'Somebody knows': Grandmother of Edmonton teen killed in hit-and-run speaks out

a day ago

Ellen Metcalfe was at an eye appointment last week when she broke down in tears.
She had just received news that police had located the vehicle they believe was involved in the death of her 13-year-old grandson last year in south Edmonton.
Police released a photo of a blue 2017 Mazda 3 allegedly connected to the death of Adam (AJ) Edhi on May 29, 2024.
'I felt absolute shock and disbelief,' Metcalfe said in a phone interview with Postmedia earlier this week from her home near Okotoks, roughly 50 km south of Calgary.
'Now we have the suspect car, but we don't know anything else. Finding that car is a gift in a sense, but at the same time, we still don't have all the answers.'
The photo shows substantial damage to the front end of the driver's side of the vehicle.
Investigators found the damaged sedan in a repair shop in Edmonton. The car had yet to receive any repairs or alterations, said police in a release.
Police said the car's driver is still at large, and are seeking tips from the public to help identify and locate a suspect.
The development comes on the heels of police releasing a video of the suspect vehicle in early July.
'You can see the damage. He (Adam) was in the driver's line of site. When you look at the car, how could you miss (seeing) him? He was right there, but you were driving too fast,' said Metcalfe.
'I feel like there are people out there helping to hide this person. We need someone from the public to come forward. Someone has to know who drives that car.'
Metcalfe said there isn't a day goes by that she doesn't have questions rolling around in her head. Who did it? Why did they leave her grandson to die on the side of the road?
'When I saw the (media) report, I felt totally sideswiped. I just broke down and tears were streaming down my face. I just kept saying, 'They caught the car, they caught the car,'' said Metcalfe.
Just after 4 a.m. on May 29, 2024, Edhi was riding his bike to his girlfriend's house to spend time with her before the two ventured off to school, when he was struck and killed. The crash occurred in the eastbound lanes of 34 Avenue, east of 48 Street.
Metcalfe said her daughter, Jessa Lynch, has received negative messages online from people over the past year, because of the time when the collision occurred.
'I see them attacking my daughter online saying, 'Why is a child out at that time?' Even a year after, they're attacking her parenting skills. Have you ever been a teenager in love, and sneak out of the house?' said Metcalfe.
'Why is she being held to a standard above everybody else. It upsets me so much the way they attack her. We're all hurting and grieving, and she's a wonderful mother who sacrifices so much for her kids. They always come first.'
'Somebody knows whose car that is'
Metcalfe said she firmly believes police are making progress in the case, but it doesn't hide the fact that when they release new information, it hits hard.
'It shocks you, it numbs you. It brings that moment forward,' said Metcalfe. 'Somebody knows whose car that is.'
Metcalfe said her grandson's death has left the family reeling with so many unanswered questions. It's been 15 months, and they still don't know if and when an arrest will be made.
'Every day that goes by is a day too long for them to be enjoying freedom. All of Adam's friends and family feel like we're all in a tiny jail cell waiting to find out who took him away from us,' she said.
'We need answers as a family. We need to know. It's very draining emotionally. We just want a name, someone to put our anger and pain towards. We need justice.'
Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact Edmonton police.
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