Medicine Hat Media

Man Was Murdered, Another Injured

*Updated June 2nd, 2009*

In a seemingly recent string of local crime and tragedy, a man has been found murdered and another seriously injured last night at 11PM. The police were called to the scene, 515E Washington Avenue SE, where they found the adult male dead inside the residence and the injured male outside on the sidewalk. I’m not posting this as an effort to post what has already be written, but to comment on it and the nature of the killing. It has since been released that the man killed was Darcy Baumbach, 47 by Michael Steinkey,  37 who was charged with second degree murder and is scheduled for court on June 4th. The other injured man’s name is not being released at this time.

Correct me If I am wrong, but this is the first homicide in Medicine Hat, since March, 2007 when James Driscoll was suspected to be murdered; however, it was never concluded that indeed he was, but is still be considered “suspicious”. And then, since the April, 2006 Richardson family murders. Seemingly, as stated, there seems to be a recent string of crime and tragedy in the or around the Hat as of late. House fire and death, theft from a previous house fire, recent Brooks murder, Brooks taser death, Bow Island car crash claiming five lives, accidental death from a fall, Fritzke back in custody after having access to internet-enabled phone (or the whole Fritzke thing in general), tons of drug growing and related charges/arrests in Redcliff and in Medicine Hat. That’s just in the last couple months. Maybe it’s just because I am becoming more aware of the news and local happenings that I didn’t notice before, but I heard other comments that this city (in jest) is becoming “Gotham City”.

Police are asking anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers or 403-529-8481.

Medicine Hat Police Service – James Driscoll media release page

Medicine Hat News Articles
Murder called a senseless act
Murder charge laid
Michael Steinkey charged with murder
First murder of the year

User Comments

6 Responses to “Man Was Murdered, Another Injured”

  1. May 28th, 2009 at 3:08 PM


    Dusty says:

    What we need is …

    A HERO.

  2. May 28th, 2009 at 3:10 PM


    Sean says:

    I sure hope we don’t become Gotham City. I don’t want any Batman Bruce Wayne’s coming to parties in a helicopter and acting non-chalant, but secretly making everyone feel alienated as a result.

    I heard that the previous house first theft and the recent house fire were both the same incident. Like the house burned up and then someone robbed the remnants.

    You probably are just more aware of the news and happenings now that you work at a place that deals with it, and have time to pay attention to it more, or work with people who probably talk about it. If you go from hearing about almost nothing to being aware of everything that goes on and all the news broadcasts, it probably seems overwhelming.

    I also heard that apparently a lot of houses in the flats are “drug houses” and that the flats in general is “drug central”… But I have been down there quite often going to the park and never have seen any suspicious or shady activity going on.

  3. May 28th, 2009 at 3:28 PM


    Dusty says:

    Oh ya, and people downtown are taking up guns and arms and stuff. Here’s a comment from rdatdresser on Medicine Hat News

    also live down here and i am now equipped and liscenced with a pistol to take matters into my own hands. I am also sick of all that going on where my kids grow up and the police arent patroling as much as they should!!

    Because I said Gotham City you think of Batman? I was thinking more like Hercules.

  4. June 1st, 2009 at 11:11 PM


    Sean says:

    The irony is that the guy who is licensed enough to take matters into his own hands will probably misfire or the bullet will ricochet and hit his kid.

    Why bother getting your license if you’re just going to use it in self defense, which will probably never happen. It’s probably illegal to shoot the gun in town, especially in a residential area. Although if it’s in self-defense, that’s probably okay? I’m not really well-versed in the gun laws.

    Pow pow John Wayne.

  5. June 3rd, 2009 at 3:53 PM


    Dusty says:

    What’s more likely is his kid will get stoned and show his friend the dads gun in the cupboard and say “Hay man! I’m so high!” and shoot himself. (Ever see that commercial?)

    Anyway, I think it’s almost justifiable to want to have a gun in your house for self-defense. That can totally get messed up if the man gets drunk and all angry and his daughters new boyfriend though …

    When I imagine living in a house of my own … you wake up in the middle of the night because you hear someone smashing their way through the house … wouldn’t you want that long-distance protection? Take one shot out the window they’ll probably leave. But it’s a way to defend yourself in your own home without risking being unarmed against someone with a gun, or knife, which you would only have your skin to defend yourself with.

    I guess with that paranoia I would also get a security system installed so an alarm would go off if they did break in.

    The cops would probably be all angry about shooting in a residential area but if you say someone broke into my house they might be ok with it. I remember in England if someone hurts themselves while breaking into your house they can sue you, and you can get charged for self-defense … hopefully they changed that …

  6. June 10th, 2009 at 10:04 AM


    Fivewood0 says:

    I’ve spent some time in Medecine Hat. It would be the last place I would expect any violent crime to ever take place.

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