BARR SETTLEMENT: RCMP investigators won’t leave any stones unturned as they attempt to get to the bottom of what the motive was behind the double murder of a Barr Settlement couple.

As Ellen and Russell (Rustie) Hall were being remembered by friends and family during their funeral March 4, at Ettinger Funeral Home, in Shubenacadie, and later a reception at Shooters Sports Bar, in Enfield, RCMP investigators were hard at work following up leads that may help them discover who killed the 53-year-old couple Feb. 26, inside their two-storey home, located on the Barr Settlement Road, and why they were killed.

The two were found dead inside the home after police responded to a 911 call early that morning. Sgt. Brigdit Leger, Nova Scotia RCMP spokeswoman, confirmed that call came from a family friend who had come to check up on the two after Rustie failed to show up to pick the friend up for work that morning.

However, police remain tight-lipped with regards to the ongoing investigation.

“We’re investigating a number of avenues,” Sgt. Leger said. “We will not be disclosing the cause or how they died. That is information only those responsible would know.”

Major crime investigators were discussing details of the case and their strategy for keeping an eye on the funeral and reception during a closed-door meeting at the Enfield RCMP detachment.

In January, eight members of the East Coast Riders motorcycle club, including Rustie, were patched over to the Bacchus Motorcycle Club. RCMP has yet to confirm whether there’s any connection between Rusty’s involvement with the Bacchus or any other motorcycle club and the murders.

Sgt. Leger said the investigators did attend the funeral and kept an eye on a reception, held at Shooters Sports Bar, taking photographs of those who attended the funeral and taking notes as well. The funeral attracted many members of the Bacchus Motorcycle club. Those interviewed at the funeral by Halifax-based media outlets denied the murders had any connection to biker clubs.

“Our officers are fully engaged in the investigation,” Sgt. Leger said. “We literally have resources from Port Hawkesbury to Yarmouth and points in between working the case.”

She added officers were watching the funeral as they would with any murder, but also because of the number of bikers attending the funeral and reception.

“RCMP were doing surveillance as is standard procedure in an investigation of this nature,” she said. “We were there to make sure nothing happens because it’s a homicide.”

Sgt. Leger confirmed some of the results from an autopsy carried out Feb. 27 have come back, however police won’t be releasing those details.

“We’re not disclosing how the Halls were killed,” she added. “There aren’t a lot of details we can release. We don’t want to jeopardize the investigation and there’s certain information that only those responsible would know. We’re following up on a number of leads.”

She did say RCMP want to solve the murders just as much as members of the community and family members do.

“We have two people here who were members of the community that were murdered,” Sgt. Leger said. “We’re working diligently to ensure there are no stones left unturned. The two deceased and their families deserve to have closure.”

phealey@enfieldweeklypress.com