Overview

• Wetaskiwin RCMP responded to a December 15, 2024, house fire that killed 67-year-old Donald Robert before the RCMP Major Crimes Unit took over the probe
• Police arrested a teenage boy and girl on July 9 and charged them with manslaughter and arson categorized as ‘disregard for human life’
• Their names are protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act because both are under 18
• The pair is slated to appear at the Alberta Court of Justice in Wetaskiwin on July 10 to face the formal charges
• Their cases will proceed under youth sentencing guidelines that separately address manslaughter and aggravated arson to reflect the offences’ severity