Two men facing murder charges as police search for remains of missing Calgary woman

Two men are facing first-degree murder charges and a homicide investigation is underway following the disappearance of a Calgary woman who was last seen in February.

In an update on Wednesday, Calgary police say they believe 29-year-old Chelsea Davidenas was killed hours after she went missing on Feb. 17.

Davidenas was last seen that day and was reported missing 10 days later, on Feb. 27, after her family said they had not been able to get in touch with her.

“Since then, we have received numerous tips and taken several investigative steps in an attempt to locate Chelsea,” reads the police release. “Sadly, based on the totality of the evidence collected, investigators believe that foul play was involved, and that Chelsea was the victim of a homicide.”

Police say her remains have not been located, but say they have gathered a significant amount of physical and digital evidence that has led them to believe Davidenas was lured to a home in northeast Calgary.

Investigators allege she attended a home near 52 Street NE and Rundlehorn Drive NE in the early morning hours of Feb. 17 on the pretence of a date. Police believe she was killed inside the home by men she was familiar with.

Davidenas was likely targeted because of her history as a sex worker, police say. They do not believe the case is linked to any other missing people in Calgary.

“We presented our evidence to the crown prosecutors office, and they agreed that the charge should be first-degree murder,” Staff Sgt. Mark Rahn of the CPS Homicide Unit said during Wednesday’s update.

“There was an unlawful confinement aspect to this situation that resulted in Chelsea’s death.”

Police have charged two men, 52-year-old Calgary resident Paul Joseph Rushton and 26-year-old Airdrie resident Steven Aaron Zwick, with one count of first-degree murder each. Both men have criminal records.

The pair are said to be cooperating with police and will appear in a Calgary courtroom on Thursday.

Police searching rural area near Chestermere for remains

Police believe her remains were removed from the NE Calgary home three days after she was killed on Feb. 20.

Based on evidence gathered, they believe they were transported to a rural area southeast of Chestermere in a stolen, dark blue, low-profile, 2001 Honda Civic with white rims.

“The area where we believe her remains may be is fairly vast,” said Rahn during Wednesday’s update. “It’s a very large area.”

“We are taking the information we have learned, and we are trying to narrow that down.”

Rural landowners southeast of Chestermere are being urged to contact investigators if they find anything out of the ordinary at their property.

CityNews spoke with the victim’s family last month, who said they believed Davidenas was taken against her will.

Her aunt said the last time Chelsea was seen, she was getting out of an Uber or taxi in Rundle and going into someone’s house, but the family didn’t know who the house belonged to.

Anyone with further information about the case is being urged to contact police.