RCMP lays murder, kidnapping charges in 11-year-old cold case

Two men have been charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping in connection with the death of a man who disappeared nearly 11 years ago.

Ted Geddes, 64, was last seen in April of 2011 in the area of Baldwinton, a small community 70 kilometres west of North Battleford.

When RCMP officers went to Geddes’ home in Baldwinton as part of an unrelated incident in mid-April of that year, they found his dog dead in the entranceway. The animal had been killed.

“When Ted could not be located, RCMP officers started a missing person investigation,” Insp. Josh Graham, acting officer in charge of Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes, said in a media release. “Ted’s disappearance was believed to be suspicious in nature shortly after.

“Concentrated investigative efforts were renewed in 2021 by the Saskatchewan RCMP Historical Case Unit, with the assistance of the RCMP Major Crimes Unit, which ultimately led to our announcement of charges laid.”

On Sunday, after nearly a year of investigation, the Mounties charged 58-year-old Robert Welsey Pich with one count each of first-degree murder, kidnapping with a firearm and careless use of a firearm. John Robert Gregoire, 70, was charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping with a firearm and indecently interfering with human remains.

Both men are from the Baldwinton area and the Mounties said both men knew Geddes. They appeared in North Battleford Provincial Court on Tuesday and are slated to appear again on March 8.

Search warrants were executed Tuesday at a rural property outside Baldwinton. The RCMP said there will be an increased police presence in the area for the next day.

“As time passes, people responsible for these types of crimes might assume the police aren’t investigating them — this is simply not the case,” Graham said.

“This is just one example that demonstrates the continued perseverance and commitment of our homicide investigators in helping bring a sense of closure for the family and friends of victims of homicide in Saskatchewan — even if that takes nearly 10 years, as with this case.

“This investigation is still ongoing because Ted has not been located. We want to bring that closure to his family, so our investigators will continue to work diligently to try and locate Ted and bring him home.”