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Homicide cause of both deaths in Ethelbert: RCMP

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 01/24/2013 4:44 PM | Comments: 0 | Last Modified: 01/24/2013 5:47 PM | Updates

Fear is rising in Ethelbert, Man., after police today said two people whose bodies were found in the the small community earlier this week had been murdered.

"I always lock my door at night but now I lock my door during the day, too," said Nadia Pelechaty, 81.

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Pelechaty lives down the road from where the bodies of Elsie Steppa, 81, and a 50-year-old man were found earlier this week.

RCMP would not confirm the identities of either victims, but local residents said Steppa was the first victim found Saturday in the home she shared with her nephew, Harry Jones. Jones' whereabouts are unknown.

The body of a man was found Monday at the rear of the property. RCMP have not released his name but local residents said they suspected it was Jones and that the case was a murder-suicide.

However, the RCMP statement Thursday afternoon of a double homicide has increased concern in this community of 320 people, located north of Dauphin in western Manitoba.

"This is a small town – I wonder who would have done that," Pelechaty said. "It might be some outsiders."

Police were alerted by town mayor Mitch Michaluk, who went to the property after prompted by neighbours suspicious about a lack of activity around the home in recent days. Michaluk found the door unlocked but no one answered his calls.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact the RCMP Dauphin detachment, 204-622-5050, or Manitoba Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

History

Updated on Thursday, January 24, 2013 at 5:47 PM CST: Adds comment from neighbours.

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