One year on, no updates on Tyler Peterson homicide case

One year since Tyler Peterson’s death – which police consider to be a homicide – there have been no updates on the case.

The Hay River man was found dead in Mackenzie County in northern Alberta on August 15, 2024 after being reported missing on July 10 that year.

Last September, RCMP said his death was being treated as a homicide and Alberta’s major crimes unit would handle the investigation with the support of NWT officers.

“Unfortunately, there’s no new updates on the file,” an Alberta RCMP spokesperson told Cabin Radio this month, though they noted the case is still under investigation.

“They’re running down every possible lead, but right now there’s no suspects or new information that they have,” the spokesperson said.

Anyone with information on the case can contact the High Level, Alberta detachment at 780-821-7000, the Hay River detachment at 867-874-1111, or use Crime Stoppers.

Friends remember Tyler one year on

Devin Fraser knew Tyler since kindergarten and said he was a “true friend.”

“We were inseparable pretty-much throughout our whole lives,” he said. “He was pretty-much family. He was like a brother to me.”

Fraser said they were both “a little on the wild side” and occasionally got into trouble together, but no matter what happened, Tyler was always looking out for him.

Tyler is also remembered as a family man – he leaves behind four young children – and the guy who always had a big smile and would give you a big hug.

Fraser said a year since his friend’s death, he still hangs out often with Tyler’s children.

“[I] take them skidooing and we go camping, and just try to make sure they know that they’ve got somebody there that you know they can turn to,” he said.

“[Tyler would] bring light to you if you were down or in your darkest moments, and he’d always stand by you when you counted,” said Fraser. In his absence, Fraser is trying to do the same for Peterson’s children.

More: Family and friends mourn the loss of Tyler Peterson

Chaal Cadieux, another friend since childhood, said it’s been a tough year since Tyler was killed.

“When somebody goes missing, like that first month, you know, you’re just hoping and hoping. You don’t want to think of the worst-case scenario, and that’s what ended up happening,” he said.

Cadieux and Fraser each remember Tyler as the guy who was always willing to go the extra mile.

“He totally had the spirit of a lion – there was no challenge that he wouldn’t accept,” Cadieux said, such as climbing trees on a dare when he was younger.

“He wasn’t scared to drop the gloves. But he always had a real soft, kind side to him.

“And I mean, if I got out of line, Tyler would be one of the first guys that would cock his head sideways and be like: ‘Chaal.’”