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Police set up national tip line for Lamb investigation

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 07/6/2012 9:54 AM | Last Modified: 07/6/2012 12:21 PM | Updates

Shawn Lamb (CBC)

Winnipeg police are setting up a tip line in an effort to get information that could help in the investigation of accused serial killer Shawn Cameron Lamb.

Lamb, 52, of Winnipeg, is accused of killing three women since last fall.

Lamb faces three counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of Tanya Nepinak on Sept. 13, 2011, Carolyn Sinclair on Dec. 18, 2011 and Lorna Blacksmith on Jan. 12 of this year.

The national tip line is 1-855-817-4949.

Insp. Rick Guyader, head of the WPS major crimes unit, said there is no evidence of more crime but investigators are definitely looking at that possibility, either in Winnipeg or anywhere else across the country.

"I have no information he has been involved in any other (homicides) but we are definitely investigating that possibility," Guyader said.

"If somebody comes forward with more information on other crimes in other areas, through our homicide unit we’ll request assistance from other agencies and we’ll investigate them."

Guyader said this is first time the Winnipeg Police Service has ever set up a national 1-800 tip line, adding this is probably the biggest homicide investigation he's been involved with.

Local calls will also be accepted for people with information.

"We want a number out not only for people locally, but for people on a national level in the event he may have committed some kind of crime in another jurisdiction or somebody from Winnipeg may have moved to another jurisdiction and had knowledge of crimes or actions he may have done locally."

The investigation is still at the preliminary stage, he said, adding investigators are divided into one group examining the three local homicides and another group looking into his activities in other parts of the country.

"We’ve never had a case of this magnitude. We want to make sure we cover all the bases, that we get all the information that pertains not only to these three homicides but any other homicides that Mr. Lamb may have been involved in."

Lamb was scheduled to appear in court today, however, the case is expected to be remanded.

He is being held at the Winnipeg Remand Centre.

Sinclair and Blacksmith’s bodies have been found, but Nepinak’s remains have not been located.

Watch a replay of the police press conference below:

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