Erickson woman stabbed repeatedly while asleep; 18-year-old man arrested By: Tyler Searle Posted: 6:57 PM CDT Wednesday, Jun. 7, 2023 Last Modified: 7:52 PM CDT Wednesday, Jun. 7, 2023 Updates

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Candace Richardson was alone and asleep in the basement of her home in Erickson early Tuesday when an intruder broke in, stabbed her about 10 times and slashed her throat.

During the attack, the knife became embedded in her skull.

While the 30-year-old is recovering at Winnipeg’s Health Sciences Centre, the crime has left her traumatized and her rural community stunned, her family said.

“She was in and out of consciousness. He had slit her throat from one side to the other,” Michelle Dominey, Richardson’s relative, said.

“He left her to die. She is lucky to be alive.”

In separate phone interviews, Dominey and Scott McMunn, Richardson’s fiance, described the attack, which RCMP called random.

They said the suspect broke into Richardson’s home after midnight and assaulted her while she was sleeping.

Confused and terrified, she struggled with her attacker, telling him she was five weeks pregnant, Dominey said.

Richardson escaped and ran to a neighbouring home, where she collapsed. The homeowner, who is trained as a nurse, applied pressure to her wounds while her husband called an ambulance, she said.

RCMP arrested an 18-year-old man around 2 p.m. Wednesday. Sgt. Paul Manaigre said the suspect, whose name hasn’t been released, would be remanded in custody later Wednesday.

He could face charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault and breaking and entering, Manaigre said.

Earlier Wednesday, RCMP said Mounties were called to a home on Second Street NW just before 2 a.m., where they found a victim with “significant but non-life threatening injuries.”

A male suspect fled prior to police arrival and was still at large when police alerted the public.

“Although no arrest has been made at this time, RCMP believe there is no threat to the public and are working diligently to locate and apprehend the suspect,” police said.

The statement sparked concern among local residents.

“He left her to die. She is lucky to be alive.”–Michelle Dominey, Richardson’s relative

“It’s a very shocking incident and we’re a small, tight-knit community,” said Iain Edye, Erickson’s chief administrative officer.

“Everybody is aware the incident occurred… The mood has been on edge, and people have probably been locking their doors, where they weren’t before. This is not something we are used to.”

Erickson is 250 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, near the southern edge of Riding Mountain National Park, and has a population of about 500.

Major crimes investigators quickly identified the 18-year-old suspect, which is why they were confident the public was not at risk, Manaigre said.

“Major crimes told me that as of last night, they suspected they knew who it was and it was a matter of tracking him down. He’s known to police and it was suspected he was hiding out,” he said.

“The public can rest easy, I can assure you, no one else was at risk.”

The spokesman said major crimes investigators are sorting through evidence to determine the motive.

“We don’t know why she was targeted. Right now, indications are that she didn’t know him,” Manaigre said.

“There’s a lot of questions that we still need to get answers to.”

Manaigre did not know where the suspect was arrested.

“The mood has been on edge, and people have probably been locking their doors, where they weren’t before.”–Iain Edye, Erickson’s chief administrative officer

Jason Cline, superintendent of the Rolling River School Division confirmed to the Free Press that a man was arrested outside Erickson Collegiate.

“There was an arrest today outside of the high school in the parking lot. I cannot confirm the identity of that person… I cannot confirm that it was the same arrest,” Cline said.

Richardson is expected to undergo several surgeries to repair damage to her jaw, nose, arm, hands and fingers. She will also have the knife shard removed from her head.

She is unable to eat on her own, but is alert and able to speak, McMunn said.

McMunn and Dominey both said they are shocked the RCMP release described Richardson’s injuries as “non-life threatening,” given the severity of the attack.

“I am grateful the RCMP did a thorough investigation and arrested the suspect quickly,” Dominey said. “But I know that statement released today caused a lot of confusion.”

McMunn and Richardson moved to Erickson less than a year ago and opened a restaurant, which is adjacent to the high school. For the time being, it will remain closed. Members of their family have started a fundraiser to help cover expenses.

—With files from Erik Pindera

tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca