Wetaskiwin Emergency crews responded to a fire at Manny’s Hotel, near 40 Avenue, on January 14th at approximately 12:00am.

One was was found deceased when the blaze was extinguished. The fire was deemed to be an arson, and resulted in a death of Joseph Jack Desjarlais 21.

On March 12, the RCMP MCU arrested and charged Levi William Favel 32 with first-degree murder and arson with a disregard for human life. The following day Shane Desmine Potts 30, was arrested and charged with arson with a disregard for human life and accessory after the fact to murder.