Retired couple slain near Lorette, suspect in custody

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This article was published 24/03/2021 (1328 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Residents of a quiet rural road tucked away near the Seine River near Lorette say they’re shaken after a retired couple was killed at their property and a man was arrested early Thursday.

In response to a 911 call from inside the home at 1:15 a.m., Mounties from the St. Pierre-Jolys detachment raced to the property at 28147 River Road in the Rural Municipality of Taché, southeast of Winnipeg.

They discovered a man and a woman in their home. The couple was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers then received a report of a suspicious person in the area. A short time later, a man was arrested and placed into custody.

Thursday afternoon, RCMP Cpl. Julie Courchaine held a news conference outside the couple’s well-kept home, which was surrounded by police tape. She said she wasn’t able to reveal the identities of the victims or the suspect, and would not elaborate on details of the homicide, such as motive.

“We know that this crime will be devastating for so many within this community,” she said.

Daniel Sarrazin, who lives opposite the residence, said the couple was friendly and quiet.

The neighbours are “pretty close,” he said, making it difficult for him to understand how the tragedy unfolded so close by.

“I’d never picture that happening,” he said. “It hits a little too close to home.”

Sarrazin, who has lived in his home for a year, said he knows the area well because his grandfather owned his house for 40 years before he moved in.

The couple across the street had lived there for much of that time and were always kind to both him and his grandfather, he said.

They liked to take regular evening strolls.

The tragedy has been “an eye-opener,” he said.

“It made me happy I was here and not (my grandpa),” he said. “If they tried with me, it’d be a little harder than with my grandpa.”

Two men who watched the RCMP news conference while out for a walk said they knew the couple.

The men, who asked not to be named, said the victims were a “great, nice couple.” One said he had recently bumped into the husband walking along the river.

They had moved to the area almost 30 years ago, the men said, and were active around the community.

Next-door neighbours said the couple liked to garden and noted the husband had helped them build their own home years ago.

Taché Mayor Justin Bohemier said he had been informed of the double homicide Thursday afternoon, and while he had not been given many details, he was “floored” by it.

Bohemier said there hasn’t been a recent spike in crime in the municipality and he’s “shocked” by the incident.

“It’s tough for the neighbours, it’s tough for the area, it’s tough for the family, it’s tough for their friends,” he said. “This is an extremely sad moment, and that’s the biggest thing right now.”

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: malakabas_