On December 30, 2024, at around 4:45 p.m., the body of a woman was found on the riverbank east of the Quesnell Bridge, near Whitemud Park.

An autopsy conducted on January 2, 2025, confirmed that 43-year-old Ashley Burke’s death was a homicide. The exact cause of death has not been disclosed to aid in the investigation.

At the time of her death, Burke was residing in Edmonton but had connections to Spruce Grove. Police are urging anyone who had contact with her between December 27 and December 30, 2024, to come forward.

Update: On Jan. 3, 2025, Daniel Boothman, 31, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in relation to Burke’s death.

Boothman and Burke were known to one another, and Burke’s death is considered an intimate partner homicide.