On Saturday, a police car sat parked outside the Searcy residence. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW)

By Nigel Maxwell

Tragedy in a small town

‘He loved her beyond belief’: Snowden murder investigation shock to community

Nov 9, 2025 | 2:14 PM

Within a small community where there are a few more than a dozen homes and the local gathering place is the hotel bar, a thick line of yellow police tape surrounds a property where a well-known couple lived.

On Wednesday, Nov.5, at approximately 1:20 p.m., Nipawin RCMP received a request for a wellness check at a residence in Snowden. Officers responded and located 69-year-old Diane Searcy deceased.

Diane’s longtime husband 68-year-old Kevin Searcy, has since been charged with second degree murder.

A woman who lives nearby and who identified herself as a close friend of the couple, told paNOW they had moved to Snowden a few years ago from Calgary seeking peace and safety. Around that same time, Diane was diagnosed with dementia and Kevin was her primary care giver.

“It’s just a tragedy. I don’t think there’s any malice involved in that at all. It wasn’t hatred,” the woman explained.

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The police tape surrounds the entire property. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Recalling a recent Thanksgiving, the friend stated the couple appeared to have a great time, driving around on their quads.

“They were together forever…like 30 years, and he loved her beyond belief because they’d walk up here, always holding hands. He had never let her go.”

Whatever may have happened in the house, the friend said Kevin could have asked for help.

“There’s facilities, and that’s what everybody can’t get over in this town. Like, why? There’s so much help out there.”

A picture of the couple in 2010. (Facebook)

Another person close to the couple, told paNOW Diane had been in hospital recently and no one had seen her in weeks. They believed a family member called in for the wellness check.

A woman, commenting on social media, stated she has known the couple her entire life and said this is a beautiful family, full of love. She encouraged people not to comment or gossip on a situation where they don’t have all the information.

“My heart goes out to all of them. I can’t imagine how awful this is. Kevin took incredible care of Diane. He loved her. She loved him. Dementia is awful, but this is truly damaging to a beautiful family who nothing but loved and cared for each other for many decades. I am thinking of you all and sending huge, massive hugs and all the support possible,” she wrote.

At his first court appearance on Friday, Kevin Searcy was remanded to Dec. 10.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell