A Calgary woman charged with second-degree murder is once again the subject of a police manhunt after she allegedly removed her court-ordered electronic monitoring bracelet only one week after being released on bail.
Warrant Issued After Alleged Bail Violation
Justice Janice Ashcroft issued an arrest warrant for Jennifer Lee Caswell on Friday, January 16, 2026. The warrant was granted following an application by Crown prosecutor Peter Mackenzie, who informed the court that Caswell had allegedly cut off her ankle monitoring device.
"She was released to wear an ankle monitor and as of (Thursday) we have advice from the Calgary Police Service that she has cut off her ankle monitor and it is no longer accurate," Mackenzie told the court. Caswell's defence lawyers, Alain Hepner and Connor Sprague, did not oppose the request for the warrant.
A Brief Period of Freedom
Caswell had been granted bail by Justice Ola Malik on January 9, 2026. One of her primary release conditions was the mandatory wearing of a GPS tracking bracelet. Justice Malik imposed a publication ban on the reasons for granting bail, a decision made a day after hearing submissions from both the Crown and defence.
Caswell and co-accused Steven Morris Firingstoney were arrested in October 2025 and charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of Samuel Mulugeta. Firingstoney remains in custody.
Details of the Homicide Investigation
The charges stem from an incident on January 12, 2025. Calgary police were called to the area of the 700 block of 5th Street S.W. around 5:20 a.m. after a passerby discovered an unresponsive man on a sidewalk.
The victim was later identified through an autopsy as 34-year-old Samuel Mulugeta of Calgary. Police believe his death was the result of an assault.
Investigators released a timeline suggesting that prior to being found, Mulugeta was on the 3rd Street S.W. CTrain platform at approximately 4:20 a.m. There, he is believed to have crossed paths with a group of individuals.
"In the brief interaction between the victim and the group, it is believed Samuel was robbed of his belongings and suffered an injury, later resulting in his death," police stated in a news release at the time.
The case highlights ongoing challenges within the justice system regarding bail compliance for individuals facing serious charges. Calgary police are now tasked with relocating Caswell, whose whereabouts are unknown following the alleged tampering with her monitoring equipment.
