Father of Edmonton woman found dead after Boyle Street fire grateful suspect charged

Cory Wiltzen, 48, was arrested Sunday and charged with second-degree murder, arson, and indignity to human remains in the death of Teresa Katcheech, a 39-year-old mother of three.

Katcheech's body was found February 9 by firefighters extinguishing a blaze at a home near 93 Street and 105 Avenue in Edmonton's Boyle Street neighbourhood. Detectives ruled her death a homicide at the time but withheld her cause of death for investigative reasons. Police announced this week that she died from gunshot wounds and blunt force trauma. Wiltzen knew Katcheech.

Wayne Katcheech, Teresa's father, reached out to this publication in July pushing for an arrest months after his daughter's death. He said that justice would let Teresa's spirit rest. "And then when I got a call from detectives Sunday saying there's going to be an arrest, something in me just gave me another burst of energy, because that took a lot out of me when that happened to Teresa," Wayne Katcheech said.

He acknowledged that a conviction cannot undo the loss. "A conviction may give the guy who did it a lot of time to think about it, but it's not going to bring our daughter back," he said. "Can't bring Teresa back. Hopefully we can all just start looking forward."

Wayne Katcheech has said the family can begin to heal when the accused killer faces justice. The allegations against Wiltzen have not been tested in court. A trial date has not been set.