.

Duane Redelback
breaks down in tears,

gives RCMP a list of suspects.

- [Narrator] Riza, along
with Ruth's friends,

have a different
suspect in mind.

In March 2003, Ruth is
pregnant with Justin.

Duane is driving the car, and
Ruth is in the passenger seat.

Duane and Ruth are
rear-ended by another car.

Unfortunately, the fetus
is permanently damaged.

- A car accident is a
significant threat to a fetus

because the brain is vulnerable.

If there is a loss of oxygen
or blood flow to the baby,

damage to the brain
can happen rapidly.

Because of this,
many babies are born

with permanent disabilities.

- [Narrator] One month later,
Justin is born prematurely.

Shortly after Justin is
born, he suffers a stroke.

Justin is diagnosed
with cerebral palsy.

He has incomplete gestation
and permanent loss

of his physical and
mental capacities.

- Cerebral palsy is
caused by brain damage.

It affects muscle tone,
posture, and movement.

A child in Justin's
case will be behind

in developmental milestones
and need additional support.

- [Narrator] Ruth is
determined to give Justin

all the support and
love that he deserves.

That's why Ruth's
friends and family

know she would never leave him.

Investigators have many
consistent statements

from family and friends
that Ruth Degayo

would never leave
her son voluntarily.

With no eyewitnesses,
they have to rely

on a few small
pieces of evidence.

Ruth's body is
found 110 kilometers

from her home in Airdrie.

Could she have been
kidnapped and then murdered?

- Police seize the physical
evidence, photograph the scene,

and create possible scenarios
of what could have happened.

They conduct interviews
and find out if someone

was threatening the
victim before the murder.

They must form a good hypothesis
to build a strong case.

- [Narrator] When Duane
Redelback receives the news

that Ruth is dead, he
immediately points his finger

at other people.

- Duane tells the officers
he doesn't know who did this,

but he provides them
with a list of suspects.

He makes claims of unusual
activity at the home.

- [Narrator] Several
weeks before Ruth's death,

Duane claims that they have
a number of suspicious calls.

- No one else mentions
that Ruth received

suspicious phone
calls or threats,

this is not common
knowledge among her friends

and extended family.

(solemn music)

- [Narrator] Several months
later, the RCMP do not

have enough evidence
to make an arrest.

They decide to put out a Crime
Stoppers reenactment video.

Unfortunately, this
leads to a dead end.

- No one besides Duane mentions
a suspicious person lurking

around Duane and Ruth's home.

The only person of interest
that the police name publicly

is Duane Redelback.

- [Narrator] Duane
Redelback is publicly named

as a person of interest.

He keeps insisting
that he doesn't know

what happened to his partner.

- Intimate partner violence
accounts for about 25%

of violent crimes in Canada.

Many of the women who are
killed by their partner

are killed at home.

Police want to focus
on the partner first

and hopefully rule
out this possibility.

- [Narrator] The RCMP and
Ruth's friends and family

all had their suspicions
of Duane Redelback,

he quickly becomes
the lead suspect.

On February 10th, 2006,
six days before Ruth's body

is identified, RCMP
officers pay a visit

to Redelback's home.

- The lights are on
and Duane's vehicle

is parked out front,
there are clear signs

that someone's at home,
but no one's answering.

Friends report the same thing.

This is very outta character.

Duane is becoming more reluctant

to cooperate and
meet with police.

- [Narrator] Sister
Lucille Field

is Ruth's friend and confidant.

She tells the officers that
before Ruth is murdered,

she's in a toxic relationship
with Duane Redelback.

She is stuck in a cycle
of domestic abuse,

yet she is still committed

to her relationship
with Redelback.

Ruth would often run to

the next-door neighbor's
house for help.

In November of 2004, Ruth
leaves the abusive relationship

with Duane and escapes
to a shelter for women.

(suspenseful music)

- Domestic abuse affects
everyone differently.

It often occurs when one
partner desires control

over the other.

There might be physical
signs of abuse,

like bruises or
marks on the body.

