Photo credit: Josh Hall/rdnewsNOW

By Sheldon Spackman

March 2022 Incident

Sentencing set in fatal Red Deer arson fire

Jul 8, 2025 | 11:11 AM

A sentencing date has been set for a local man accused in a fatal arson fire in Red Deer three years ago.

Raymond Richard, 40, of Red Deer, is scheduled for sentencing in Red Deer Court of King’s Bench on Sept. 5, 2025. The date was set following a jury trial held in Red Deer in April of this year.

It was on March 31, 2022, at around 3:30 a.m., when Red Deer RCMP were called to a structure fire on 39 St. in the West Park neighbourhood.

Emergency crews on scene determined the fire originated in the basement unit of the multi-unit dwelling. A male and a female were located inside the unit and transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Mounties said a 21-year-old female succumbed to her injuries in hospital, while the male was later released from hospital and subsequently arrested. Raymond Richard was charged with arson and first-degree murder in relation to the incident.

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