Monday, November 20, 2006

Bigger Than You...

...bigger than me.



Thank you to everybody who came out and made the Brian Kullman Memorial Ride so wonderful.

The question is: would people do this for you if you were to pass away tomorrow? I sure hope that the answer is yes. If not, you need to seriously reexamine your life. We all have the capacity to love and be loved so let's all live up to it. Hug your neighbour, Brian would be proud.

Sunday, November 19, 2006

Memorial Ride

Thanks to everyone who came out today in memory of BK. The ride was even better than I could have imagined and I was thrilled to see so many people out to show their support. The cycling community in Alberta really came through and showed what a great group of people they are and how much Brian meant to them.







These last couple of weeks have left me feeling pretty burned out. I've been busy dealing with the loss of a good friend and then doing everything I can to help out. Part of my nature is to organize when I'm stressed/upset so being able to help Graeme organize the memorial ride was great therapy for me. I really hope that Brian's friends and family enjoyed the event; it was the least that we could do to show our respect for our dear friend.

This feeling of burn out I have is pretty severe and as a result I am going to be taking a full and complete break from the blog world for awhile. I will concentrate on spending quality time with my friends and family instead of living in the blogosphere. While many good things come from blogs and blogging, think of Reid's awesome work keeping us all up to date, for the most part I have found that it is nothing more than a time suck and that "blog people" aren't worth my time. I do have many fine friends who happen to blog but they are my friends first and bloggers second. If I wanted phony friends I'd play World of Warcraft but since that is not my aim, I'm outta here.

Catch you in the real world.

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Justice On The Way

-----------------------------------------------------------------
CITYBEAT - CITY OF CALGARY PRESS RELEASE
-----------------------------------------------------------------

The Calgary Police Service Major Crimes Section has laid a
second degree murder charge in relation to the Brian Wayne
KULLMAN homicide investigation.

At approximately 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday November 15, 2006, a
suspect was arrested at the Calgary International Airport.

Bill James PAPPAS, 35, of Calgary, was taken into custody
hours before he was to board a flight to Europe.

In the early morning hours of Thursday, November 16, 2006,
PAPPAS was charged with one count of second degree murder, as
well as arson, possession of stolen property under $5000,
uttering a forged document and fraud under $5000.

Mr. Kullman was last seen by friends and family on the
evening of Tuesday, November 7, 2006.

On Wednesday, November 8, 2006, at 7:40 p.m., the Calgary
Police Service and the Calgary Fire Department responded to
reports of a house fire at the home of Brian Kullman. The
circumstances surrounding the fire caused the Joint Forces
Arson Unit to investigate.

On the evening of Thursday, November 9, 2006, the Arson Unit
discovered further suspicious circumstances which caused the
Calgary Police Service Violent Crime Team 1 (Homicide Unit)
to assist in the investigation.

On the morning of Friday, November 10, 2006, a missing person
investigation was initiated to locate Brian Kullman, as well
as his 2003 Mercedes Benz C240 vehicle. That afternoon, the
RCMP responded to the discovery of a body found near the side
of highway 66 in Kananaskis Country. The body was later
identified as that of Mr. Kullman.

The 2003 Mercedes Benz C240 vehicle belonging to Mr. Kullman
was located in southeast Calgary in the early morning of
Saturday, November 11, 2006. This vehicle is currently being
examined by the Calgary Police Service Forensic Crimes Scenes
Unit.

Investigators would like to thank those members of the public
who came forward with information as to Brian Kullman’s last
known activities.


Let's hope that this helps us all feel some sense of closure and especially help Brian's family to deal with their loss. While I cannot comprehend why anybody would want to hurt Brian, someone did. I hope that the person responsible is brought to justice for their actions.

--------------------------------------------------------------

On a more positive note, there has been a great deal of discussion regarding creating a scholarship in BK's name. As BK was a strong supporter of racing in Alberta and was always eager to assist new/young racers, it seems appropriate that he be remembered this way. This yearly scholarship could be given out to an up and coming rider in need of financial support so that they can further their racing careers.

Please let me know what you all think of this idea. I would never dream of doing anything without first consulting Brian's family but I feel that this is something he would support.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Update on bk

Calgary Police have positively identified the body found in Bragg Creek as that of our good friend bk. They will host a media scrum at 16:30 today to make the official announcement. Please join me in wishing his family the best in these difficult times.

