REVISED TIMELINE DATED SEPTEMBER 21, 2015
SUMMARY OF ADDITIONS/CORRECTIONS INCLUDED IN THIS REVISION (in blue font):
1974 October 29, AL (co-inventor, LCK) filed an application for a patent for “Apparatus for incinerating combustible wastes”. Issued January 13, 1976 (https://www.legionpatent.com/patents/3932111/)
2007 According to family, AL had not seen DG since this year
2008 September 21 Nathan Kenneth O’Brien born
August 5 Reported in MSM as confirmed by CPS that CPS has investigators in Mexico in relation to this case. CBC reporter says LE is searching one specific property (address and further details unknown at this time)
August 5 It is reported that charges against DG related to the identity theft (and bank card?) have been stayed.
Aug 14 DG in court (via CCTV). Defence says still awaiting disclosure. Matter put over to September 17
Sept 4 Memorial for Nathan Kenneth O'Brien held at Westside Kings Church, 3939 - 69 Street SW
September 17 DG in court (in person) for his fourth appearance. His lawyer Kim Ross says defence has received the bulk of disclosure but more expected by late November / early December
September 27 Celebration of Life service to be held for Kathy and Alvin at First Alliance Church at 10:00 am
December DG scheduled for a fifth court appearance
2015 May 19 – 29 Preliminary hearing scheduled
REVISED TIMELINE:
1948 Alvin Cecil Liknes born June 22 (Alvin, AL, ACL), twin bro of AJL
1960 Douglas Robert Garland born Jan 27 1960 (DG, Douglas Garland, aka Matthew Hartley, Matthew Kemper Hartley, Douglas John Garland)
1961 Kathryn Faye Prevost born (Kathryn Liknes, Kathryn, KL, KFL)
1973 DG’s parents bought the Airdrie property, 273149 RR 291, Airdrie, AB
1974 October 29, AL (co-inventor, LCK) filed an application for a patent for “Apparatus for incinerating combustible wastes”. Issued January 13, 1976 (https://www.legionpatent.com/patents/3932111/)
1980s Alvin involved in civil lawsuit(s) in 80s and 90s
1980s exact dates unknown, DG studied science at the Univ of Alberta with plans to become a doctor. He left school without finishing a degree (apparently caught cheating, subsequently claimed he had a nervous breakdown)
1980 DG applied for his own SIN in his own name
1980 October 29 Head-on collision 6 km southeast of Cardston, AB claimed the lives of Matthew Kemper Hartley and his sister Jill Lorene Hartley
1988 charge of prohibited weapon dismissed against DG
1989 assault charge stayed against DG
1989 approx year Alvin and Kathryn married (Alvin previously m. to SB)
1990s Alvin involved in civil lawsuit(s) in 80s and 90s
1992 October 23 drug raid at Garland farm. LE found beakers, Bunsen burners and boxes of chemicals used in the manufacture of meth. Evidence was also located at a rented facility in Crossfield, AB. DG disappeared for 7 years after the raid and assumed the identity of Matthew Kemper Hartley.
1992 October 23 – charges listed in BC court registry under file #42183-1-H (against Douglas ROBERT Garland):
FDA - 39(1) Traffic in a controlled drug Commit GARLAND, DOUGLAS Robert
CCC - 353(1)(b) possessing automobile master key Commit GARLAND, DOUGLAS Robert
CCC - 351(1) Possess break-in instrument Commit GARLAND, DOUGLAS Robert
CCC - 351(1) Possess break-in instrument Commit GARLAND, DOUGLAS Robert
CCC - 351(1) Possess break-in instrument Commit GARLAND, DOUGLAS Robert
CCC - 354 Possession of property obtained by crime Commit GARLAND, DOUGLAS Robert
CCC - 90(1) Possession of a prohibited weapon Commit GARLAND, DOUGLAS Robert
1992 November 20 – charges listed in BC court registry under file #42183-1-H (against Douglas ROBERT Garland):
CCC - 355(a) PSP - Over $1,000 Commit GARLAND, DOUGLAS Robert
CCC - 355(b) PSP - Under $1,000 Commit GARLAND, DOUGLAS Robert
1992 DG commenced working at Can Test chemical testing lab in Vancouver where he went on to supervise 30 chemists and technicians. At the same time he was also a lab auditor for the BC government, checking for quality assurance at various testing facilities. (Unclear if this last sentence pertains to the 1992-1997 job or the subsequent job)
1993 DG applied for and received a SIN in the name of Matthew Hartley. Also applied for a driver's license
under the name Matthew Hartley and conducted all his activities in Vancouver under the name Matthew Hartley
1994 AL’s company ACL Resources Ltd went bankrupt after lending a large amount of money to Cherhill Resources. As a majority owner of Cherhill Resources, AL sold a Vancouver Island property for $32,000 to prop up the company. AL was sued (date unknown) by Harris N. Hanson claiming “material misrepresentations” by AL that resulted in Hanson advancing $25,000 to Cherhill Resources. Cherhill went bankrupt and ACL Resources was unable to pay Revenue Canada. (Dates unknown .. AL was also employed by and offered options to purchase shares in Granisko Resources Inc., which also subsequently went bankrupt.)
