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

[MistyWaters]

BBM

“Investigators analyzed her day timer and believe Smith was scheduled to meet with a friend, Kevin Barton, on July 21 at 12:30 p.m. at a coffee shop in northeast Calgary — the same day she was last seen by her family....”
Calgary police seeking public's help in search for missing woman | Calgary Herald

I’m curious, how do investigators “analyze” a day timer? This is how police know she was meeting KB, a friend, at a coffee shop but initially they said she went to Calgary for an appointment.

So I have to wonder if it was just an excuse of an appointment that she told her family who reported her missing? If so, maybe there’s a reason she was hiding this meeting from them? My speculation only but perhaps the relationship between the two is key to why she’s missing.

 

[branmuffin]

Is this the same Kevin Barton? He's a mountain climber. Hair looks the same. Might be a place to look.

Vern and Kevin loving the North Ridge of Assiniboine

ETA Maybe look near the Drumheller badlands. I've heard that's a place to go if you want to interest someone in hiking and climbing.

 

[whitelilac]

Is this the same Kevin Barton? He's a mountain climber. Hair looks the same. Might be a place to look.

Vern and Kevin loving the North Ridge of Assiniboine

ETA Maybe look near the Drumheller badlands. I've heard that's a place to go if you want to interest someone in hiking and climbing.

It could be....it's 8 years ago, so he could have aged some.

 

[Tealgrove]

Is this the same Kevin Barton? He's a mountain climber. Hair looks the same. Might be a place to look.

Vern and Kevin loving the North Ridge of Assiniboine

ETA Maybe look near the Drumheller badlands. I've heard that's a place to go if you want to interest someone in hiking and climbing.

Good find. It's worth a shot.

I wonder what she was wearing that day. Did anyone actually see her on the day she disappeared? If she was dressed for hiking then I would absolutely start checking out the hiking spots.

I don't like the sound of this. The fact that they can't find KB is worrisome to me.

 

[MistyWaters]

Good find. It's worth a shot.

I wonder what she was wearing that day. Did anyone actually see her on the day she disappeared? If she was dressed for hiking then I would absolutely start checking out the hiking spots.

I don't like the sound of this. The fact that they can't find KB is worrisome to me.

Various reports indicate she was last seen earlier that day by her family, possibly she lives with family members. I somehow don’t think they went hiking.

“She was last seen wearing a black tank top, patterned skirt and was carrying a black purse.”
Calgary police seeking public's help in search for missing woman | Calgary Herald

 

[Tealgrove]

Various reports indicate she was last seen earlier that day by her family, possibly she lives with family members. I somehow don’t think they went hiking.

“She was last seen wearing a black tank top, patterned skirt and was carrying a black purse.”
Calgary police seeking public's help in search for missing woman | Calgary Herald

Thanks. Certainly not dressed for hiking.

 

[kritafo]

Man charged in her death

 

[kritafo]

Police have charged a man with manslaughter in relation to the death of a woman who was reported missing last week.

Vida Smith was last seen travelling to Calgary from Chestermere on July 21 but failed to return home.

 

[dotr]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/vida-smith-calgary-police-kevin-barton-chris-lee-1.5670710
''On July 29, police alleged that Smith met with a friend while in Calgary.

That individual, 60-year-old Kevin Barton — also known as Chris Lee — was taken into custody on July 30 and charged with one count of manslaughter.''

''Police say they believe that Smith was killed based on evidence recovered, but have not yet recovered her remains.

"In addition to searching for Vida's remains, we are still investigating possible motives," said homicide unit Staff Sgt. Martin Schiavetta in a release. "Our condolences go out to Vida's family and we are committed to finding them answers."

Police say they believe an argument took place on July 21 between 1 and 1:30 p.m. inside a white SUV parked near 2555 32 Street N.E. that may be related to the investigation.''

Police charge man in missing Calgary woman's death; searching for remains | National Post
''They say Barton and Smith had a long-standing friendship and business relationship.

