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Jonathan Alexander Rosenthal appeared Monday on the arson charge. He is scheduled to appear again in Saskatoon provincial court on Wednesday.

A Saskatoon police spokeswoman confirmed Tuesday night that McFadyen and Rosenthal are known to each other.

McFadyen — also known to friends as Crystal Louis — worked as an office supervisor at ADESA Saskatoon, a local auction company, until June 2017. According to a company spokeswoman, police have made inquiries with ADESA as part of the investigation. The spokeswoman also confirmed that “Mr. Rosenthal is a former employee.”

“Our thoughts and hearts are with the family and friends of our former employee, Crystal McFadyen, during this difficult time,” the company said in a statement emailed to the Saskatoon StarPhoenix.

“We are cooperating with authorities as they pursue their investigation.”

McFadyen was also a member of the North Saskatchewan Regiment Pipes and Drums and a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan, according to her Facebook and LinkedIn profiles.

Hugh Fraser, a veteran player in the North Sask. Regiment, said McFadyen joined around five years ago and quickly started learning the tenor drum. He described her as “outgoing and friendly” and never afraid to speak her mind.

The homicide, Fraser said, is “a shock to everybody in the band … We’re trying to understand what happened.”

According to police, McFadyen’s family had not heard from her since July 3 and reported her missing on July 5.

Saskatoon fire received a call on July 6 at 2:31 a.m. about smoke in the area of the 200 block of Avenue F North. After fire crews got the situation under control, firefighters searched the home and found the body of McFadyen.

Police on Monday in an emailed statement said investigators “are hoping the (autopsy) results will provide more information on the nature of death and what, if any, charges may be laid.”

— With Saskatoon StarPhoenix files from Alex MacPherson

ddeibert@thestarphoenix.com

Twitter.com/davedeibert

Saskatoon

Photo by Andrea Hill / Saskatoon StarPhoenix