Copyright © 2009 Mark Fremmerlid All Rights Reserved.
| Investigative Report February 17, 2008 |
It’s been 76 years today since the end of the internationally reported 7 week epic chase. The fugitive
who called himself Albert Johnson was brought down with a reported 17 bullets in his body. The
fugitive’s true identity defied one of the most extensive investigations in the RCMP’s Police history.
Most of the people who listened in have now passed away.
It’s been about 33 years now since my grandfather shared the most intriguing mystery of my great
uncle Sigvald now missing for nearly 79 years.
It’s been almost 26 years now since the owner of Klondike Air in Dawson City suggested to me that
just maybe Sigvald and Albert Johnson was the same person.
It’s been over 5 years now since my cousin Joan provided the key clue that could link the two men.
The evidence to help conclude this case is so close. It’s at the University of British Columbia BOLD
laboratory. Myth Merchant Films owns the evidence, having convinced the community in Aklavik
where Johnson was buried, that by collecting this DNA they would be able to “help” a family get some
answers … so I’m told.
So... why can’t we simply arrange for DNA tests of relatives to cross match with Albert Johnson. The
director of Health for the Northwest Territories has confirmed that Myth Merchant actually owns the
evidence. Furthermore she will not be approving a second exhumation to collect new evidence.
Myth Merchant Films on the other hand will not compare its evidence with DNA arranged through me
without my first signing a waiver effectively handing moral rights to my story over to them. There is
little chance they will budge from this position. There is even less chance I will relinquish what I
believe is my responsibility to keep the story accurate.
For those of you following this story, you may find the way the law operates in Canada a bit strange
but this is the West …the “Wild West”. It’s called a Mexican stand-off. One party holds the evidence.
The other holds the investigative copyright. The police, the government stay back wanting no further
part in it.
Am I actually sure that Sigvald and Albert Johnson share the same history? No, not 100 percent sure,
but I am willing to put up thousands of dollars of my own hard earned money to test this theory. I
assume my next offer too will be rejected and the stand-off will continue.
who called himself Albert Johnson was brought down with a reported 17 bullets in his body. The
fugitive’s true identity defied one of the most extensive investigations in the RCMP’s Police history.
Most of the people who listened in have now passed away.
It’s been about 33 years now since my grandfather shared the most intriguing mystery of my great
uncle Sigvald now missing for nearly 79 years.
It’s been almost 26 years now since the owner of Klondike Air in Dawson City suggested to me that
just maybe Sigvald and Albert Johnson was the same person.
It’s been over 5 years now since my cousin Joan provided the key clue that could link the two men.
The evidence to help conclude this case is so close. It’s at the University of British Columbia BOLD
laboratory. Myth Merchant Films owns the evidence, having convinced the community in Aklavik
where Johnson was buried, that by collecting this DNA they would be able to “help” a family get some
answers … so I’m told.
So... why can’t we simply arrange for DNA tests of relatives to cross match with Albert Johnson. The
director of Health for the Northwest Territories has confirmed that Myth Merchant actually owns the
evidence. Furthermore she will not be approving a second exhumation to collect new evidence.
Myth Merchant Films on the other hand will not compare its evidence with DNA arranged through me
without my first signing a waiver effectively handing moral rights to my story over to them. There is
little chance they will budge from this position. There is even less chance I will relinquish what I
believe is my responsibility to keep the story accurate.
For those of you following this story, you may find the way the law operates in Canada a bit strange
but this is the West …the “Wild West”. It’s called a Mexican stand-off. One party holds the evidence.
The other holds the investigative copyright. The police, the government stay back wanting no further
part in it.
Am I actually sure that Sigvald and Albert Johnson share the same history? No, not 100 percent sure,
but I am willing to put up thousands of dollars of my own hard earned money to test this theory. I
assume my next offer too will be rejected and the stand-off will continue.
Have your own thoughts on this mystery? Visit the forum here.