UPDATE: RCMP arrested and laid a murder charge against 73-year-old Ronald James Edwards, a resident of Sundre, Alta., on Nov. 7, 2023, in connection with Brazeau's death.

It’s been almost 40 years since 16­-year­-old Pauline Brazeau was stabbed to death on her way home from getting a late­-night snack in Calgary.

She had moved to the city from Yorkton, Sask., with her older sister, Nancy a few months earlier. The Brazeau family is Métis.

“In the fall time, I guess, she got a job, I got a job, and I decided to come back right after the New Year, and she decided to stay and work,” said Nancy Brazeau, who was 17 at the time.

“There was like nine days later, we got the word here.”

On Jan. 8, 1976, Pauline was having drinks at her aunt’s apartment in Calgary’s west end. She left to get pizza with a friend around 2:30 a.m.

After finishing up, they took off, but Pauline couldn’t find her gloves.

She tried to retrace her steps, headed back to the pizza place, turned up nothing and left again.

About five hours later, she was found on a forestry road outside of Calgary. She had been stabbed to death.

It’s been 38 years since Pauline was killed, and about 20 years since her father last heard from an officer about his daughter’s case.

Pauline’s mother has since died.

According to Nancy, Pauline was outgoing, friendly and just a normal kid.

Her cousin Roy said she was stunning.

“She was a beautiful girl, boy. Oh, she was a wonderful looking girl,” he said.

Pauline grew up in a small house in Yorkton with eight other people ­­— her parents, her siblings and two cousins her parents took in when her aunt died.

“You just kind of grew up that way. You have to share a bed, so that’s what we did. Those are the good memories, I guess, that I have of my sister,” said Nancy.

Neither her father nor her sister is disappointed in the police work.

They know a lot of time has passed, and they believe the police did everything they could at the time.

As for a national inquiry, her father isn’t sure. Neither is Nancy.

“I don't know what could actually come out of it, what good could come out of that. It can't bring that person back, and if the police haven't found him, I don’t know if Pauline’s case could be included,” she said.

Nancy said she understands why other families want an inquiry, and she feels grateful her sister’s body was found.

“I guess, for me, that’s closure,” said Nancy.

“Even though it’s 38 years ago, it’s just something that shouldn’t have happened.”