1997 DG finished working at Can Test after nervous breakdown
1998 October, DG arrested in Richmond BC in connection with a stolen tractor trailer unit
1998 October 02 – charges listed in BC court registry under file #41250-2-C (against Douglas JOHN Garland, found by searching under the alias Matthew Hartley):
CCC - 355(a) PSP Over $5,000 Commit GARLAND, Douglas JOHN Richmond BC
CCC - 129(a) wilfully resisting or obstructing a peace officer Commit GARLAND, Douglas JOHN Richmond BC
1999 May 31, DG arrested in Vancouver BC; had been working as a chemical mixer at the BC Institute of Technology (BCIT) under the name of deceased Matthew Kemper Hartley. Charges of impersonation, trafficking in a controlled substance, theft over $5,000, possession of break-in instruments, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 and obstructing a police officer (weapons charge dismissed?).
2000 Alvin was the respondent in 2 civil law suits
2000 DG was released between June 19, 2000 and October 2000 after serving 1/6 of a 39 month sentence
2000 DG’s company Ranchland Equipment Ltd was established (according to DG’s entry on wikiparts and chemnet sites, but can’t find in Alberta’s registry of companies)
2000 October 17 DG’s company P2 Solutions Ltd incorporated using address 23-27-29 W4M
2001 March 31 sometime prior to this date AL and AJL purchased property in Yellowhead County (Evansburg?)
2001 June 14 AL and Northern Pressure Systems Inc (assignee) filed for a grant for “Method and apparatus for removing water from well bore of gas wells to permit efficient production of gas”. Pump was built but never proved “economically viable”. Issued October 7, 2003 (
http://patents.justia.com/inventor/alvin-liknes)
2004 August 26 AL filed an application for a patent for “Method and pump apparatus for removing liquids from wells”. Issued March 2, 2006 (
http://patents.justia.com/inventor/alvin-liknes)
2004 October 7 AL filed an application for a patent for “Method and apparatus for removing liquids from wells”. Issued March 2, 2006 (
http://patents.justia.com/inventor/alvin-liknes)
2005 March, Calgary, AB, lawsuit DG v. Ministry of National Revenue, DG represented himself and won an appeal wrt whether his employment at Can Test was insurable and pensionable employment
2006 January 2, Alvin Liknes’ daughter, EAL shot by ex-common-law husband, 61 yo Fernando Chora in Okotoks, AB. Chora (represented by Calgary lawyer, Adriano Iovinelli) was acquitted of assault, but found guilty of fleeing the scene and 2 weapons charges and sentenced to 4 years with credit for time served. During the trial, Chora told the judge that he had provided EAL with a great deal of money because of a criminal lifestyle. FC said he still carried a gun because he had enemies who may want to hurt him. He said he left that lifestyle behind when he moved out of his Kamloops BC home with EAL and moved to Vulcan AB
2006 October 19 AL’s company AKF Holdings Inc incorporated
2007 According to family, AL had not seen DG since this year
2008 Northern Pressure Systems went dormant when natural gas prices tanked.
2008 AL’s company Blue Sky Oil and Gas Corp, involved with natural gas production, was registered in Nevada. Filings indicate Blue Sky was in merger discussions with a Florida company called Whitemark Homes Inc. As a result of the housing crash, Whitemark had proposed to take up resource development
2008 September 21 Nathan Kenneth O’Brien born
2008 September 22 AL filed application for patent for “Apparatus for pumping fluids from a well”. Issued March 25 2010 (
http://patents.justia.com/inventor/alvin-liknes)
2009 DG's charged with "failure to yield to a pedestrian" and subsequent fine of $575
2009 August 24, JO (nee JP-L) and RO married
2010 Vecto Resources dissolved. Vecto had been working on pump that could keep water out of oil and gas wells, however the invention didn’t work out, and the plan was dropped.
