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This article was published 19/04/2022 (404 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Two mothers have made an emotional plea for residents of a small northern reserve to reveal any information that could help RCMP investigate the homicide of their adult children last fall.

Brent Denechezhe, 31, and Leona Tssessaze, 24, died in a house fire on Northlands Denesuline First Nation on Sept. 9.Their remains were sent from the First Nation, also known as Lac Brochet, to Winnipeg for autopsies. Less than a week later, RCMP declared the case a homicide.

On Tuesday, more than six months since the crime in the community of about 500 people, RCMP issued a news release with the mothers’ appeal.

RCMP have not said whether investigators are searching for one suspect or multiple.

“I struggle with my grief,” said Veronique Denechezhe, mother of Brent.

“There are too many questions. What happened? Did he feel pain? Did they try to save themselves? If I was there, would I have made a difference?”

She had been working outside of the community when her son, a father of two, was killed.

She has not yet returned to the First Nation, which is about 240 kilometres northwest of Thompson and only accessible by winter road or plane.

“My son was a great father. How do we tell his girls he’s gone?” Veronique said, adding she cannot envision living there again.

“Whoever did this to Brent and Leona, whoever killed my son, is still there, still lives there. I can’t be there and unknowingly wish the person who killed my baby a nice day.”

Ellen Tssessaze’s, the mother of Ellen, has told RCMP that not knowing what happened the night of her daughter’s death has made it difficult to grieve. She keeps busy by working and raising her three other children.

“I just keep wondering why. Whoever did this needs to come forward. Please come forward. If anyone knows anything, please help us. Please help our families,” Ellen said in the release.

RCMP also issued the news relase in Denesuline, the community’s Indigenous language.

RCMP have asked anyone with information on the homicide to contact a tip line at 431-489-8551, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 or online at manitobacrimestoppers.com.

— staff