Shocking violence leaves residents in disbelief

HOLLOW WATER FIRST NATION — RCMP forensics teams streamed in and out of a home on Sibi Drive Thursday afternoon, where neighbours said a 26-year-old man stabbed several people, including his 18-year-old sister, early that morning.

Officers in white coveralls walked around the property taking photos and picking up items. The property was cordoned off with yellow police tape.

Evidence markers next to what appeared to be blood splatter was seen at a home across the street.

Neighbours of the property confirmed Marina Simard was stabbed and killed by her brother Tyrone Simard inside the home RCMP were investigating.

A Sibi Drive resident, who asked her name not be used, was shocked by the news.

“It’s a pretty tight knit community. We all look out for each other,” said the resident, who is distantly related to the family.

RCMP officers in marked and unmarked vehicles were seen driving through the community and going door to door to speak with residents.

The Sibi Drive resident said the community has been plagued by drugs and alcohol in recent years and there’s few services for people needing help with addictions or mental health.

“Everybody’s losing their people because of what’s happening in our community. It’s the drugs, it’s the alcohol,” she said. “There’s no help for certain people around here and maybe that’s why it’s happened. There’s nothing here.”

A community sweat was planned for Thursday evening in Hollow Water.

About 70 kilometers south of the community, along Highway 304, remnants of the crash were still visible.

An RCMP cruiser and a black SUV with crumpled front ends sat in the ditches opposite each another. Airbags in both vehicles were deployed and blood was spattered across the black car’s front windshield.

Black debris and dark skid marks were smeared across the single-lane highway and plastic vehicle parts were scattered across the road and ditch.

Around 2:15 p.m., a tow truck blocked the highway to load the SUV onto a flatbed. Family of the victims who waited in their vehicles declined to speak with reporters but said they were on their way to HSC to visit loved ones.

nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca