Stepfather's Agonizing Regret Over Missed November Visit Before St. Albert Tragedy
Ross Learn, stepfather of slain St. Albert mother Ayla Egotik-Learn, is grappling with overwhelming regret after choosing not to travel from his Iqaluit, Nunavut home for a planned November visit. Learn now believes that journey might have altered the tragic fate of his 23-year-old stepdaughter and her nine-month-old granddaughter, Braylee Beasley.
"In hindsight, I should have gone there anyway. I could have met my granddaughter and maybe saved them," Learn revealed in an emotional statement to Postmedia.
RCMP Investigation Reveals Disturbing Timeline
On Tuesday, January 27, 2026, St. Albert RCMP arrested and charged 33-year-old Christopher William Beasley with second-degree murder and two counts of indignity to a body. This followed the grim discovery of Ayla Egotik-Learn's remains on Friday, January 23, 2026, during a welfare check at her St. Albert apartment.
Police have confirmed that Braylee Beasley, Ayla's infant daughter, remains missing and is now presumed deceased. While RCMP located Ayla's body in late January, court records indicate she is believed to have died around December 5, 2025.
"My Beauties": A Father's Unbreakable Bond
Learn described his stepdaughter as "a beautiful young lady" with whom he shared a strong father-daughter connection. "I loved chatting and laughing with her. We had a father-daughter bond that was strong," he recalled.
His grief extends to Braylee, whom he never had the opportunity to meet. "I love her daughter, my Ingu, even though I never had the opportunity to meet her, cuddle her and bond with her. And never will. I hope beyond hope that she is still alive since the police have not found her. They are both my beauties and I love them very much forever," Learn expressed.
He remembered Ayla as "a happy new mom whose baby was the centre of her universe," noting her beauty and good spirit.
Missed Signals and Unanswered Messages
Learn attempted to arrange a November visit but received no response from the family. "Her mom said they told her they were sick with the flu," he explained. This communication breakdown now haunts him as he reflects on potential warning signs.
"I just want people to be aware the signs of someone in danger are not always clear to family," Learn emphasized, adding that Ayla had spoken enthusiastically about attending college in the Arctic and continuing her education.
He acknowledged that while his stepdaughter and her partner experienced relationship challenges, "her violent death and the baby's disappearance is unfathomable."
Ongoing Search for Braylee
Alberta RCMP Corporal Troy Savinkoff confirmed that investigators have developed leads regarding Braylee's possible location but cautioned about the complexity of the search. "Although we do have some idea of where Braylee may be, we do know that finding her is going to be complex. We have lots of officers whose whole focus is finding Braylee," Savinkoff stated during a Tuesday phone interview.
Background and Community Response
Ayla Egotik-Learn, an Inuk woman originally from Nunavut, relocated to St. Albert from Cambridge Bay in 2024. Cambridge Bay sits approximately 1,800 kilometers north of Edmonton, marking a significant transition for the young mother.
The community has responded with support through a GoFundMe campaign established to assist Ayla's family. The fundraiser has garnered just over $5,550 in contributions as of early February 2026.
Legal Proceedings Begin
Christopher William Beasley made his first court appearance on Monday in St. Albert via teleconference from the Edmonton Remand Centre. The accused has applied for legal aid as the judicial process commences.
This heartbreaking case continues to unfold as investigators pursue answers and a grieving stepfather confronts the painful reality of what might have been.
