'They were an innocent young couple': Family member on young slain couple

RCMP investigating double homicide RCMP are investigating a double homicide in Alberta’s north.

High Prairie RCMP said Thursday that results of autopsies on two teens found dead, and confirmed that both were victims of homicide.

Police said autopsies on Cory Grey and Dylan Laboucan were completed late Wednesday by the Office of the Medical Examiner in Edmonton.

The autopsy found that both victims were shot.

“This is not a random act, these two victims, Cory and Dylan, were deliberately killed by someone or some people and they were connected with them in some way,” Insp. Gibson Glavin said.

According to police, the deaths of the two teens – who were both reported missing last weekend – were a shock to their families and friends, and the Whitefish Lake First Nation.

According to Grey’s Uncle, Chief Robert Grey, the couple was working and saving money ahead of a move to Slave Lake for school.

“Dylan was going to do some power engineering, that’s the course he picked, and Cory picked an early childhood program,” Chief Grey said.

Laboucan’s body was found Monday, and Grey’s body was found Tuesday afternoon.

“We do know how they might be connected in general, but right now we aren’t able to release that information as it’s a key part of the investigation,” Glavin said.

CTV News spoke with Laboucan’s cousin Thursday morning – he said he was the one who found his cousin’s body.

Cody Laboucan said he stopped by to visit his cousin, and found the body near the family trailer.

“I still tried to wake him up, I grabbed him by his feet, started saying his name, I started yelling his name a few times,” Laboucan said. “I looked at the trailer and saw no vehicles there. I knew something was wrong.”

Laboucan said when he returned 20 minutes later after going to another home to call 911, Dylan was gone.

“We started searching almost immediately,” Laboucan said. “We just waited for the cops to get there and then we started searching.”

“It’s hard to take it in, it’s hard to believe that somebody would actually do this to a young couple,” Laboucan said. “They weren’t involved in drugs, they didn’t drink.

“They were an innocent young couple.”

Laboucan said the family has suspicions over who is responsible for the slayings, but are leaving the investigation up to police.

Anyone with information on the two deaths is asked to call High Prairie RCMP at 780-523-3370.

Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

With files from Susan Amerongen