Three charged in slaying of Manitoba Indigenous woman who went missing in 2020

Mounties have arrested and charged three men in the slaying of a Tootinaowaziibeeng Treaty Reserve mother who vanished more than five years ago.

Melinda Lynxleg’s case highlights the prevalence of gender-based violence against Indigenous people in Manitoba, which has been called the national epicentre for such crimes.

“My sister Melinda did not deserve what happened to her,” Allison Lynxleg told the Free Press in a message before a news conference at RCMP Winnipeg headquarters Monday afternoon.

“Melinda was a human being, a mother, a daughter and my sister, who deserved to live.”

Lynxleg, 40, was a mother of six children. She was described by family as a strong and resilient woman who advocated fiercely for her kids.

RCMP Sgt. Morgan Page said the investigation into her disappearance and death was “extremely complicated,” but tireless efforts by police allowed Mounties to arrest three men at their homes last week.

Billy Jay Lynxleg, 46, of Tootinaowaziibeeng, Kirk Kenneth Allarie, 42, of Roblin and Myles Malcolm Allarie, 38, of Russell are charged with second-degree murder and indignity to human remains.

Lynxleg was last seen on April 2, 2020, leaving a home in the RM of Grandview, about 300 kilometres west of Winnipeg. Her sister reported her missing on April 16 of that year, Page said.

Police narrowed their search to an abandoned property in San Clara — roughly 55 kilometres further west — where they recovered Lynxleg’s remains and launched a homicide investigation just over three years later, Page said.

Lynxleg’s body was moved to the abandoned property after her slaying, leading to the additional charges of indignity to human remains. Investigators learned one of the accused has a “historical family connection” to the land, Page said.

She did not outline a possible motive for the slaying, saying police are withholding details of the circumstances of Lynxleg’s death at the request of her family.

Police also did not clarify how the suspects knew Lynxleg. Page said both Allarie brothers were her “acquaintances.”

Page described Billy Jay Lynxleg as a “close family relation,” but did not say whether he was a blood relative of the victim.

RCMP provided a statement written by the Lynxleg family, in which they said news of the arrests have brought them relief, but also reignited their grief.

“Melinda is forever in our hearts. We continue to cherish her memory and celebrate her birthdays together with her children, keeping her spirit alive through love and remembrance,” the statement said.

“Our tears are not only of sadness, but also of anger for what was done to her and to us. To those responsible, we cannot offer forgiveness. The choices you made took someone from us who can never be replaced.”

Tootinaowaziibeeng Chief Barry McKay, who called Lynxleg’s case tragic, offered tobacco to the RCMP on behalf his First Nation and the victim’s family.

“Thank you for all the work you have done,” he said, handing the tobacco — considered a sacred medicine in Indigenous culture — to Page.

The First Nation is located north of Riding Mountain National Park, about halfway between Dauphin and the Saskatchewan border.

The investigation involved more than 60 officers from across western Manitoba who collected more than 150 witness statements and contributed thousands of hours of police work. A typical homicide probe involves 10 to 15 officers, Page said.

At one point, police reviewed the case file “in extreme detail” in search of additional leads, she said.

“We were able to uncover some further information and then also strategize as to what we needed to do to move the investigation forward and take those next steps to get to where we are today,” she said.

Ultimately, a combination of physical evidence and witness information contributed to the charges. Further investigation and interviews are ongoing now that the suspects are in custody, she said, adding the three men were known to police in the area.

A review of court records showed Myles Allarie was convicted in 2011 of dangerous driving causing death and sentenced to 18 months in jail, plus two years probation.

Supt. Rob Lasson, head of the provincial major crimes division, said there is “still a lot of work ahead,” but he hopes the arrests will bring some comfort to the families of missing and murdered people throughout the province.

“This is another example of the RCMP’s commitment,” Lasson said. “Manitoba RCMP continues to work on all unsolved homicide investigations across Manitoba, and they never stop trying to find answers.”

Lynxleg’s family echoed that sentiment in their statement, urging other grieving families not to lose hope.

“Even in the darkest moments, love does not disappear. It fuels our search, strengthens our voice and carries the memory of those we fight for,” the statement said.

The arrests come as Manitoba is preparing to launch Canada’s first ever Red Dress Alert system. Similar to Amber and Silver Alerts, the system will activate and send public messages to broadcasters and others when an Indigenous woman or girl goes missing.

Lynxleg’s case highlights why such a project is critical, said Sandra DeLaronde, team lead of Giganawenimaanaanig, an Indigenous advisory committee helping the federal government with development of the system.

“The kind of violence being perpetrated in our communities… is deeply troubling.”

“What I can say about Melinda Lynxleg, and others, is that obviously the police didn’t give up. That’s why we have charges today… but the problem occurs long before policing is involved,” DeLaronde said.

“What are we doing as a society to change the conditions that make Indigenous women and girls and gender-diverse people vulnerable and targeted? I think that’s where the real work needs to happen. Otherwise, we’re just picking up the pieces on the other end.”

Winnipeg Centre NDP MP Leah Gazan introduced a motion in the House of Commons last year to declare missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls a nationwide emergency.

She urged the federal government to ensure the alert system moves ahead swiftly.

“The kind of violence being perpetrated in our communities… is deeply troubling,” Gazan said. “If we are going to deal with this ongoing genocide, that takes real investment in community-led solutions.

Giganawenimaanaanig has been completing consultations with justice officials and the public regarding the Red Dress Alert system. The group is compiling a final report, which should be released by Nov. 25, DeLaronde said.

— With files from Dean Pritchard

tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca