Guilty Plea and Sentence

A Calgary courtroom was silent Monday as a prosecutor read aloud text messages between two men who plotted to lure, confine and rape women, intending to film the crimes and sell the videos. Steven Zwick, 29, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Chelsea Davidenas, 29, and was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 15 years.

Zwick was originally charged with first-degree murder, but the plea was accepted by the court. The details of the crimes come from an agreed statement of facts prepared by prosecutor Vicki Faulkner and defence lawyer Andrea Urquhart, read before Court of King’s Bench Justice Glen Poelman.

The Plot

According to the statement of facts, beginning on the evening of February 16, 2024, Zwick and a second man, referred to in court as PR, plotted to lure women to a boarding house in the northeast Calgary community of Rundle, where PR lived. Zwick was homeless at the time. The two had a 34-year age difference, and Zwick considered PR a father figure, calling him “pops.”

The men’s initial target was a woman named Ashley. After she changed her mind, they targeted Chelsea Davidenas, Zwick’s ex-girlfriend. Text messages quoted in court showed the men’s intentions. Zwick wrote: “I’d say hands behind back, clothes cut right away, she'll feel vulnerable and fight that.” PR wrote: “Shut her up, blindfold her.”

Davidenas’s Death

Davidenas was lured to the home, where she was restrained and choked. The prosecutor, Vicki Faulkner, told the court: “She died before they could rape her.” Davidenas fought for her life, but died from the chokehold. Zwick later told police he planned to kill her regardless, even if she had not died during the assault.

The men dumped her body south of Strathmore using a stolen car. Police located her remains on April 4, 2024.

Second Attack and Confession

The court also heard about a second attack on Ashley, the initial target. In that incident, Ashley feigned unconsciousness after dumping drugs, overheard the men discussing putting her in a suitcase, and was strangled with a wire by PR before she managed to escape.

Zwick confessed to undercover police officers on March 27, 2024.

Victim Impact Statements

Davidenas’s daughter, mother, and sister delivered victim impact statements. Her daughter said: “She loved having dance parties, laughing and making people smile. I wish I had more memories like that of her.”

Justice Glen Poelman called the plot “reprehensible.”

Co-Accused

The second man, PR, is also charged in connection with the crimes. His jury trial is set to begin in January. None of the allegations against PR have been proven in court, and he is presumed innocent.