Suspect arrested in Saskatoon, charged with Eduardo Balaquit’s 2018 slaying

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This article was published 24/03/2021 (1274 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Police have charged a 35-year old man with manslaughter in the mysterious 2018 disappearance of Eduardo Balaquit, whose body has never been found.

Balaquit, 59, was working as a night cleaner at a Keewatin Street business on June 4, 2018. Police found Balaquit’s van the following day, a short distance away from the business, its window smashed and his personal belongings still inside.

On Tuesday, Kyle Alexander James Pietz was arrested in Saskatoon by Winnipeg Police Service detectives assisted by the Saskatoon police major crimes unit.

Pietz was charged with manslaughter after consultation with Manitoba prosecutors and is in custody, WPS Sgt. Wade McDonald said at news conference Thursday.

“It was a good feeling making that arrest,” McDonald said.

Pietz appeared in Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench Wednesday afternoon. Crown attorney Brent Davidson told court that prosecutors have a disclosure package totalling 175 gigabytes, “an extensive amount of information.”

The Crown is proceeding by direct indictment — bypassing provincial court and a preliminary hearing — and going straight to trial in the higher court. An indictment for manslaughter was read to Pietz, who did not enter a plea.

Justice Jeff Harris put the case over to April 14. 

McDonald said investigators have so far “been unable to locate Eduardo’s remains.”

“This was a man where his family was his No. 1 priority… he went to work that day and he never returned home. His family deserves closure,” McDonald said. 

“Detectives believe someone could provide insight into his whereabouts and are asking they contact the homicide unit to give the family peace.”

Early in the investigation, police spent days searching in the woods and fields around Arborg, in the Interlake area. 

McDonald said little Thursday about what led officers to Pietz, where they believe Balaquit was slain or why they were searching in the Arborg area.

Since Balaquit vanished, family members have made several public pleas for information.

Winnipeg police thanked RCMP, the Saskatoon Police Service and the public for their help on the case.

Anyone with information is asked to call the homicide unit at 204-986-6508 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca

Kevin Rollason
Reporter

Kevin Rollason is one of the more versatile reporters at the Winnipeg Free Press. Whether it is covering city hall, the law courts, or general reporting, Rollason can be counted on to not only answer the 5 Ws — Who, What, When, Where and Why — but to do it in an interesting and accessible way for readers.

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