Erick Joseph Danis

Erick Joseph Danis was remembered by his sister as the joker of the family, someone who was fun to be around and had a great sense of humor. A 37-year-old male resident of Airdrie, Alberta, Erick was the father of a two-year-old daughter whom he left behind. His life took a difficult turn after he developed an addiction to opioids, which his sister, Manon Danis, said began with prescription medication. The addiction grew quickly, and he would go from doctor to doctor to get what he needed. As his struggle deepened, he would disappear for long periods, and his family would not hear from him.

The last time Manon spoke to her brother was in November 2010. She recalled that he called her and was not making any sense, leaving her with a feeling that something was wrong. Five months later, on April 22, 2011, her fears were tragically realized. A person riding an ATV in a rural field northeast of Calgary, near the intersection of Range Road 284 and Township Road 250, discovered a body wrapped in a blanket. It was Erick Danis. His family would not learn of his death until his body was identified.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) K-Division’s Serious Crimes Branch took charge of the homicide investigation. To protect the integrity of their case, investigators have deliberately withheld the specific cause of death, stating that those details would likely only be known to a small number of people and could be significant evidence. Police believe that a small circle of individuals has direct knowledge of what happened to Erick. Over the years, the investigation has been extensive; by 2019, more than 40 serious crimes investigators had worked on the case, conducting over 100 inquiries and interviews.

Despite their efforts and having interviewed several persons of interest, investigators have not been able to zero in on a single suspect, and no charges have ever been laid. "The RCMP feel that it’s a very small circle of people who know exactly what happened to Erick,” Sgt. Jason Zazulak of the RCMP K-Division’s serious crimes branch stated in 2019. For Erick’s family, the lack of resolution has meant a prolonged and painful grieving process. “We didn’t even have a celebration of life for Erick, we didn’t have a funeral,” his sister Manon said.

The enduring pain of his unsolved murder has left his family feeling like perpetual victims. “The person who killed Erick killed my dreams,” Manon shared, reflecting on the profound loss. She thinks often of Erick's daughter, who is growing up without knowing her father. In the years since his death, Manon has channeled her grief into helping other families who are navigating the challenges of addiction, hoping to prevent similar tragedies.

As of May 2019, the murder of Erick Danis remained unsolved. His family continues to hope that one day, those responsible will be brought to justice. “No one deserves to die like that,” Manon said. The RCMP continues to seek information from the public that could provide a breakthrough in this long-standing cold case.