There are also emotional signs.

For example, if someone
becomes more distant,

or anxious, or
change in their mood.

These are some of the
signs to look out for.

- [Narrator] Six months
later, Ruth returns home.

She's determined to make
her relationship work.

She has only been
back with Duane

for eight months
until her death.

- Sister Lucille labels
it domestic abuse.

Ruth's sister, Riza, says she
fears for her sister's safety.

Other friends say the
relationship was rocky.

It's fair to say Ruth's
life is in danger.

- [Narrator] However,
with no physical evidence

connecting Duane to the murder
scene, the case goes cold.

- Even with a documented
case of domestic abuse,

the Crown still needs to prove
beyond a reasonable doubt

that Duane committed the murder.

This means strong physical
evidence or an eyewitness.

- [Narrator] Once again,
a domestic abuse case

remains unsolved,
and a vicious killer

is still on the loose.

(suspenseful music)

(soft music)

(suspenseful music)

Ruth Degayo is found
dead in Exshaw, Alberta.

Her body is severely
burned and unrecognizable.

- Although Ruth and Duane
reconcile in May 2005,

friends and family still
fear for her safety,

they know the
relationship is rocky.

Riza Fornier, Ruth's sister,
suspects Duane from day one.

The RCMP made Duane Redelback
a person of interest.

There are no other strong
suspects in the case.

- [Narrator] However,
with no physical evidence

connecting Duane to the
murder, no eyewitnesses,

or a confession,
the case goes cold.

There is still no
justice for Ruth Degayo.

Friends and family
continue to remember Ruth

and honor her memory.

They all pray for justice.

Ruth's sister, Riza, always
fears for her sister's safety.

She has a feeling that
Duane was behind this.

Riza accuses Duane multiple
times of killing her sister.

Every time she asks
him, he doesn't deny it.

- There's a lotta strong,
circumstantial evidence pointing

at Duane Redelback.

He's the strongest suspect
RCMP have in the case.

- [Narrator] Duane
continues to drop Justin off

at Marla Volf's home.

Marla hopes Duane is
innocent for the sake

of Justin's safety.

- Ruth's family and
friends are losing hope

that this case will be solved.

They don't want her
to be forgotten.

They want justice for their
friend, mother, sister.

- [Narrator] Unfortunately,
the case does go cold.

Several years pass
with no progress.

Ruth's loved ones
still have faith

that there will be justice.

However, it will take
a fresh set of eyes

to crack this case.

In 2015, Inspector Stacey Talbot

of the RCMP Historical
Homicide Unit

is assigned to Ruth's case.

Inspector Talbot knows
this case is complicated

and challenging, but she's
determined to solve it.

There is no DNA evidence
found near the body,

no weapon, or sign of anyone
suspicious at the crime scene.

In 2006, Duane Redelback
provides officers

with a list of
potential suspects.

This list never
materializes into anything.

The RCMP only publicly named
Duane as a person of interest.

He also claims that

the couple receives
numerous suspicious calls,

yet this tip doesn't
lead anywhere.

The RCMP also issue a Crime
Stopper's reenactment video,

but it is unsuccessful
in solving the murder.

As the investigation continues,

Duane Redelback is less
cooperative with the police.

- Ruth is caught in a cycle
of domestic abuse with Duane.

Friends and family
fear he's violent.

All signs are pointing
to Duane Redelback.

- [Narrator] Ruth leaves
Duane in November 2004.

She has only been
back with him for less

than eight months
before her death.

- Women are more likely to be
killed by an intimate partner

than any other person.

When someone is stuck
in a cycle of abuse,

they're often unable
to leave completely.

- Ruth is incredibly
important to a lotta people.

Ruth's family want
justice, they want answers.

Riza Fornier, Ruth's
sister, states...

- [Narrator] "Ruth
taught me to be brave.

My family will suffer
this loss and pain

for the rest of our lives.

Only a heart so
dark, so ruthless, so
evil could do that."

If Inspector Talbot wants
to catch Duane Redelback,

she must get creative.

