RCMP arrests teen after deadly home invasion near Esterhazy

The RCMP has made an arrest in connection with a deadly home invasion near Esterhazy.

In a news release sent Monday evening, the RCMP said a 17-year-old was arrested and charged on Saturday.

“As a result of this continuing investigation, Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes arrested a 17-year-old male youth, who is from a community in north-central Manitoba, in Winnipeg on June 10,” the RCMP said in a statement.

“We (are) unable to name him as per the Youth Criminal Justice Act. We also are not providing his specific community name, as this information could potentially identify him.”

The teen is now charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, sexual assault with a firearm, robbery with a firearm, and wearing a mask with intent to commit an indictable offence.

He is also charged with failing to comply with a release order issued by Manitoba Provincial Court, the RCMP added.

He will be transported back to Saskatchewan to appear in Yorkton Provincial Court on Tuesday, police said.

The charges stem from a deadly incident that occurred in the early hours of Feb. 10. Police said three men broke into a home and a firearm was discharged. When police arrived, they found a 34-year-old man who was an occupant of the home dead. Another occupant, an adult woman, was found injured and was taken to hospital for treatment.

At the time, there were questions as to why the violent crime wasn’t the subject of an emergency alert.

The RCMP said the suspects stole electronics, jewelry, three guns and a significant amount of ammunition from the residence, as well as the homeowner’s vehicle, which was found burned a short distance away.

Police said the investigation determined the suspects travelled west, through the Ochapowace First Nation, where some of the stolen items were discarded and later recovered.

In the weeks after the incident, scant details were released by the RCMP but, according to the statement, Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes “has conducted an extensive investigation, which has included conducting ground searches for evidence, interviewing witnesses, obtaining relevant surveillance video, and collecting and analyzing forensic evidence.

“Investigators are working with a number of specialized RCMP units and services, including Behavioural Sciences, F Division’s Truth Verification Section, the National Sex Offender Registry and the Violent Crime Linkage Analysis System,” the Mounties added.

Despite the extensive investigation, police said they wouldn’t provide a comment on any potential connection between the victims and the boy who was arrested, or the motive for the killing.

“If an elevated risk to public safety is identified as part of this ongoing investigation, we will inform the public immediately,” the RCMP added.

A set of composite sketches depicting the suspects was released to the public Feb. 12, and the RCMP continued to urge the public “to report all information about this incident, including the potential identity of the individuals depicted in the sketches.”

The RCMP said it couldn’t comment on whether the 17-year-old boy arrested was depicted in any of the sketches.

“We thank the members of the public who have come forward with information about this tragic incident,” said Joshua Graham, the officer in charge of Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes.

Graham said the RCMP still needs the public’s help, and urged anyone with information that could help to come forward.

“Also, we have a special appeal to residents of Winnipeg and surrounding area,” Graham added. “We’ve determined the youth we arrested spent considerable time in Winnipeg in the recent past. Winnipeg residents may not have heard of this investigation before, as it occurred out of province. Do you recognize the people depicted in the sketches we released? Or have you heard any information about this crime?”