STU Professor killed

[danlirette]

I thought this may be of interest to you, brother Eli.... it took place at STU; a terrible tragedy which shows the depravity of the human heart without Regeneration through the Blood of Jesus.

Suspect sought in killing of STU professor

John McKendy, 60, found dead in his Douglas home; police seek Nicholas Wade Baker, 27, in connection with crime

By MICHAEL STAPLES
and ADAM BOWIE
Canadaeast News Service


FREDERICTON - Police believe the prime suspect in the murder of a St. Thomas University professor may be headed to or has already entered the United States.

Police sent an alert to law enforcement agencies across the province and into the U.S. yesterday, warning them to keep their eyes open for 27-year-old Nicholas Wade Baker.

The alert said Baker may be driving a grey 2008 Dodge Charger, bearing Nova Scotia plates, and he could be carrying false identification under the name Michael McKendy.

Baker is wanted in connection with a homicide investigation in Douglas after police found the body of John McKendy in his home there around 5 a.m. yesterday morning.

Another unidentified person was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

"Obviously, something went terribly wrong in the house and that's what we are trying to determine at the present time," said RCMP Cpl. Claude Tremblay, who declined to say who called the police.

Police aren't releasing a possible motive.

In an unusual move late yesterday, RCMP released two photos of Baker, a Canadian who has family in South Carolina. They have also advised the Canada Border Services Agency to be on the lookout for him.

A search of the Douglas area yesterday came up empty.

The relationship between McKendy, 60, and Baker isn't being released by the RCMP.

"Suffice to say that the victim and the suspect knew each other," Tremblay said. "Right now, we are actively searching for the suspect. We are asking for the public's help, (and) if they see him to call us."

Baker has light hair and is about 5-foot-8 and slender. Anyone who sees Baker is advised not to approach him and instead contact the RCMP at 1-888-506-7267 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

"At the present time, yes, he would be considered dangerous," Tremblay said. "Anyone involved in such a crime, obviously, when we say they are suspect, they should be considered armed and dangerous."

During the height of yesterday's investigation, RCMP were looking at three possible crime scenes -- Hanwell Road, near McKendy's home and at the victim's house.

"What happened this morning was that we received information that, possibly, the suspect might have been on the Hanwell Road," Tremblay said. "Police did cordon off a section of the highway on the Hanwell and shortly thereafter realized that the suspect was not in the house."

Two vehicles registered to Baker have been seized by police, including one found in a secluded area about three minutes from McKendy's house.

The McKendy house, yellowish in colour and located in a thicket of trees, was buzzing with RCMP activity yesterday. Officers cordoned off the area around the dwelling and could be seen at times carefully searching the land around the house.

[Eli Brayley]

That's terrible. My home is on the Hanwell road, wow. The things sinful men are capable of...

[danlirette]

Murder suspect found dead in Moncton
Published Monday November 3rd, 2008

Police close book on killing of STU professor, release few details


FREDERICTON - The RCMP say they have closed their investigation into the slaying of a popular university professor in New Brunswick after the body of the man they wanted for his murder was found in a car outside a hotel parking lot in Moncton.

VIKTOR PIVOVAROV/TIMES & TRANSCR
RCMP investigate at the scene where a body was found inside a vehicle in the parking lot of a hotel in Moncton on Saturday.

But how Prof. John McKendy, 60, died and his relationship to the man police believe killed him were among the details the Mounties would not release yesterday, arguing it would serve no public interest.

Investigators also refused to say how Nicholas Wade Baker, 27, died as they assured the public they were not looking for anyone else in the killing of the professor who taught at St. Thomas University in Fredericton.

"We were able to connect the evidence we had on Saturday at all the scenes that we had, plus the scene in Moncton in the car, and all these tied in together. There is no doubt in any of the investigators that this is the suspect in question," Cpl. Claude Tremblay told reporters.

Before Baker's body was found on Saturday, police had charged him with first-degree murder after identifying him as a suspect on Friday in the killing of McKendy, whose body was found in his home in Douglas.

Tremblay said details of what happened and the identity of someone who suffered non-life threatening injuries in McKendy's home would not be released.

"I realize that the public would like to know, and we would almost like to advertise what happened, but we have to be concerned about the family," he said.

"We have two families here -- the suspect's family and the family of Mr. McKendy. Is it going to help anyone at the end of the day if this evidence comes out? No, it's not going to do anything for anyone."

National media reports Saturday suggested Baker was married to McKendy's daughter and that she was the person found injured in the house when police arrived there early Friday morning.

The RCMP say foul play has been ruled out in Baker's death.

Police say Baker -- whose body was found in a rental car -- had no fixed address, but had family in South Carolina.

Tremblay said he could not confirm the relationship between the two dead men or the person found injured in the home.

"I can tell you they were all known to each other, but don't forget there is still a victim in the hospital, and to protect this person we have decided not to confirm anything," said Tremblay.

"Nothing has been hidden from the families on both sides ... they are very well aware of what's going on, and they are very satisfied with the actions taken so far by the RCMP."

He said investigators are collecting final details, but the case is closed.

McKendy, a Quaker, began teaching at St. Thomas in 1974 and was one of the university's longest serving professors. His research focused on social inequality and the sociology of religion and work.