Saskatchewan RCMP probing three murders in 29-hour span

The Saskatchewan RCMP is investigating what it calls a “cluster” of killings, comprising three murders in a span of 29 hours.

In a media release Tuesday, the Mounties said their Major Crimes Unit is probing murders on the Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation, in Deschambault Lake and in North Battleford. The slayings occurred between Thursday afternoon and Friday evening.

“Homicide clusters like the one that we saw last week are not an abnormality in Saskatchewan,” Supt. Joshua Graham, the officer in charge of Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes, said in the release. “In 2023, there were five separate occasions where the Major Crimes teams deployed to two to three homicides that occurred in less than 48 hours.

“In the first weeks of 2024, this is something we have already seen happen. Including the three homicides that our teams investigated in the past week, an additional two homicides have occurred since January 18, 2024, totaling five homicide investigations since the new year began.”

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Dedrick Stick, 32, from the Island Lake First Nation died Thursday after what police called “an altercation” between a group of people at a house on the Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation. The RCMP doesn’t have a suspect in Stick’s killing.

On Friday morning, 21-year-old Jonathan Custer from Deschambault Lake died after an alleged assault outside of a house in that community. A 22-year-old man from Deschambault Lake has been charged with second-degree murder.

Then, on Friday evening, 32-year-old Jordan Wright of North Battleford died after he was shot inside a house in that city. The RCMP said it’s on the lookout for two suspects.

The release said Major Crimes officers also provided support or assistance or were deployed to four other serious incident investigations in the past week.

“Consistently high homicide rates and clusters of new homicides like this stretch our resources and take our investigators away from existing and historical homicides investigations,” Graham said in the release, which noted the Major Crimes unit has not been able to add resources since 2018.

“The increased volume of investigations takes a significant toll on our investigators, whose dedication, resiliency and undeniable expertise contribute to finding answers, solving homicides and giving the families of victims closure.”

Anyone with information that could help Major Crimes solve a homicide in Saskatchewan is asked to call their local police service. Information also can be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or www.saskcrimestoppers.com.