By Josh Hall

42-year-old man

Murder charge laid in 2007 homicide on Samson Cree Nation

Jan 22, 2026 | 11:07 AM

An arrest has been made in connection to a homicide on Samson Cree Nation, north of Red Deer, dating back to 2007.

Alberta RCMP say their Historical Homicide Unit (HHU) made the arrest in collaboration with Maskwacis RCMP on Jan. 20.

The victim in the case was 24-year-old Johnathan Saddleback, who went by Cody, RCMP shared.

“For nearly two decades, investigators and community members have sought answers in the file,” the RCMP say in a release.

“While many historical cases are solved through modern forensic advancements, this breakthrough was rooted in the resilience of the community and a strengthening partnership between residents and the police.”

This week, 42-year-old Alvin Lee Norman Green, who would’ve been about 23 at the time, and is a resident of Maskwacis, was arrested without incident. He has been charged with second-degree murder.

Green was taken before a Justice of the Peace, then remanded into custody. He is scheduled to make his first appearance at the Alberta Court of Justice in Wetaskiwin on Jan. 22.

“We understand the deep importance of investigating these decades-old files and the lasting impact they have on our community,” said Inspector Richard McKay, Officer in Charge of the Maskwacis RCMP Detachment.

“In many instances, these files are solved through advancements in technology; however, in this case, it was traditional police work that led to charges being laid. This was truly a result of members of the community—both those with key knowledge and those without—working with police as a partnership. I hope this serves as a shining example of the strength and courage this community has to come forward with information on these very old cases.”

By way of the RCMP release, Samson Cree’s Chief Vernon Saddleback also made remarks, emphasizing the role of collective action in healing.

“For our Nation to heal and remain resilient, we must work together to bring closure to the families who have carried these burdens for so long,” said Chief Saddleback.

“This arrest shows the importance of our community working alongside the police to close these old files. When we stand together and share what we know, we create a safer and more just path forward for all our people.”

​The Alberta RCMP notes that it continues to work closely with Crown prosecutors as the case proceeds through the justice system. Community members with additional information related to this investigation, or other unsolved homicides, are urged to contact the Alberta RCMP Historical Homicide Unit at RCMP.KHHU-KHHU.GRC@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.