Questions arise over RCMP actions in McKendy slaying

There are new questions about how the RCMP treated e-mails from Nicholas Wade Baker, who was charged with the murderof a St. Thomas University professor who was his father-in-law.

The body of John McKendy, 60, was found in his home just outside Fredericton last Friday. His son-in-law, Baker, 27, was charged with first-degree murder, but was found dead on Saturday in the parking lot of a Moncton hotel.

Police ruled out foul play inBaker's death.

Days after McKendy's death,a colleagueof hissaid the family had been frightened about Baker and had forwarded the RCMP e-mails reinforcing their fears.

Cpl. Claude Tremblay said the McKendy family reported to the RCMP on Oct. 3 that Baker allegedly stole a vehicle and was fraudulently using a family member's credit card in the United States.

But he told the CBC on Monday that an RCMP officer worked closely with the family and at no time did any of the accusations about e-mail threats arise.

"If there was at any time the family felt they were fearing threats or they were fearing for their life, they would have told us," Tremblay said in English. "At any time, none of those comments were made to us, no statements were given to us in relation to threats."

However, during the same meeting with reporters, Tremblay elaborated to Radio-Canada about what the RCMP knew about the correspondence with Baker. He confirmed that the Mounties had read the e-mails, but said the content did not trigger any concerns with the police.

"There were e-mails. We saw several of them, but there was no physical threat to the McKendy family in what we read, or in anything we've investigated so far," Tremblay said in French.

Tremblay refused Wednesdayto give interviews to discusswhat constitutes a threat for the Mounties and why the RCMPfailed toperceive the e-mails to be threatening.

Memorial service set for the afternoon

Michael Higgins, president of St. Thomas University, told reporters before the memorial that people on his campus want answers as to what happened to McKendy.

"My sense is that people are still trying to make sense of it. I think the nature of his death is problematic," Higgins said.

Sylvia Hale, a STU sociology professor, said on Monday that McKendy was very concerned about the e-mails, and he forwarded the RCMP e-mails the family had received from Baker and had perceived to be threatening.

"[McKendy] had been very frightened for the safety of his family for two or three weeks," Hale said. "This guy had been giving a litany of threats, and the police sat on their hands and did nothing to protect that family."

The Muriel McQueen Fergusson Centre for Family Violence Research has joinedin thecall for an inquiry.

Carmen Gill, director of the centre, said on Tuesday the provincial government must launch a review of McKendy's death.

"I would recommend the Crown prosecutor's office to take the lead on a particular death, and to review the entire case and see how the police responded, who were the parties involved, what were the services provided, what did we know about this particular case?" Gill said.

Also Wednesday, a memorial service for McKendy was held at St. Dunstan's Church in Fredericton.

About1,000 peopleattended the private memorial, a service that blendedCatholicism with McKendy's Quaker beliefs.

Ella Henry is one student who will remember a teacher whose lessons transcended the classroom.

"John would say findwhat good we can get of out this,and I think that good is for all of us students and just people who knew him,to dedicate our lives to making the world a better place to create peace," Henry said.