SPRUCE GROVE, Alta. — An anguished stepfather has identified two young victims in an apparent murder-suicide at a home in Spruce Grove, Alta., calling them "beautiful young lives, snuffed out by a coward."
Brent Stark told CTV Edmonton that he and his wife, Tracy, the boys' mother, discovered the bodies when they went to the home to pick up the children on Monday morning.
Stark, who is owner of the Whitecourt Wolverines of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, said his stepsons Ryder MacDougall, 11, and his brother, Radek, 13, were competitive hockey players in Spruce Grove.
Stark said the body of the boys' father, Corry MacDougall, was also found in the home.
RCMP aren't confirming any information yet but say no suspects are being sought in the deaths.
Stark said he and his wife are working with the Mounties and he expects more information will be released Tuesday after autopsies on the bodies are completed.
Stark and his wife live in Whitecourt, Alta., where he owns a business called LB Energy.
Police officers could be seen removing guns from the home and one officer said they were being taken in as evidence, but wouldn't confirm whether they had anything to do with the incident.
"At no time do we believe any of our neighbours or residents in the area were at risk at all," said Cpl. Kim Mueller. "We're not looking for anyone in relation to this incident at this time."
Neighbours told CTV the occupants of the home moved into the neighbourhood only a few months ago.
"Mostly I saw a couple of guys most of the time," said Greg Hurley. "I never saw any women around there."
"They had a boy, and they had a dog," said Melanie Balfour, who had met one of the occupants of the home, a man in his 30s. "He was super friendly when they first moved in."
Corry MacDougall's Facebook page indicated he had moved to Spruce Grove on Oct. 9, and the only other entry since then was a picture of the Edmonton Oilers' logo.
However, by Monday night, several angry and profane comments had been posted to the page, including a couple from people saying they hoped he would "burn in hell."