GUILTY Canada - Vida Smith, 69, enroute Chestermere, Alta, to Calgary, 21 Jul 2020 *Arrest*

[Snoopster]

I've had a busy couple of weeks at work...and somehow missed this case. So sad for Vida's family.

As with everyone else, I'm curious at to her relationship with the suspect.

 

[YaYa_521]

'Our mom deserves dignity': Family of missing Chestermere woman issues statement
Police have also released a photo of Barton's beige Cadillac Escalade, which investigators believe was driven from Calgary to Edmonton on July 22 where he went to a Best Buy store in the 13000 block of 137th Avenue N.W.

Anyone who saw the vehicle in either city or on the highway is asked to contact the Calgary police non-emergency number at 403-266-1234.

 

[Sillybilly]

Trying to get Verified

Hi Shanzsato,

Have you followed Tricia's instructions found here ? If so, it can take a bit of time so please be patient.

 

[YaYa_521]

What does this mean? Did they find her remains?
Canada Police Report

69-Year-Old Vida SMITH no longer missing in Calgary, suspect charged with murder
July 27, 2020

ETA - sorry. Text was big & bolded when pasted over.

 

[MistyWaters]

What does this mean? Did they find her remains?
Canada Police Report

69-Year-Old Vida SMITH no longer missing in Calgary, suspect charged with murder
July 27, 2020

I think once KB was charged with murder, her status was changed from a Missing Person to Deceased. Initially her disappearance was indeed classed as a Missing Person. Since then there’s been no reports directly from LE to indicate her body has been found.

 

[YaYa_521]

I think once KB was charged with murder, her status was changed from a Missing Person to Deceased. Initially her disappearance was indeed classed as a Missing Person. Since then there’s been no reports directly from LE to indicate her body has been found.

Thanks! So IIUC, LE may have located her remains then chose not to directly disclose that information. Hmm, interesting.

 

[MistyWaters]

Thanks! So IIUC, LE may have located her remains then chose not to directly disclose that information. Hmm, interesting.

I don’t think so. Canada Missing Police Report isn’t a website that’s operated by police and as LE hasn’t announced Vida’s body has been found, CAPR couldn’t possibly know it has been and LE has chosen not to disclose it. It’s just that individuals known to be deceased are no longer considered “Missing Persons”, even if their body hasn’t been found yet. If it there wasn’t strong evidence Vida is deceased, KB wouldn’t be charged with killing her.

Welcome to Canada Police Report (CAPR)
Canada Police Report is a database of official media releases made public by police departments across Canada.

 

[YaYa_521]

I don’t think so. Canada Missing Police Report isn’t a website that’s operated by police and as LE hasn’t announced Vida’s body has been found, CAPR couldn’t possibly know it has been and LE has chosen not to disclose it. It’s just that individuals known to be deceased are no longer considered “Missing Persons”, even if their body hasn’t been found yet. If it there wasn’t strong evidence Vida is deceased, KB wouldn’t be charged with killing her.

Welcome to Canada Police Report (CAPR)
Canada Police Report is a database of official media releases made public by police departments across Canada.

TYTYTY! That helped clear it up. I thought it was an official LE site.

 

[MistyWaters]

TYTYTY! That helped clear it up. I thought it was an official LE site.

You’re welcome. The most recent news from Calgary Police was Aug 12th, the appeal from Vida’s family in hopes of generating new tips leading to the recovery of her remains. I sure do wish this will happen soon, not only for the family’s sake but it would probably prove helpful in the prosecution of her murderer as well.

Statement issued from the family of Vida Smith
Calgary, AB,
“The family of Vida Smith is issuing a statement in hopes of generating new tips that could lead to the recovery of Vida’s remains. We are also releasing a photo of the accused’s vehicle and asking anyone who may have seen it between Calgary and Edmonton on Wednesday, July 22, 2020, to contact investigators.....”

CPS Newsroom link -
https://newsroom.calgary.ca/police-news-releases/

 

[MistyWaters]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calg...slaughter-firearms-charges-gambling-1.5709850

“Barton is now also charged with 27 firearms-related offences. The offence date listed on court documents is July 30, the day Barton was arrested.

Some of the charges involve allegations that five guns — two rifles and three handguns — were found in a Cadillac Escalade, the same vehicle police allege Barton travelled to Edmonton in the day after Smith was last seen.......

