A missing man, a massive fire and a hunt for a suspected killer have this Manitoba community on edge

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This article was published 15/06/2021 (1290 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In the rural Manitoba municipality of St. Clements, residents have been doing something this week they’re not used to: keeping their doors locked.

“Everybody is very concerned and quite scared and on edge with all this going on in their area,” said Debbie Fiebelkorn, mayor of the Manitoba community.

“This person is still at large. He could be anywhere.”

The mayor was referring to Eric Wildman, 34, a man RCMP say is suspected of killing his neighbour, who went missing earlier this month and whose body has not been found.

In the wake of the manhunt for Wildman, it has emerged that another of his neighbours disappeared under suspicious circumstances in 2018.

Police disclosed to the Winnipeg Free Press this week Wildman “may have been a suspect at one time” in that disappearance, but police have since said the current investigation does not indicate a connection to Wildman.

A recent search of Wildman’s vehicle uncovered firearms and a variety of police-related gear, including tactical equipment, patches and clothing. That discovery drew comparisons to the case of Gabriel Wortman, the shooter in last year’s Nova Scotia massacre, who possessed police clothing and a mock RCMP cruiser.

The Manitoba investigation started June 7 when Wildman’s neighbour, Clifford Joseph, 40, was reported missing. Later that day, his vehicle, a Ford Ranger, was found abandoned in another rural area.

The sprawling St. Clements municipality consists mostly of farmland. The only businesses in the immediate vicinity of Wildman’s property are a grocery store and an automotive and heavy equipment repair shop. Not far away is Gull Lake, which boasts cottages and seasonal residents.

Locals say Joseph — who had previously held jobs as a roofer, fisher and construction labourer, according to court records — had recently moved into the rental property with a girlfriend.

On Friday, RCMP investigators deemed Joseph’s disappearance to be suspicious and Wildman became a “person of interest.” That same day, police recovered Wildman’s vehicle and, after obtaining a search warrant, found the police paraphernalia inside. Investigators said it was unclear if Wildman had access to additional police-related clothing or equipment.

On Monday, RCMP declared Wildman a suspect in the homicide of Joseph.

According to the Winnipeg Free Press, the person who had lived in the rental property prior to Joseph — Vernon Otto, 66 — went missing on May 30, 2018, and has never been found.

Otto’s burned out Chevy Silverado pickup truck was found a short distance away and his disappearance was also deemed suspicious.

Otto’s brother, Ernie Otto, told the Star Wednesday the family has not received any updates from police but are watching the developments closely.

“It’s still a mystery to us,” the brother said.

“It could be connected but we have no concrete evidence.”

Ernie Otto and another area resident said Wildman was known to buy used vehicles and resell them or their parts.

He didn’t know much more about Wildman other than that he lived with his father until his father passed away and that he owned a dog.

Not knowing what happened to his brother after all these years has been difficult, he said.

“How did he actually go missing? What was his last minutes? What did he go through? It’s not fun, I’ll tell you.”

On Wednesday afternoon, RCMP announced a man believed to be Wildman had been spotted as recently as Tuesday in the area of Lockport, Man., about 30 kilometres north of Winnipeg. The man was seen driving a grey 2020 Chevy Equinox and was heading east on Highway 44.

RCMP also released images from surveillance cameras appearing to show Wildman at a Lowe’s home improvement store in Winnipeg on Friday night. The footage shows the same man getting into a cab and being dropped off at the Winnipeg International Airport, where he goes to a car rental agency and picks up a 2020 Chevy Equinox.

Court records show Wildman has a previous conviction for forgery in 2018 and another for impaired driving in 2013.

At his sentencing hearing for impaired driving, court heard Wildman suffered from a neurological disorder that affected his speech and that he earned money repairing and selling used cars.

A few weeks ago, firefighters responded to Wildman’s property on Road 94N near the community of Stead to find his home and a nearby garage fully engulfed. The fire also consumed 48 out of 56 vehicles parked in Wildman’s expansive yard, local fire Chief Mark Sinclair told the Star.

“Due to their closeness to each other, the temperature of the day and wind conditions, they just continued to ignite,” he said.

The cause of the fire at the time was classified as “undetermined,” he said.

Area residents, meanwhile, say they are staying vigilant, acknowledging they’re a bit spooked by the large police presence.

“Being extra cautious and keeping doors locked,” said one resident, who requested anonymity for safety reasons.

“We’re a very small community. Usually we’re pretty trusting.”

Another resident, who also asked not to be identified, compared the last few days to living in the “Twilight Zone.”

“I know a lot of people are hoping that he’s not going to feel cornered and feel desperate and it will end well.”

With files from the Winnipeg Free Press and The Canadian Press

Douglas Quan is a Vancouver-based reporter for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @dougquan