Our deepest condolences to Faisal's family.
Athabasca RCMP responded at 3:26 a.m. on Thursday, August 6, to a report of human remains found in a rural area north of the town of Athabasca.
An autopsy was completed the following day at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Edmonton. The death was ruled a homicide. The victim was identified as Faisal Hussein, a 12-year-old from Edmonton.
The RCMP Major Crimes Unit has taken over the investigation. Police made the case public in a news release on Sunday, August 9.
He had not been reported missing
RCMP Cpl. Gina Slaney told CBC News that Faisal had not been reported missing to police before Thursday. His family has been notified of his death.
Dash cam footage requested
Investigators want video from one stretch of road during one overnight window.
Anyone who was around Highway 813 near Calling Lake, or on Range Road 213A, known locally as the C-Road, between 12 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. on August 6 is asked to check for dash cam footage and contact police.
That window closes about an hour after officers arrived.
Calling Lake is more than 200 kilometres north of Edmonton. Highway 813 runs north from the town of Athabasca toward Wabasca, and Range Road 213A runs off it.
Athabasca RCMP can be reached at 780-675-4252. Anyone who wants to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, online at P3Tips.com, or through the P3 Tips app.
Your dash cam may have already overwritten August 6
Most dash cams record in a loop. When the memory card fills, the camera writes over the oldest footage and keeps going. Depending on card size and video quality, that cycle can run a few hours or a few days of driving.
Thursday was three days ago. Anyone who drove Highway 813 or the C-Road that night and has been driving since may be close to losing the file.
If you think you were in that area between midnight and 4:30 a.m. on August 6, pull the card now rather than later. Most cameras have a lock or save function that protects a clip from being overwritten. Copy the file to a computer or phone as well, and keep the original on the card. Don't trim or edit it. The raw file keeps its timestamp.
Then call Athabasca RCMP at 780-675-4252.
Footage that seems to show nothing still counts.
Three days from discovery to public appeal
Thursday, August 6, 3:26 a.m. Athabasca RCMP respond to a report of human remains found in a rural area north of the town.
Friday, August 7. An autopsy is completed at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Edmonton. The death is ruled a homicide and the victim is identified as Faisal Hussein, 12, of Edmonton.
Sunday, August 9. RCMP issue a news release, confirm the Major Crimes Unit has taken over, and ask the public for dash cam footage from the overnight hours of August 6.
RCMP have not said what happened between those dates or why the appeal came when it did.
What police have not said
RCMP have not released how Faisal died, when he was last seen alive, or how he came to be in the Athabasca area. No arrests have been announced.
Support
Kids Help Phone is free and confidential at 1-800-668-6868, or text CONNECT to 686868.
Alberta's Mental Health Help Line is 1-877-303-2642, 24 hours a day.
RCMP victim services can be reached through the Athabasca detachment at 780-675-5077.
Sources
Alberta RCMP news release, August 9, 2026
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, autopsy completed August 7, 2026
Town of Athabasca, RCMP detachment contact information
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