(soft music)

(soft music)

(tense music)

Ruth Degayo's body is found in
Exshaw on January 8th, 2006.

- Everyone is devastated.

She's a kind person
and a beloved member

of the Airdrie community.

Everyone feels a huge loss.

- [Narrator] Riza accuses
Redelback numerous times

of killing her sister.

She has a feeling that
he is behind this.

- Ruth is caught in a cycle
of domestic abuse with Duane.

Friends and family
fear he's violent.

- [Narrator] Ruth
would often run

to the neighbor's
house for help.

- It's fair to say
Ruth's life is in danger.

All signs are pointing
to Duane Redelback.

- [Narrator] In November 2004,

Ruth and Justin leave
Duane Redelback,

staying in a women's shelter.

In May 2005, Ruth moves
back in with Redelback.

(suspenseful music)

Investigators have
a strong suspicion

that Redelback is the murderer.

However, there is
no physical evidence

or eyewitnesses connecting
him to the crime.

- In order to catch this killer,

Inspector Talbot and
her team get creative.

They initiate a sting operation,

something known as
a Mr. Big operation.

- A Mr. Big operation
is a technique used

to seek a confession from
the suspect in a crime.

The officers will
create a series

of fictitious circumstances
and work very hard

to establish a relationship,
and gain the trust,

and befriend the suspect.

(solemn music)

The officers need to
uncover details that connect

the suspect to the crime,
and they need to hear details

that only the killer would know.

- Often, operations like
this require officers

to be available for
extended periods of time.

When a call comes, they
need to be able to answer.

Answering a phone call in
the middle of the night

can be simple, but
operations like this

can be complicated and
require lots of resources.

- [Narrator] Redelback
is an electrician,

so the RCMP decide to
create a fake job for him.

The officers are looking
to exact a confession

from this person,
and to do that,

they first need to
establish trust.

And they also have to
have some sort of carrot,

so they will put
situations to the suspect

whereby there will
be a financial gain,

they can join a part of a
gang, an organized crime group,

if they confess to a crime,
because we need to know

what their past is.

- [Narrator] Redelback
accepts the position.

- It can take months
or even years to elicit

that confession or a
piece of information

that can solve a case.

(suspenseful music)

It's a simple fact
that bringing people

to justice can be
very costly at times.

- [Narrator] The biggest
risk with Mr. Big operation

is that it can lead
to a false confession,

that can then lead to
a wrongful conviction.

Officers must be very
careful to get a confession

that is admissible in court.

The RCMP create 40 scenarios
to build trust with Redelback.

Each scenario brings them a
step closer to a confession.

- The undercover officers
work very hard to build

that relationship
with the suspect.

They learn about the suspect.

They need to create
scenarios that that person,

that individual will respond to.

Eventually, the RCMP want to
orchestrate a scenario whereby

the suspect is gonna
ask for our help.

They either want to
advance in the organization

or some other reward, and
they need our help to do that.

But to do that,
the suspect needs

to disclose their dark
past, they need to tell us

about an offense they've
committed in the past.

And once you've had
that conversation,

it's documented meticulously.

- That's why Mr. Big operations,

while often costly
and controversial,

are so vital to solving a case.

- [Narrator] The RCMP spent
a significant amount of time

and resources on the case,
carefully setting up Redelback

in the Mr. Big operation.

Meetings, conversations,
phone calls, jobs

are all arranged to make
Redelback feel comfortable

in who he's dealing with.

All of which takes
time and resources.

It can be costly.

In August of 2015, finding
justice for the victim,

Ruth Degayo, is priority.

And the entire Mr. Big
operation finally pays off

when Redelback opens up
to officers in a bar.

Redelback is feeling
confident that he can open up

to those around him.

As the undercover officers
have built a strong rapport,

Redelback is finally
ready to talk

about his deceased
wife and her murder.

On the night of
January 7th, 2006,

Ruth wants to go to the mall,

but Redelback wants to
meet a friend for a drink.

The argument is very heated,
Redelback is furious.

