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Boy, 16, charged with first-degree murder

By: Gabrielle Giroday

Posted: 09/21/2009 8:45 PM

WEST ST. PAUL — A 16-year-old boy has been charged with first-degree murder after another teenaged boy was stabbed to death in this suburban neighbourhood.

The victim, Seth Ottenbreit, 15, was an avid dirt biker and grade 10 student at West Kildonan Collegiate. His death was caused by a single stab wound to the chest, police said.

Mounties said last night a West St. Paul boy is in custody and has been charged. Neighbours said the accused youth lived with his parents in the two-storey house where Ottenbreit was found, and was friends with the victim.

Neighbours on the quiet residential street say it was about 4:30 p.m. on Sunday when a frightened young man ran from a newly built home and alerted residents who were walking their dog. He told them Ottenbreit was stabbed while visiting inside the home.

The home is registered to a married couple and had been newly constructed in the last few years, they said.

Monday, the home with yellow daisies by its door was surrounded by police tape while an RCMP cruiser sat parked on the gravel driveway. A large cube van for forensic identification sat in the driveway.

There was no sign of a bloody shovel that was visible Sunday night to neighbours.

There was also no sign of a pale door with a bloody print on it that was also visible Sunday night.

Students at the school where Ottenbreit attended were shocked by the violence Monday.

"I know he was one of the nicest people you could ever meet, always with a smile on his face," said a girl who was Ottenbreit’s friend.

Seven Oaks School Division superintendent Brian O’Leary said Monday his division has grappled with students dying from cancer, a motorcycle accident, and a construction mishap. However, he said the division has not dealt with a homicide of a student.

"It hits high school kids so hard — it’s so outside their experience, so outside what their experience should be," said O’Leary.

Psychologists, social workers and counsellors were in the school to talk to students, especially those whom the principal and staff had identified as members of the friendship circle of either or both boys.

Gabrielle.giroday@freepress.mb.ca

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