2011 July 20, AL filed application for patent for “Gas Powered Sub Surface Pump Drive System”. Issued January 24, 2013 (
http://patents.justia.com/inventor/alvin-liknes). No mention of DG in this or any of the preceding patent applications.
2012 KL ceased being a licenced realtor (as per Real Estate Council of Alberta in 2014 who said she had not been practising for two years)
2012 KL declared personal bankruptcy
2012 A Sarasota Florida-area businessmen involved with the Whitemark deal was a real estate developer with close ties to a man who was sentenced in 2012 to 3 yrs in prison for masterminding a large house-flipping fraud
2013 AL filed another patent (no mention of DG)
2013 DG ran his chemical manufacturing company, P2 Solutions Ltd until sometime this year
2013 Aug 15 DG’s company Ranchland Equipment Ltd was still operating (advertising on the internet to purchase zinc phosphide; using address of #3, Site 12, Airdrie, Alberta T4B 2A4)
2013 October, Alvin's son AL, said he last saw DG at his in-laws at Thanksgiving and said DG seemed a bit of a loner and didn't speak to him that much
2013 December 5, title documents show the Liknes home was sold to a Calgary lawyer for $705,000. AL and KL continue to live in the home.
2014
2014 January FC released from prison
2014 KL was involved in social media marketing, offering Search Engine Optimization services and website templates for businesses; also direct marketing for Nucerity (skincare products)
June 11 estate sale ads started being placed in kijiji (ads placed June 11 to June 24)
June 25 Winter Petroleum employees officially resigned on this date
June 27 Friday, start of estate sale that was advertised as “SALE June 27, 28, 29th - FRIDAY 2PM-7PM, SATURDAY 8:30-4:00, SUNDAY 8:30-4:00”
June 29 Winter Petroleum premises cleaned out
June 29 locals report that the area near Parkhill neighbourhood had only a “brief spitting” of rain
June 29 Sunday, JO attends estate sale at Liknes home with NO and his younger brother
June 29 neighbour reports seeing AL playing in the park with NO around noon (elsewhere said NO in park and AL watching from by the garage in the back laneway)
June 29 10:00pm approx. time JO leaves with the youngest boy and NO stays with AL and KL for a sleepover
June 30 5:25am sunrise in Calgary
June 30 10:00am Monday, JO returns to the Liknes house to pick up NO and nobody is at the home. She notifies LE
June 30 10:00am Sometime in the morning after LE arrived, AL’s brother CL arrived at the home after having phoned and receiving no answer to his call(s?)
June 30 5:15pm MT (mountain time) Amber Alert is issued
July 1 Tuesday, AL and KL were to vacate their home at 123 38a Av SW, Calgary (to be verified whether July 1 or July 31)
July 1, 11:00 am Investigators say they have no "significant leads" about the whereabouts of the missing family. Also that evidence at the Liknes home indicates the three family members left the residence against their will. LE ask anyone who attended the estate sale to contact them and that LE will be at Parkhill Community Centre on July 3 to meet with them. People are being asked to bring photos of what they bought to help investigators catalogue what was purchased and what remains in the house.
July 1 2014 Police contacted 3 landfills asking for trash to be segregated
July 1 RO sends an email late today to CTV Calgary saying that a reward will be announced Wednesday through CPS
July 2 Wednesday, sometime after midnite and before morning, a neighbour of the Garlands is awake during the night and sees a light on in the greenhouse at the Garland farm. He says that is unusual.
July 2 Neighbours notice that someone at the Garland property has been burning most of the day (elsewhere it said 2 days?)
July 2 3:00pm MT (mountain time) JO and RO make public plea for the return of their son. LE say they have decided not to offer a cash reward at this time. LE also says the grandparents are not considered suspects.
July 3 of approx. 200 people who attended sale, 80+ attended Parkhill Community Hall
July 3 LE remove AL’s truck from the driveway
July 4 LE update says there was a violent struggle inside the Liknes home. They are searching for a green Ford F150 made in the late 1980s or early 1990s that was seen driving around the neighbourhood several times the night of the disappearance
July 4 LE arrived at the Airdrie farm in the evening; a green truck matching the one LE is seeking is removed from the scene and POI DG is taken into custody, charged with possession of ID in the name of Matthew Hartley and a stolen bank card.
July 5 Search takes place around the Liknes’ home and the park.
