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4w ago

Jury Convicts Dean Penney of First-Degree Murder

The verdict, based largely on two recorded confessions from an extended RCMP 'Mr. Big' undercover probe, leaves investigators continuing to search for the victim's remains.

RCMP Insp. Adam Palmer speaks at a press conference called after a jury convicted Dean Penney of the first-degree murder of his estranged wife, Jennifer Hillier-Penney. The RCMP ran a Mr. Big investigation for nearly four years as they gathered evidence.
An RCMP epaulette is seen in Edmonton, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Members of Jennifer Hillier-Penney's family - including daughter Marina Goodyear, second from left - await the verdict in Dean Penney's murder trial. He was found guilty May 24 of first-degree murder.
Jennifer Hillier-Penney’s DNA was found on a small stain that the RCMP located on a wall during a search of the garage at Dean Penney’s St. Anthony home in December 2023.

Overview

  • A 12-person jury found Dean Penney guilty of first-degree murder, delivering the verdict on Sunday, May 24, 2026 after several days of sequestered deliberations.
  • The conviction turned on two recorded confessions Penney made to undercover RCMP officers during a roughly four-year 'Mr. Big' sting, a tactic that uses a staged criminal network to prompt admissions.
  • Jennifer Hillier-Penney’s remains have never been found and RCMP said they will keep following and assessing leads as they fulfill post-verdict duties and support the family.
  • RCMP described the investigation that led to charges as one of the province’s most expansive probes, involving about 100 personnel, civilian support and assistance from the Royal Canadian Navy.
  • Penney is scheduled to be sentenced in November and faces a mandatory life term with no parole eligibility for 25 years, a verdict that drew visible relief from Hillier-Penney’s family after their years-long push for answers.