Hi everyone, today's episode is the first of three parts, and they'll be coming one week after each other.

This is a case that's been suggested to me many times, and I've been keeping an eye on it.

It's controversial with a lot of moral considerations and legal grey areas.

If you're a long-term listener, this case is legally in a similar vein

to the Andrea Giesbrecht episodes.

And as with that case,

my goal here is to present both sides of the story equally

and to the best of my ability,

so that you're able to make up your own mind

and form your own opinions.

And with that, it's on with the show.

This podcast contains coarse language, adult themes, and content of a violent and

disturbing nature. Listener discretion is advised.

This story takes place on a rural stretch of southern Alberta, a few hours drive south of

Calgary. It's a collection of small towns including Cardston, McGrath, Raymond and Sterling,

and is referred to as Canada's Mormon Trail.

In the late 1900s, Mormon pioneers, or pioneers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,

as they prefer to be known, came to Canada, charged with finding a suitable settlement site.

Today, the area is known for its unique cultural heritage,

with quaint towns, historic sites, beautiful rural landscapes and safe communities.

In 2012, one of the families in the area was David and Colette Stefan, a married couple with two small children,

Ezra, who was four, and Ezekiel, who was 18 months.

...