July 6 LE continue search at farm but DG is released from custody. LE says he remains a POI
July 7 DG makes first court appearance and will be back in court Wednesday, July 9
July 7 It is announced that POI has link to Liknes family and has criminal past. (It becomes known that DG’s sister is in a CIL relationship with AL’s son AL)
July 7 Pastor Dave Pollard of Airdrie United Church says DG’s parents are doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances
July 8 It is said that detectives have interviewed staff of AL’s company that went bankrupt weeks before the family’s disappearance
July 9 DG made second court appearance. Will return to court Friday July 11 when he could be released on conditions, including that he provide an address where he will be staying
July 9 LE reveal that DG and AL had money dealings that soured and there is "bad blood" related to money between the two. They are not aware of the specifics
July 9 LE ask property owners in rural areas outside Calgary to search their land for anything suspicious
July 10 LE commenced search of Spyhill landfill; bags of (potential?) evidence removed by LE
July 10 LE start search of second landfill site at 17th and 68th Street today
July 10 RCMP Explosives disposal unit was dispatched to the Garland property in Airdrie today
July 10 In LE presser today, they say they know who was hurt in the home
July 10 Hundreds of people attend vigil held for the family
July 11 DG released from custody on $750 bail with the following terms: keep the peace and be of good behaviour; must stay in province (cannot leave Alberta without permission), surrender passport within 24 hours of release, to report 3 days a week, first report to be July 15, must provide land line phone # if available to supervisor, must be home between the hours of 9 pm and 7 am each day, he is to reside at transitional housing - hotel, motel, Mustard Seed, Drop-In Centre, Salvation Army Centre of Hope, or homeless shelter, be back in court Aug. 6 at case management office, not possess ID other than his own. DG asks judge "I live on a farm, sometimes working past 9 o'clock, would residence be on the farm itself?" The judge reminds him he won't be going to the farm but to some form of transitional housing.
July 11 LE conclude search at southeast Calgary landfill and focus their efforts on an acreage north of the city and the Spyhill Landfill site. Also have a tactical unit at the Airdrie acreage to deal with dangerous and flammable chemicals that were found on the property. Asking people/businesses/oil companies in the Airdrie and Parkhill/Stanley Park areas to check their properties for absolutely anything out of the ordinary.
July 11 Members of Liknes family confirm in the media that beef between AL and DG was over patent filed years ago by AL; family says it was AL's invention
July 13 The Liknes home was released as a crime scene
July 13 time unknown, homicide detectives conclude enough evidence to determine all 3 family members murdered
July 14 1:30 am DG re-arrested in the early morning hours near his parents’ farm in Airdrie.
July 14 1:00 pm LE holds presser to advise that an arrest has been made and that two charges of first-degree murder (AL andKL) and one charge of second-degree murder (NO) are pending in the case. Police did not confirm the name of the suspect, but family has told media that Douglas Garland is the person. LE expect charges to be laid later today.
July 14 DG was formally charged late tonite with 2 counts of first degree murder related to Alvin and Kathryn Liknes, and 1 count of second degree with regard to Nathan O’Brien. His next court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday, July 16
July 16 Second court appearance for DG. Case adjourned to Aug. 14, defence (Kim Ross) awaiting disclosure
July 17 LE press release says they have a 30 day search plan in place that is intelligence driven and cannot be shared outside of law enforcement
July 24 LE say they are looking at possible connection of DG to other violent crimes, specifically the death of 32 y.o. Helena Mihaljevic. Helena’s body was found in 2007 just off RR 280 and Symons Valley Road. She had disappeared the previous year.
July 31 AL and KL were to vacate their home (to be verified whether July 31 or July 1 2014)
August 5 Reported in MSM as confirmed by CPS that CPS has investigators in Mexico in relation to this case. CBC reporter says LE is searching one specific property (address and further details unknown at this time)
August 5 It is reported that charges against DG related to the identity theft (and bank card?) have been stayed.
Aug 14 DG in court (via CCTV). Defence says still awaiting disclosure. Matter put over to September 17
Sept 4 Memorial for Nathan Kenneth O'Brien held at Westside Kings Church, 3939 - 69 Street SW
September 17 DG in court (in person) for his fourth appearance. His lawyer Kim Ross says defence has received the bulk of disclosure but more expected by late November / early December
September 27 Celebration of Life service to be held for Kathy and Alvin at First Alliance Church at 10:00 am
December DG scheduled for a fifth court appearance
2015 May 19 – 29 Preliminary hearing scheduled
