Chantel Robertson Tribute

EDMONTON - Police have charged a 24-year-old man in the murder of a 20-year-old escort who was found buried in the backyard of a client's home she was last seen entering.

Chantel Brittnay Robertson was working as an escort when she was dropped off by her driver at a small brick bungalow in southeast Edmonton at about 2:30 a.m. Saturday. Her body was exhumed Monday evening from the home's backyard after investigators obtained a warrant to search the property, police said in a statement.

Matthew Todd Barrett was charged with first-degree murder and offering indignity to a body, police said in a statement released Monday.

Global News reported Barrett lived in the bungalow.

Robertson's disappearance sparked a three-day search after her driver reported her missing when she didn't appear at her scheduled pick-up time.

Friends phoned police and started knocking on doors in the area. They set up a website with her picture to spread the word.

"We're all pretty shaken," said Kris, whose girlfriend set up the website.

Kris didn't want his last name used, but said he used to drive for Robertson when she worked for 3-10-Girl.

Then she started working for Juice -- Just Us Independent Canadian Escorts. A manager declined to comment Monday.

Police searched two homes in connection to the death and interviewed several men.

Forensic experts were on scene most of the day. Homicide detectives turned up in the early evening and the medical examiner wheeled Robertson's body from behind the house shortly after 6 p.m.

Neighbours said three men in their 20s lived in the house, but they seemed to be moving out Saturday during the day and had loaded boxes and a bed frame into a waiting truck and minivan.

Debbie Moravec and Mel, who requested his last name be withheld, live in the yellow bungalow across the street.

Mel said he was watching television Sunday at about 12:30 a.m. when a man came to his door and asked if he knew where the neighbours across the street were. The man was looking for a girl he had dropped off there.

Mel told the man the neighbours had moved out earlier that day and the man left his number.

"He said, 'if you see those guys show up tomorrow, you give me a call,'" Mel said. "He was very concerned, he was genuine," said Moravec, noting she believes he was the one who reported Robertson missing.

A group of women moved some belongings into the house early Sunday morning. Later, the three men returned to the house, took some boxes in, took a box out, and left.