Arrest made in '05 slaying in Thompson

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Chantelle Rikheim, 16, is shown in a RCMP "D" Division handout photo. Manitoba Mounties have arrested a man and charged him with second-degree murder seven years after a teenage girl was found dead in her family's trailer. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, RCMP (CP)

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KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Cpl. Miles Hiebert: DNA pivotal

He was only 12 years old when his big sister was slain in Thompson.

But Bret Rikheim has never forgotten Chantelle, and he's relieved RCMP have arrested the man they believe is responsible for the February 2005 slaying of the petite 16-year-old pizza restaurant employee.

He was so overwhelmed he pumped his fist in the air when he heard the news earlier this week.

"I was ecstatic," said Bret, now 19.

The death of his sister had a profound effect on him.

"It changed everything because I guess when one person dies, everyone around them kind of dies."

RCMP announced Friday a 24-year-old man had been charged with second-degree murder for the death of Chantelle Rikheim.

The accused cannot be named because he was 17 years old in 2005 and his identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA).

RCMP spokesman Cpl. Miles Hiebert said the man was already behind bars in Prince Albert, Sask., on Thursday when he was charged with the homicide.

Chantelle's remains were recovered inside a burned-out mobile home in Thompson. At the time, police said she died as a result of trauma and the home was set on fire.

The teen had lived there with her father, Carl, who was working at the Inco mine when the fire began.

Hiebert said DNA evidence played a pivotal role in breaking open the case.

"This arrest is a result of a culmination of seven years' hard work and dedicated service by the investigators," Hiebert said.

Officers "sifted through mountains of evidence," he added.

Hiebert said the accused had known Rikheim but he did not elaborate on the nature of their relationship.

Others who knew Chantelle told the Free Press the two had dated.

Court records show the accused was convicted of making indecent phone calls during 2007, as well as breaking and entering to commit a sexual assault later the same year.

He was sentenced to 54 months in prison but would serve 46 months because the judge took into consideration the time he'd served in pretrial custody.

Court records also show he was convicted of another break and enter to commit sexual assault for which he was sentenced to another six years in prison -- on top of the earlier sentence -- in Oct. 2010.

Chantelle's father, Carl Rikheim, told the Free Press he's "very pleased with the way the police handled the investigation.

"They did exactly what they told me they were going to do," he said.

"They worked hard putting the (evidence) together and, when they were very sure they had an iron-clad case, made the arrest.

"I hope and pray that when this goes to court I will get to ask this person why he had to do this."

On Friday, Bret Rikheim described his sister as "extremely passionate about everything that she did," adding she had an artistic side.

"She loved to write poetry and she loved to sing... and she taught me a lot," said Bret. The two hadn't lived together at the time of the slaying but had visited regularly after their parents split up. They had seen each other at Christmas, weeks before her death.

He said the anniversary of Chantelle's death -- Feb. 2 -- still takes an emotional toll on family and friends.

"I feel as though I pay homage to her and I pay respect to her every day of my life," he said.

"And Feb. 2 is just one of those days where I call my mom (Laura) and make sure she's OK, and hang out with friends and try and make them cheer me up.

"...If I'm going to respect her in any way, shape or form, I'd rather respect her every day of my life than just one day out of the year."

Chantelle was a student at an off-campus program for youth in Thompson, run by Futures, a part of Marymound, which offers programs for young people.

It was designed for youth who couldn't cope with traditional school settings. It no longer exists.

Julie Vincent, a close friend of Chantelle's, was a few years older and a young mother. The two shared a very special bond.

"Her and I were super close. She was really good. We stood up for each other," said Vincent, 27.

"This girl wanted so badly to belong. She had so much heart.

"She would have been the kind of person that would have touched a lot of lives."

gabrielle.giroday@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 11, 2012 A4