Two Edmonton Men Face Charges in St. Albert House Fire Death, RCMP Cite Financial Motive
Alberta RCMP have arrested and charged two Edmonton men in connection with the death of a 59-year-old woman whose body was discovered following a house fire in St. Albert last month. Police have confirmed that the motivation behind the crime was financial gain, and that one of the accused individuals was known to the victim.
Details of the Incident and Investigation
On February 19, at approximately 12:20 p.m., officers were dispatched to assist St. Albert Fire Services with a residential fire on Keystone Crescent in St. Albert. While fire crews successfully extinguished the blaze without losing the home, investigators later discovered a body inside the residence, leading police to deem the death suspicious and targeted.
The major crimes unit took over the investigation, and on Wednesday, police identified the victim as 59-year-old Mai Diab. In early March, the investigation led to the arrest of Mouhamad Fadi Orfahly, 44, of Edmonton, who was charged with first-degree murder. Days later, on March 12, Alberta RCMP officers arrested a second suspect, Mahmoud Ali Abdallah Mansour, 43, in Toronto, Ontario. Mansour faces charges of indignity to human remains and accessory after the fact to murder.
Police Statements and Community Impact
Alberta RCMP Corporal Troy Savinkoff stated in a phone call with Postmedia that the victim was specifically targeted by these two men for financial reasons. "We can confirm that the motivation behind this was for financial gain, and that one of the accused and the victim were known to one another. Nothing romantic or anything in that regard, but they knew one another," Savinkoff explained.
Savinkoff praised the public for their assistance in the investigation, noting that residents played a crucial role by providing surveillance footage and cooperating with police. "There was a lot of helpful evidence that we got from residents who were scouring their home surveillance, and working with police in that neighbourhood," he said. "We were able to quickly obtain significant evidence that ultimately led to a series of investigative steps that led to this arrest. This was a very successful investigation by our St. Albert RCMP and major crimes unit, but a big part of that was the cooperation that we got from area residents."
Legal Proceedings and Broader Context
Currently, Orfahly remains in custody awaiting future court dates, while Mansour has been remanded and transported back to Alberta, where he is also held in custody pending court appearances. This incident marks the second major crime to impact the city of St. Albert in recent months, following a separate case in February involving charges related to the death of Ayla Egotik-Learn and the disappearance of her nine-month-old daughter.
Savinkoff reflected on the community's resilience, stating, "St. Albert is a quiet community, and this is the second major tragedy that's hit this city in a short amount of time." The RCMP continues to emphasize the importance of public cooperation in solving such cases, as they work to bring justice for the victim and her family.