RIP Brian Wayne Kullman

A great man, loving friend and avid cyclist that will be missed by many. Brian always had a great big smile on his face and did his best to make sure you left with one too. He offered never ending support and encouragement to everyone in the cycling scene and helped me out on many occasions. I will miss our weekly roller training sessions, espresso shots and bike geekery but most of all I will miss one of my closest and best friends.

Monday, November 13, 2006

Further updates

I hate the newspapers. Who really knows what is happening? Certainly not me. I can tell you that I don't like any of this.

Mon, November 13, 2006

Blood in missing man's car hints at foul play

UPDATED: 2006-11-13 19:31:46 MST

Cops have not confirmed homicide in case of Brian Kullman

By NADIA MOHARIB, CALGARY SUN

Cops have yet to say they are investigating a homicide or that they have found missing Calgarian Brian Wayne Kullman but blood found in his abandoned car hints at foul play and there is no active search for the 39-year-old.

Homicide Staff Sgt. Barry Cochran said police are choosing to be tight-lipped on details of the investigations into the discovery of a man’s body in Kananskis and circumstances around the mysterious disappearance of Kullman from his Inglewood home last Tuesday.

“We have lots of theories but we can’t build our investigation around that,” Cochran said today.

“In order for us to further this investigation we have to concentrate on the evidence that is being gathered by investigators.

“At this time we cannot elaborate on those strategies in place.”

Cops have confirmed the identity of the body found by hikers off Hwy. 66, west of Elbow Falls last Friday, about six metres over the edge of a metal rest stop guardrail.

They have not released the deceased’s name.

An autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow.

The missing man’s 2003 Mercedes Benz C240 was found abandoned in a southeast parking lot on Saturday with sources confirming there was blood visible inside suggesting the possibility of foul play.

Cochran confirmed Kullman, who is single, was last seen spending time with friends and family on Nov. 7 and then said to be meeting a friend at his house.

He has not been seen or heard from since.

A day after he went missing, arson and forensic investigators were called to his Inglewood Grove home following a possible explosion.

There was minimal damage to the home.

By Thursday, homicide investigators were called in to assist.

Investigators spent the weekend searching for evidence at Kullman’s home.

Cochran said it is believed Kullman’s car was not stolen, but it may have been taken without his consent, although he would not elaborate on possible circumstances.

Any of Kullman’s friends or associates who saw him prior to his disappearance are urged to call cops at 266-1234 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

The latest

Let's all hope for the best. Then again, what is the best? Is it the best that this body is not Brian and we are left wondering where he is? Is it best if this is Brian and we have closure? What I want is to find out more about this Bill person. Never heard of him before and he was the last person seen with bk. I am a very close personal friend of bk's and know most of his other friends but have never heard of this Bill. I hope that this person is either totally free and clear or avoids me because right now I am in an extremely vengeful mood. BRING ME BACK BK!

-----------------------------------------------------------------
CITYBEAT - CITY OF CALGARY PRESS RELEASE
-----------------------------------------------------------------

The Calgary Police Service has identified the body found in
Kananaskis Country on Friday November 10, 2006. Release of
the identity will be held pending notification of next of
kin.

The Violent Crime Team 1 continues investigating this
incident. Several sites through out the city have been
searched and evidence recovered.

Weekend Getaway

I picked Sara up at the airport on Thursday night for our weekend together. We had many plans and were going to have a great time. We did have a good time but the whole weekend was overshadowed by the concerns we had over the disappearance of bk. We had received word on Thursday afternoon that he was missing and immediately our thoughts turned to the worst case. We then worked through the information we had and determined that it was all too much of a weird coincidence and put it in the back of our minds.

Sara and I spent Friday cruising around Calgary and left for Canmore Friday night without hearing any more news. We returned Sunday night and met my parents for dinner. At dinner I told them about bk's disappearance and they informed me that there had been news and it didn't look good. This made me feel very sick.

bk is one of my best friends. He was going to perform the ceremony for Sara and I back in October (before we had to cancel). I simply can't imagine why anybody would want to hurt him and it doesn't look like he was the victim of a robbery. We can hope that he's been kidnapped or just took off and that he's okay but I don't think that these are very likely things right now.

What makes me feel really sick is that if Sara had not been in town this weekend, I would have been over at his house on Wednesday to ride rollers. I could have been the one to discover this and I am so glad that I didn't. I feel very bad for Liane but I would not want to have been the one to have walked into the house. I just couldn't do it.

