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REPLAY: Arrest made in Winnipeg woman's death

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 03/1/2011 12:44 PM | Last Modified: 03/1/2011 4:15 PM | Updates

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Elizabeth Lafantaisie (FAMILY HANDOUT)

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WINNIPEG — A 25-year-old Winnipeg man faces charges of first-degree murder in connection with the death of Elizabeth Lafantaisie, whose body was found in the trunk of her car last week.

Thomas Anthony Joseph Brine, 25, of Winnipeg has been charged with first degree murder. He was arrested in the River East area Monday shortly before 8 p.m., police say.

Lafantaisie went missing Feb. 18. Her body was found Feb. 24 in the trunk of her car, which was located in the Osborne Village area, on Lewis Street near River Avenue.

In a press release issued this afternoon, police said the investigation into the 73-year-old's death was "complex and challenging" with members of the homicide and missing persons unit canvassing more than 1,000 suites and reviewing surveillance footage from a number of sources.

The suspect was eventually linked through forensic evidence, police say.

A police spokeswoman also said it appears the attack was random. Police confirmed they have had previous involvement with the man facing charges.

Police released a statement Monday made by the family of 73-year-old Lafantaisie, who was a mother of four, grandmother of eight and great-grandmother to three.

"We are deeply saddened and shocked at what can only be described as the tragic and senseless death of our mother, sister, aunt, grandmother and great-grandmother. We cannot put words to our pain, only to say that she did not deserve to die in this way. We can only hope that in her final hours she didn't suffer," the statement said.

Giselle Lafantaisie, Elizabeth's sister, said she was last seen in the Royalwood area, where she had been cleaning a residence. Her purse — stripped of money but with other items untouched — was found inside a highrise building on University Crescent.

Police believe that Lafantaisie's car, a blue-grey 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix, was taken to a car wash between Friday, Feb. 18 and Tuesday, Feb. 22.

Investigators had hoped someone saw the car being washed and would come forward with information.