He starts choking Ruth...

(suspenseful music)

Until she falls limp.

He ties a rope around her neck

and holds his hand over her
mouth until she stops breathing.

Redelback ties up
her arms and legs

and places her body
inside a garbage bag.

Then he places the garbage
bag inside a suitcase.

(suspenseful music continues)

Redelback places the
suitcase in the trunk,

and then brings gasoline,
which will be used

to burn the body later.

He leaves their son,
Justin, home alone.

Redelback meets his
friend for a drink,

leaving Ruth's dead body
in the trunk of the car.

Once Redelback leaves
the bar, he returns home

to check in on Justin.

(suspenseful music)

Then, Redelback drives for
over an hour to Exshaw,

the body still in the trunk.

Once Redelback
arrives in Exshaw,

he decides to place Ruth's body

in an abandoned white shack.

(suspenseful music continues)

He pours gasoline on the body.

(suspenseful music continues)
(gasoline trickling)

And lights it on fire.

Redelback decides
to cover his tracks.

Once he is home, he gets
rid of his shoes and tires.

Redelback tells the
undercover officers

that the flames were
at least 30 feet high.

RCMP finally have a confession.

Duane Redelback finally admits

to killing his
wife, Ruth Degayo.

- A judge has to look at the
reliability of the confession.

Does the evidence connect
with the confession?

Does it describe details
only the killer would know?

If the confession
checks these boxes,

the judge will accept it.

- Duane never fully explains
or justifies his actions.

- The mindset of a
murderer can be buried.

Some can be methodical
and calculating,

while others act
on rage or emotion,

giving little thought
to what they're doing.

While Redelback attempted
to dispose of Ruth's body

in a way that she
wouldn't be recognized,

he ultimately failed.

The authorities, with
a little bit of time,

could identify her.

The gasoline fire ultimately
didn't hide the identity.

Given time and forensic tools,

it was still a
horrible desecration,

compounding the tragedy.

(tense music)

- Duane never explains
why he put the body

in the white shack.

We will never know
all the details.

- [Narrator] The RCMP finally
have their confession.

(soft music)

(suspenseful music)

Ruth Degayo starts a new
life in Canada in 1991.

She's in a common-law
relationship with
Duane Redelback

and a devoted mother to her
two-year-old son, Justin.

- Ruth loves Justin;
they've a special bond.

She spends all her
spare time with him

and would do anything for him.

- [Narrator] On January
8th, 2006, Ruth Degayo

is found dead in
Exshaw, Alberta.

Her body is severely
burned and unrecognizable.

- Everyone is devastated.

She's a kind person
and a beloved member

of the Airdrie community,
everyone feels a huge loss.

Duane Redelback
breaks down in tears.

He gives RCMP a
list of suspects.

- [Narrator] Ruth's
sister, Riza,

knows something
is terribly wrong.

There was previous
violence in the home

at the hands of Duane Redelback.

And Riza accuses him multiple
times of killing her sister.

- Although Ruth and Duane
reconcile in May 2005,

friends and family still
fear for her safety,

they know the
relationship is rocky.

The RCMP made Duane Redelback
a person of interest.

There are no other strong
suspects in the case.

- [Narrator] However, there
is no physical evidence

or eyewitnesses connecting
him to the crime.

The RCMP has spent
years on the case,

suspecting that
Redelback is the killer,

so they set up a Mr.
Big operation in hopes

that he will finally
let the truth slip.

After months of the operation,

Redelback is finally confident

that he can trust
those around him.

Redelback is finally ready to
talk about his deceased wife

and her murder.

Duane Redelback admits to
killing his wife, Ruth Degayo.

The RCMP finally have
their confession.

- A judge has to look at the
reliability of the confession.

Does the evidence connect
with the confession?

Does it describe details
only the killer would know?

If the confession
checks these boxes,

the judge will accept it.

- [Narrator] On
September 11th, 2015,

the RCMP finally
arrest Duane Redelback.

He's charged with
second-degree murder

and indecency to a human body.

