Calgary men conjured depraved plot to kidnap and rape women
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Twisted Steven Zwick had his sickening scheme all figured out.
The Calgary man wrote in a text to a pal: “I’d say hands behind back, clothes cut right away, she’ll feel vulnerable and fight that.”
“She” is Zwick’s former girlfriend, Chelsea Davidenas, 29. And on Feb. 16, 2024, the mother of one was brutally murdered after being lured to the ratty rooming house of Zwick’s father-figure co-accused.
The pair planned to record themselves raping their victims so they could sell the videos .
On Monday, a Calgary court heard that the “reprehensible” plan came off the rails when Davidenas bravely fought for her life and was then murdered.
“She died before they could rape her,” prosecutor Vicki Faulkner told the hushed courtroom, adding that the young mom tried to make a run for it and was put in a chokehold.
Zwick — initially charged with first-degree murder — pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. He was given a life sentence with no chance of parole for 15 years.
His mentor — more than 30 years older — is also charged but has not been named because none of the allegations or facts from Zwick’s plea have been proven against him. He is identified as PR. His jury trial is slated for January.
Initially targeted another woman
Faulkner quietly read the text exchanges between the two men. An agreed statement of facts was prepared by Faulkner and defence lawyer Andrea Urquhart. Faulkner read the facts in court.
At the time of the murder, Zwick was homeless while his buddy lived in a fleabag boarding house. Zwick considered his co-accused a father figure, and called him “pops.”
Faulker said their initial target was a friend of Zwick’s named Ashley, also an acquaintance of PR.
He wrote his young pal: “Get her chatting ASAP … just get her here and help get her secure … shut her up, blindfold her.”
Ashley wisely changed her mind. That left Davidenas, who agreed to meet Zwick. Prosecutors said she believed she was going to Zwick’s home. She had no idea she was heading towards her death.
As she travelled by taxi, Zwick and the older man decided they would run a washer and dryer in the boarding house to muffle Davidenas’ screams and cries for help.
“PR instructed Zwick to choke and control Davidenas so she wouldn’t be able to make noise or flee,” the agreed statement of facts states. “PR texted Zwick that Ashley was the person he wanted to confine and rape and that Davidenas was practice for the next assault on (Ashley).”
Then, 80 minutes later, PR entered the room. Davidenas panicked and tried to leave but the two men restrained her as she screamed and fought for her life.
Zwick later told detectives the assault lasted less than 10 minutes.
Turned their focus to Ashley
The two low-renters left the young woman’s body on the bedroom floor and her murder did not deter them from circling back with plans to attack their first choice of victim.
PR said in a text to Zwick: “Are we going to keep her longer? I would still be in favour of continuing on with Ashley. I’m meaning actually get pics, sell some and so on.”
Zwick responded: “I mean I’m not too fazed at my actions, might as well make some real money. It was deserved. Kinda clicked a lil crazy in my head.”
But what to do with the remains of Chelsea Davidenas (“our horizontal friend”), Zwick wondered?
Three days later, using a stolen car, Zwick dumped Davidenas’ body in a rural area.
Two days after that, the pair got Ashley into the car. With Zwick driving, PR gave Ashley drugs, but sensing danger she dumped the drugs and feigned unconsciousness. She overheard them discussing putting her in a suitcase.
PR then allegedly tried strangling Ashley with a wire. To save herself, she promised the two men money from some friends and when they arrived, she told them the danger she was in and escaped. One called the cops.
Zwick was targeted by undercover detectives and confessed on March 27, 2024.
He told the shocked cops the plan came off the rails when Davidenas “died before they could rape her, (but) I was gonna kill her anyways.”
He was arrested a week later and copped to killing his former girlfriend, who left behind a young daughter, who read a victim impact statement.
“She loved having dance parties, laughing and making people smile. I wish I had more memories like that of her,” the daughter told court. “I would give anything to hear her voice one more time.”
@HunterTOSun