On Jan. 26, 2022, at approximately 8:40 p.m., Drumheller RCMP responded to a serious assault at the Drumheller Institution. 

The assault on 34-year-old Jeffrey Ryan of Parkland County, Alta., by Ashley Baird (38) of Nanaimo, B.C., was allegedly unprovoked.

Ryan sustained serious injuries and was transported to the hospital where he died.

The Alberta RCMP Major Crimes Unit has taken carriage of the investigation.

An autopsy has been ordered by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and will be performed in the coming days.

Ashley Baird has been charged with second-degree murder and will be appearing in Drumheller Provincial Court on Feb. 11, 2022.

As these matters are before the courts, no further details surrounding the incident can be released.