The two men charged with first-degree murder of Calgary woman Chelsea Davidenas will enter their pleas in Calgary court on April 18.
Steven Aaron Zwick, 26, of Airdrie, and Paul Joseph Rushton, 52, of Calgary, were charged with one count of first-degree murder based on a significant amount of physical and digital evidence collected by Calgary Police Services (CPS). They were taken into custody on April 2.
Davidenas was last seen on Feb. 17, 2024 and was reported missing to the police on Feb. 27 after her family grew concerned when they were unable to get in touch with her.
Calgary police confirmed on April 5 they located the remains of Davidenas. According to CPS, officers searched rural areas southeast of Chestermere in an effort to locate her remains.
After narrowing down the search location, on Thursday, April 4, officers engaged the Calgary Search & Rescue Association (CALSARA) to assist in the search efforts.
Late in the afternoon on April 4, members of the CPS Missing Persons Team located human remains northeast of Carseland in Wheatland County, near Range Road 254 and Highway 901. Investigators worked with The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, who identified the remains as Davidenas.
It is alleged that in the early hours of Saturday, Feb. 17, Davidenas was lured to a residence located in the 5600 block of Rundlehorn Drive N.E., by two men who were known to her. It is believed Davidenas was killed hours after her disappearance inside the same residence.
Police believe Davidenas was targeted because of her history as a sex worker. Investigators do not believe that this case is connected to any other missing persons in Calgary.
CPS believes her remains were removed from the residence on Monday, Feb. 20, 2024, and transported in a stolen, dark blue, low-profile, 2001 Honda Civic with white rims to a rural, lightly treed area southeast of Chestermere.
CPS received numerous tips since she was reported missing.
*Note - Story has been updated to reflect that the remains of Davidenas had been located on April 4.