........Barton plays poker, baccarat and, most prominently, blackjack.

Members of Calgary's poker and blackjack communities who spend time in various city casinos confirm Barton was a regular who "kept to himself."

He is very smart and skilled, according to fellow casino regulars.

Barton and Smith were "renowned" for their card counting skills, said one casino employee.

They often worked as a team. One would count cards, signalling for the other to step in when the deck went hot.....”

 

[kritafo]

Finally, some confirmation on him being a gambler I found the post about the daughter asking if anyone knew Kevin, interesting

 

[MistyWaters]

Finally, some confirmation on him being a gambler I found the post about the daughter asking if anyone knew Kevin, interesting

Yes however I can’t even guess why that resulted in him allegedly taking the life of his business partner/friend, along with him possessing all those weapons just to play poker. If he was “known” by police, the weapons can’t have been lawfully purchased because of his criminal record elsewhere. Two rifles and three handguns transported in a vehicle is far beyond what’s required for personal protection. There’s far more to this guy than just gambling IMO.

In Alberta, casino tables have not yet opened due to COVID and I don’t think it has in other provinces either, plus I believe the border is still closed since last March.
“As the Alberta government predicts a decline in revenue from gaming this year, health officials say new guidelines to allow casino table games to reopen amid the COVID-19 pandemic will be coming soon.”
Deficit 2020: Alberta government's share of gaming revenue plunges | Edmonton Journal

 

[kritafo]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/vida-smith-kevin-barton-manslaughter-witness-1.5710990

 

[MistyWaters]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/vida-smith-kevin-barton-manslaughter-witness-1.5710990

From your link -
“Investigators believe Smith and Barton had an argument on July 21 between 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. inside a white SUV parked on the west side of the Sunridge ATB, and that this unidentified woman witnessed it.”




"From what we observed on CCTV, we believe that this woman witnessed something that caught her attention as she was walking by a vehicle," said Acting Staff Sgt. Stuart Cole of the CPS homicide unit.

"We're very interested in speaking with her and are looking for the public's help to identify her."

The woman is not alleged to have had any other involvement in the case aside from being a witness, police said.....”

 

[MistyWaters]

It appears Vida’s body hasn’t yet been found but it’s a positive advancement in the investigation to see the murder charges upgraded IMO.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/vida-smith-kevin-barton-charge-upgraded-murder-1.5717959
“The charge against the man accused of killing missing Chestermere woman Vida Smith has been upgraded to murder.

Kevin Barton appeared Wednesday in court, where his manslaughter charge was upgraded to second-degree murder.....

.......Weeks after he was arrested in Smith's death, 27 firearms-related charges were laid. On Wednesday, those were consolidated to just three....”

 

[kritafo]

It appears Vida’s body hasn’t yet been found but it’s a positive advancement in the investigation to see the murder charges upgraded IMO.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/vida-smith-kevin-barton-charge-upgraded-murder-1.5717959
“The charge against the man accused of killing missing Chestermere woman Vida Smith has been upgraded to murder.

Kevin Barton appeared Wednesday in court, where his manslaughter charge was upgraded to second-degree murder.....

.......Weeks after he was arrested in Smith's death, 27 firearms-related charges were laid. On Wednesday, those were consolidated to just three....”

I was just coming to see if it was posted.

 

[kritafo]

Charge upgraded to first-degree murder for man accused in Vida Smith disappearance

wow charge has been upgraded again.

 

[MistyWaters]

Charge upgraded to first-degree murder for man accused in Vida Smith disappearance

wow charge has been upgraded again.

Surprising for sure, I hope this report is correct -

“A police investigation into the disappearance resulted in the arrest of Kevin Barton, a friend of Smith's, on July 30. Barton was initially charged with manslaughter but the charge was changed to first-degree murder this week.”

 

[kritafo]

nothing, everything is so quiet. I can't find anywhere that says when his next court appearance is? Does anyone know? I asked a reporter and he was suppose to get back to me last week, but nothing. I am curious if she also had an alias.

 

[MistyWaters]

nothing, everything is so quiet. I can't find anywhere that says when his next court appearance is? Does anyone know? I asked a reporter and he was suppose to get back to me last week, but nothing. I am curious if she also had an alias.

No specific date although it appears his next court appearance is sometime during the month of October.

“His case returns to court next month.”
Suspect now faces murder charge in case of missing Chestermere woman | Calgary Herald