(CTV.ca) - New Brunswick RCMP issued an apology Thursday, after admitting they had received a warning from Professor John McKendy’s family about the man who is suspected in his killing.
The 60-year-old St. Thomas University sociology professor was found dead in his home on Oct. 31. Police said he died after being struck with a blunt object.
On Nov. 1, police identified Nicholas Wade Baker, 27, as the prime suspect.
That same day Baker was found dead in a car in Moncton, N.B. Police do not suspect foul play in his death.
While police have not explained the relationship between the two men, Baker was reportedly the estranged husband of McKendy’s daughter, who was also injured in the attack that killed her father.
Earlier this week, an RCMP spokesperson said no members of the McKendy family had come forward with concerns about Baker prior to the professor’s death.
On Thursday, the RCMP released a statement saying this was untrue — and that a member of the McKendy family went to police on Oct. 27 with concerns about Baker.
“That person did raise concerns about the possible safety of one family member Mr. Baker was acquainted with,” the statement said. “That information, although given to the investigator, was not immediately placed on the RCMP file into the investigation.”
The RCMP said it “apologizes to the McKendy family for any perception the family did not bring forward concerns to police” and that the spokesperson who suggested otherwise “was unaware” of that information when he spoke to media.
The statement also said Baker “had been the subject of a police investigation into a stolen vehicle, credit card theft and fraud from a member of the McKendy family for approximately a month previous” to the professor’s death.
Based on his credit card transactions, police believed Baker was somewhere in the United States, the statement said.
RCMP Assistant Commissioner Darrell LaFosse said at a news conference that he has ordered “an independent officer review into all files related to this incident to determine the appropriateness of the action taken.”
“This review will begin shortly and the results will be made public,” he said.
The victim’s brother, Michael McKendy, declined comment Thursday, saying: “We may or may not comment in the future.”
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1 RCMP Watch // Nov 7, 2008 at 12:02
RCMP Commanding Officer orders review into McKendy file
RCMP Press Release
Nov 6, 2008
Fredericton, N.B.
The RCMP’s Commanding Officer, Assistant Commissioner Darrell LaFosse has ordered a review into the police file on 27-year old Nicholas Wade Baker. On November 1, 2008, Mr. Baker was charged with the first degree murder of 60-year old John McKendy in Douglas on October 30, 2008. Mr. Baker was subsequently found dead in a car in Moncton. Foul play was ruled out in that matter.
Another person who was at the scene of the murder drove to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The hospital then called the police who responded to the murder scene.
Mr. Baker had been the subject of a police investigation into a stolen vehicle, credit card theft and fraud from a member of the McKendy family for approximately a month previous. Based on the credit charges made, Baker was believed to be somewhere in the United States.
Earlier this week, a statement was made by police to some media that at no time did a member of the McKendy family approach police with concerns about the safety of any family members due to possible actions by Baker. The RCMP have since realized that was not the case. Although the RCMP file on the Baker investigation only dealt with the credit card theft, stolen vehicle and fraud, a family member had in fact spoken with an RCMP member on October 27, 2008. That person did raise concerns about the possible safety of one family member Mr. Baker was acquainted with. That information, although given to the investigator, was not immediately placed on the RCMP file into the investigation. The RCMP media spokesperson was unaware of this additional information at the time he gave the interviews. For this, the RCMP apologizes to the McKendy family for any perception the family did not bring forward concerns to police.
Due to this, A/Commr. LaFosse has ordered an Independent Officer Review into all files related to this incident to determine the appropriateness of action taken. This review will begin shortly and the results will be made public.
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S/Sgt. Gary Cameron
506-461-3342
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