(tense music)

- Everyone is relieved when
Wayne Redelback is arrested.

They didn't think
this day would come.

A huge weight is lifted.

- We don't know why
Duane took Ruth's body

to the shack and Exshaw.

The strongest theory is
that he hopes the body

will be burned beyond
recognition and
never identified.

The body is dumped far
away from their home,

so perhaps police wouldn't
connect the murder with Ruth.

That way, Ruth's disappearance
will always remain a mystery

and he won't be implicated.

- [Narrator] Duane Redelback
makes his first appearance

on September 14th at the
Calgary Provincial Court.

- Crown Attorney Jim Sawa brings
a confession into evidence.

He tells Judge Mike
Dinkel that the charges

are second-degree murder and
indecency to a human body.

The Crown recommends a life
sentence for Redelback.

Redelback's attorneys, Balfour
Der and Gillian Williamson,

recommend a lighter sentence
for a first-time offender.

- [Narrator] The case is
adjourned until October.

In August of 2016,
Duane Redelback's
defense attorney tries

to have Duane released.

Duane is a first-time offender,

she hopes the court
will give him leniency.

Duane Redelback may be
a first-time offender,

but his crime is so horrendous
he poses a threat to society.

The court denies
Redelback's release;

he is to remain in jail.

On February 23rd, 2017,
the Crown attorney

and Redelback's defense
reach a plea agreement.

It states that Duane Redelback

pleads guilty to manslaughter.

This reduces his sentence
from a life sentence

to 15 years plus
credit for time served.

The judge accepts
the joined agreement.

- Second-degree murder
is planned or deliberate.

The Crown attorney has to prove
that Mr. Redelback intended

to kill Ruth Degayo in 2006.

However, manslaughter, under
the Canadian Criminal Code,

can be an act committed
under the heat of passion.

The Crown would have an
easier chance of proving

that this was an
accidental death

rather than a deliberate
act of murder.

- [Narrator] Riza Fornier reads
her victim impact statement.

Riza addresses the court and
Duane Redelback directly.

She states, "This is the
moment that we've been waiting

for after almost 11 years,
praying day and night,

months after months,
years after years

for this day to come."

- Duane Redelback commits
a brutally violent

and senseless crime.

He also moves Ruth's
body and burns it,

which makes it difficult
to identify her

and determine a cause of death.

He prevents her friends and
family from having any closure.

More importantly, he robs
his own son of his mother.

- [Narrator] The judge
speaks to the court.

She states that Redelback
must serve at least half

of his sentence before he
can be eligible for parole.

(soft music)
(air whooshing)

- If Duane Redelback is found
guilty of first-degree murder,

he would face a life sentence.

He would eventually be
eligible for parole,

but since this is a
domestic violence case,

it would have taken a long time.

- [Narrator] Ruth Degayo,
like so many other immigrants

to Canada, was just trying
to make a better life

for herself, as well as being
a loving and caring mother

for her son, Justin.

Duane Redelback was
part of that life until

that relationship
took a very dark turn.

(soft music continues)

Ruth was unable to
escape domestic abuse,

but the efforts
by investigators,
at the very least,

brought Redelback to justice.

- Officers are human too.

Whether responding to a
domestic abuse situation

or even a crime scene
involving murder,

it still affects us personally.

Ruth was a mother and a friend,

she didn't deserve to
be abused and murdered.

So, when tragic
situations like the murder

of Ruth Degayo occur, it's
imperative that a message

is sent and justice is served.

That's why Mr. Big operations,

while often costly
and controversial,

are so vital to solving a case.

(soft music continues)

- [Narrator] Duane
Redelback is now serving

his 15-year sentence
in an Alberta jail.

Justin is now 19
and living between

the Philippines and
Florida with Riza.

If it hadn't been for
Inspector Stacey Talbot

and her dedicated team at
the historical homicide unit,

using a Mr. Big scenario,

the case would never
have been solved.

A step forward for all
victims of domestic abuse

and intimate partner
crimes across Canada.

(suspenseful music)

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