Two men charged with triple murder of family, burning home, in rural Alberta

House on Fire. Photo by Daniel D. Teoli Jr / Wiki Commons.

STETTLER, Alberta — Two men are facing murder charges in the deaths of one of their families in central Alberta.

A spokeswoman with Alberta Justice confirms that 32-year-old Joshua Frank and 41-year-old Jason Klaus have each been charged with three counts of first-degree murder.

The remains of Klaus’s father and sister, Gordon and Monica Klaus, were found in the rubble of a burned-out farmhouse in Castor last December.

His mother, Sandra Klaus, wasn’t found but RCMP have said that they believe she also died in the fire.

Emergency responders found the family’s dog shot dead outside the home when they arrived at the scene.

Three days after the fire, police found the family’s white GMC Sierra truck abandoned about 30 kilometres away.

Jason Klaus lived in a home across from his parents but was unharmed. He told media that his sister had been visiting.

Both accused men are also charged with arson and Frank faces a further charge of causing cruelty to animals.

RCMP haven’t said much about the arrests but was to release more on the case Saturday.

Witnesses have said that at least one man was arrested Friday morning after an explosion was heard at a home in Stettler that belonged to Monica Klaus.