Remains of missing teen Samuel Bird found, man charged with murder: Edmonton police

A man has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of Samuel Bird. Bird's remains have been located after a months-long search.

A murder charge has been laid in the death of Indigenous teen Samuel Bird.

Bryan Farrell, 38, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and interfering with a body in Bird’s death on Wednesday.

He’s also facing 13 other charges, including:

• two counts of aggravated assault;
• two counts of arson to property with disregard for human life;
• arson to property;
• unauthorized possession of a firearm;
• two counts of possession of a dangerous weapon;
• three counts of assaulting a peace officer with a weapon; and
• uttering threats; and
• fraud over $5,000.

A bail hearing has been set for Oct. 20.

Bird’s remains were located Thursday in a wooded area outside Edmonton.

“After a lengthy and complex investigation, we are pleased to be able to conclude this file and hopefully bring some measure of resolution and justice to Samuel’s loved ones, who have been searching tirelessly for him,” Det. Jared Buhler of the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) Homicide Section said in a news release.

EPS says it is not looking for anyone else in connection with Bird’s death.

Farrell has a lengthy criminal history.

In addition to the charges related to Bird’s death, he has also been charged with:

• assault in connection with an incident on May 22;
• assault with a weapon, possession of a dangerous weapon, and mischief in connection with an incident on Aug. 8; and
• possessing a dangerous weapon and two counts of aggravated assault in connection with an incident on May 24.

None of the charges have been proven in court.

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Bird, who would have turned 15 at the end of September, hadn’t been seen since June 1 in west Edmonton.

His mother, Alanna, made a post on social media on Thursday thanking police, friends and volunteers who searched for Bird for the last four months.

“I want to thank every single person who donated in hopes of finding my boy, without all the help we couldn’t of (sic) kept this search going,” she wrote.

“I want to say thank you to those who kept me sane since June 1, 2025.”

A search warrant was executed at the west Edmonton home where Bird was last seen on Sept. 18.

Fire broke out at the same house on Sept. 29.

On Oct. 1, investigators said the teen was believed to be dead, and his death was being investigated as a homicide.

Last week, EPS announced it was searching for Bird’s remains in the Carrot Creek region west of Edmonton.

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