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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Man charged in deadly blaze

Accused of setting fire at bathhouse that killed two people

By: Mike McIntyre and Gabrielle Giroday

29/10/2009 1:00 AM

Justin Rosdobutko

Justin Rosdobutko often told family members of his dream to become a Winnipeg firefighter. Now the 25-year-old man is sitting in a jail cell, accused of setting a blaze at a city bathhouse that killed two people.

"To say this is a bit of a surprise would be an understatement," his uncle, Jamey Rosdobutko, told the Free Press Wednesday from his home in Thunder Bay, Ont.. "As ironic as it is, he was looking to become a fireman."

Police arrested Justin Rosdobutko Tuesday night following an extensive investigation of the deadly Oct. 11 fire at the Aquarius Men's Bath on Notre Dame Avenue. Steven Yablonski, 23, of Winnipeg, and Robert Clark, 62, of Saskatchewan, were both killed. Yablonski was a well-known local drag queen and performer.

Justin Rosdobutko has been charged with two counts of manslaughter -- suggesting the killing was neither planned nor intentional. Police said Wednesday there is no evidence indicating the crime is hate-motivated.

Justin Rosdobutko is a father to a five-year-old girl, who lives with her mother. He identified himself online as an employee at a local packaging company and recently returned to school, according to his uncle. He was living with his own mother in an apartment on Strauss Drive. His father and older brother also live in the city, while his elderly grandparents live in Kenora.

"He's a good person, a loving and caring father. He's not some irresponsible punk, that's always been our impression," said his uncle. Family members say they don't know what brought Justin Rosdobutko to the bathhouse.

A source told the Free Press the evening of the fire, Justin Rosdobutko came to the business and rented a locker, which is on the basement level of the bathhouse. The fire occurred in a second-floor room of the bathhouse.

Visitors frequently roam throughout the house to socialize with each other and have sex in bedrooms there. Witnesses on scene the night of the fire told the Free Press a visitor overheard a man telling another customer he wanted to set fire to the bathhouse. Magazines might have been used to light the fire, said the source.

"I don't think that whatever happened here was intentional," Jamey Rosdobutko said Wednesday. "I know Justin is a smoker, so it's possible this could have been a careless cigarette."

Police did not confirm if Justin Rosdobutko was at the bathhouse with another friend.

"It's my understanding he may have been there with someone else," said Const. Jason Michalyshen. He didn't know if there was a relationship between Justin Rosdobutko and the victims, but said the suspect is not believed to have targeted the two men who died. Police did not comment on the role drugs and alcohol may have played.

"It's very upsetting knowing two people who were innocent lost their lives. It's very sad," said Jamey Rosdobutko.

The fire caused about $500,000 damage to the property at 457 Notre Dame Ave. The bathhouse's owner, Somchai Pengpharsuks, lost another business to arson in 1999, the King and Alexander Steam Baths.

"My heart feels for the two people that passed away," Pengpharsuks told the Free Press after the fire. "I wish it was me instead of them. We tried to make a safe place to come... and I feel like I couldn't protect them."

www.mikeoncrime.com gabrielle.giroday@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 29, 2009 B1