No motive has been determined.

Police are asking anyone who may have seen the accused, or his beige Cadillac Escalade, in Calgary or Edmonton to contact them.''

 

[whitelilac]

oh no! .....so they found Kevin Barton.

 

[moonriverfarm]

Yikes, he looks a bit unhinged to me.

 

[whitelilac]

I wonder what kind of "business relationship" they had.
If Barton was driving around in a Cadillac Escalade, this might be about money.

 

[MistyWaters]

I wonder what kind of "business relationship" they had.
If Barton was driving around in a Cadillac Escalade, this might be about money.

“Kevin Barton, also known as Chris Lee, 60, was arrested without incident on July 30 and police also recovered Vida's vehicle, a 2002 Nissan Altima...

.....Smith and Barton had been friends for a number of years, police said, adding that the suspect is known to police in other Canadian jurisdictions......

......Police are searching for Smith's remains and believe Barton may have disposed of them when he travelled from Calgary to Edmonton on July 22.

"It is alleged that while in Edmonton, Barton attended the Best Buy, located at 13924 137 Avenue N.W. Anyone who may have seen Barton or his vehicle, a beige Cadillac Escalade, is asked to contact police."....”
Man arrested in connection with death of Chestermere, Alta. woman

And he was also using an entirely different name, an indication there was some sort of illegal undercurrents connected with this man. CPS obviously know much more than they’re saying given he’s already been charged although her body hasn’t been found.

Very sad outcome for Vida’s family.

ETA: Great job by CPS on this early arrest. I bet KB didn’t expect it’d be known that there was even any connection between him and Vida on that fateful day.

 

[MntnHiker]

Oh no! Not the update I was hoping to see here. Such a sad ending for Vida and her family

 

[kritafo]

I was hoping this would end on a positive note. So sad

 

[branmuffin]

Man charged in her death

Oh no!

 

[iQuill]

Why ... just why .... honestly ... I just don’t get how he / they think they can get away with killing someone! So sad for Vida and her loved ones. MOO

 

[MistyWaters]

There goes my theory the meeting between the victim and the suspect was on the sly. As he’s known to her family, that might prove helpful in determining the reason for the argument between the two (motive).

“Schiavetta said the victim and Barton are known to each other. He said they had a “long-standing friendship” and “business relationship” extending over many years. Barton is known to Smith’s family...”
Man now faces manslaughter charge; search continues for Vida Smith | Calgary Herald

 

[TootsieFootsie]

I didn't think it would take them long.
I'm glad they found him alive as I had thought he would be found deceased

Man charged in her death

 

[Tealgrove]

“Kevin Barton, also known as Chris Lee, 60, was arrested without incident on July 30 and police also recovered Vida's vehicle, a 2002 Nissan Altima...

.....Smith and Barton had been friends for a number of years, police said, adding that the suspect is known to police in other Canadian jurisdictions......

......Police are searching for Smith's remains and believe Barton may have disposed of them when he travelled from Calgary to Edmonton on July 22.

"It is alleged that while in Edmonton, Barton attended the Best Buy, located at 13924 137 Avenue N.W. Anyone who may have seen Barton or his vehicle, a beige Cadillac Escalade, is asked to contact police."....”
Man arrested in connection with death of Chestermere, Alta. woman

And he was also using an entirely different name, an indication there was some sort of illegal undercurrents connected with this man. CPS obviously know much more than they’re saying given he’s already been charged although her body hasn’t been found.

Very sad outcome for Vida’s family.

ETA: Great job by CPS on this early arrest. I bet KB didn’t expect it’d be known that there was even any connection between him and Vida on that fateful day.

RBBM

He has an alias and is known to other Police Services in Canada. Oh boy! How did Vida hook up with this guy as a friend and business associate?

I wonder if she knew he had an alias and wasn't on the up and up. I know they say she knew him for years but you never know how someone can hide their past.

What a sad outcome. I had a feeling this is where we'd end up.