I hope more than anything that bk is okay and will be back soon. While some people were annoyed by his moods and antics, he was at heart a great guy who cared very much for his friends and family. He loved to ride his bike and cross-country ski more than anybody else I know and next to Al at Cadence he pulled the best shot in town. I really hope that I will get a chance to sit in his kitchen and drink another espresso with him soon. The time we spent riding rollers together was always fun and he kept me motivated to train.

Last winter, we would ride twice a week in his garage while listening to CBC Radio 3 or watching old Vuelta videos. On the weekends we would drive up to the nordic centre and ski for a couple of hours. He always encouraged me and helped me out when I needed it. For that I thank him.

Come home soon bk.

Update

For all of you who have not heard the latest update, here it is:

Body found near Elbow Falls

Police probe homicide, arson links

Police scour the area near Elbow Falls where a man's body has been discovered.
Police scour the area near Elbow Falls where a man's body has been discovered.
Photograph by : Ted Jacob, Calgary Herald

Sarah Chapman and Peter green, with files from Jamie Komarnicki, Calgary Herald

Published: Sunday, November 12, 2006

Homicide investigators are looking into the possibility that a body found near Elbow Falls is that of a well-known Calgary man missing since Tuesday.

Brian Wayne Kullman, 39, an avid cyclist, has not been seen for five days.

And arson investigators have been poring over his Inglewood home since a neighbour alerted the fire department to smoke in the residence on Wednesday.

A friend told the Herald on Saturday that news of Kullman's disappearance has left friends and family worried.

"We went out to a movie (last) Saturday -- that's why it came as such a shock to me," said Rob Kattenburg, who has known Kullman for about 20 years. Kattenburg described Kullman as "a laid-back guy" who works as a well services programmer in Calgary.

On Friday, emergency crews were called to Highway 66 southwest of Bragg Creek where a man's body had been found. Tape blocked off the roadside turnout on Saturday near a hill leading to a ravine.

Forensic investigators were on scene for much of the day, climbing over the guardrail to the grassy stretch tucked among the trees of Kananaskis Country.

The fire in Kullman's home caused minimal damage, but by Thursday further suspicious circumstances led arson investigators to call in the homicide unit.

"When (arson) came back the next day, they saw some things to them that looked out of sorts and requested homicide to assist them," said Duty Insp. Luch Berti.

Berti said police have no suspects for the arson or Kullman's disappearance, but added police hope more tips from the public come in.

Police say the death of the man near Elbow Falls is suspicious, and are investigating to see whether the body is in fact Kullman.

"We are collaborating, forensically, with the RCMP to determine whether there is a crossover between their discovery and our investigation into the missing person," said Calgary police Duty Insp. Guy Slater on Friday. "However, nothing will be determined until a positive identification and autopsy has been completed."

Staff Sgt. Barry Cochran of the Calgary police homicide unit was at Elbow Falls on Saturday.

He said no vehicle was found near the man's body.

Mounties said someone notified Kananaskis Emergency Services of the body and crews were sent to the scene near Highway 66 southeast of Bragg Creek on Friday.

Kullman's family did not wish to comment when contacted Saturday.

Kullman is a well-known cyclist, who often rides west of Calgary. On his online blog, he calls himself "the king of the mountains."

Kattenburg said Kullman is well-liked and a passionate athlete.

"As far as I knew, he'd go home and he'd train," he said. "He had his own training equipment in his basement and that's his life."

Police said he was last seen by friends and family on Tuesday at about 11:30 p.m.

His car, a silver 2003 Mercedes Benz C240 station wagon, with Alberta licence plate EJT 768, was recovered in a southeast Calgary business parking lot early Saturday.

The vehicle, which was not damaged, is being examined by the Forensic Crime Scene Unit.

"(There was) nothing out of the ordinary -- it wasn't totalled or it wasn't involved in an accident," said Duty Insp. Luch Berti.

schapman@theherald.canwest.com

© The Calgary Herald 2006

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Missing:

One good friend, goes by the handle bk. Missing since Tuesday night. Anyone with information should contact Calgary Police.

If you have ANY information about Brian's whereabouts, please contact the Police. Let's all hope bk is okay and will be back soon.

Thank you.

UPDATE:

Yes, this is for real. Any information that will help us find bk is greatly appreciated. We don't know much right now other than that he hasn't been seen since Tuesday.

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