Edward Delton Downey's case was once again before the courts, accused of killing 34-year-old Sara Baillie and her five-year-old daughter Taliyah Marsman. The Crown and lawyers have agreed to put the matter over to a new date later this month so the defence can review evidence.
On July 11, Baillie’s body was found inside her home in northwest Calgary.
Her daughter, Taliyah, was not found in the home and an AMBER Alert was issued soon after learning of her disappearance. Her body was found in a rural area east of Calgary city limits three days later.
Downey, who police say knew Baillie and her daughter, was charged with their murders shortly thereafter.
It's a crime that shocked the city and the nation and had many wondering...why?
Baillie was working at an airport restaurant, scraping by. Court documents revealed she was making just over $19,000 a year. Those same documents show Taliyah's father, Colin Marsman, was falling behind on child support payments. Records show he owed Baillie over $8,000 in March.
CTV spoke with Marsman who says he paid her $5,000 in arrears by the time the pair was back in court on July 7th, just days before Baillie was killed.
Now, we've learned Baillie found another, potentially dangerous way to make ends meet. Calgary police sources confirm the 34-year-old was working as an escort.
The man facing two counts of first-degree murder in relation to their deaths has a lengthy criminal past. Downey's troubles started in the early 1980s in Halifax, continuing here in Calgary.
He's been convicted of abetting prostitution, cocaine trafficking and weapons offences. The latter, resulting in a four year prison sentence. In 2008, a parole board denied Downey's requests, twice, citing their belief he was a high-risk to reoffend. The board supported its stance with evidence exhibiting Downey's involvement in the sex trade as an alleged pimp. Downey was eventually released on parole after two years served.
Now, multiple police sources have confirmed Downey has ties to the East Coast gang; North Preston's Finest. A group often associated with the sex industry.
CTV spoke with sex workers in Calgary who say they knew Baillie. One, claiming she 'wanted out of the relationship with Downey' adding 'the cost can be deadly if you want out'.
Leslie Hill with Calgary's support services for people in the sex industry says those dangers are very real. "If you were trying to leave your pimp and go out as a free agent, you would have to be careful not just around that person but all the people associated with them."
Multiple police sources say they believe the motive behind the killings to be 'debt', but wouldn't elaborate.
We reached out to Taliyah's father who asked for 'time to process the new information'. Baillie's family asked for privacy saying details will continue to emerge as the case moves to trial.
Downey's lawyer, Hersh Wolch, says he is still waiting on evidence and has no knowledge of the details in our story.
Downey's case will be back in court on August 24.
(With files from Jamie Mauracher)
