LETHBRIDGE, AB – A woman is facing a homicide charge following a lengthy investigation by Lethbridge Police.
Back on June 1, 2020, at about 4:40 pm, police and EMS were called to a report of a collision between a truck and a male pedestrian in the west alley along the 900 block of 13th street south.
At the time, LPS said a woman from the truck had gotten out and was attending to the victim, but the male occupant of the truck had taken off with the vehicle.
“Our investigators deemed this was in fact a domestic violence situation, but the actual motive for why is not clear at this time,” Lethbridge Police Inspector Jason Walper
Witnesses also reported a man, who had been walking with the victim, had run away.
30 year old Austin James (AJ) Forsyth of Lethbridge was taken to Chinook Regional Hospital where he died of his injuries.
After several months of investigation, 37 year old Melissa Dumaine Whitegrass was arrested and charged with first-degree murder; dangerous driving causing death; and assault with a weapon.
LPS Inspector Jason Walper says Whitegrass and Forsyth were involved in a common-law relationship until 2017. “Our investigators deemed this was in fact a domestic violence situation, but the actual motive for why is not clear at this time.”
Walper says evidence police collected at the scene and talking to witnesses as well as other investigative techniques, led investigators to believe this was intentional.
Whitegrass remains in custody and is set to appear in court on March 9.