'It's just terrible': Manitoba community devastated by death

A 29-year-old man is facing five counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of five members of his family over the weekend, Manitoba RCMP say.

Mayor of Karman, Man. The community of 3,000 people is said to be devastated to hear of the five deaths over the weekend.

Manitoba RCMP say the separate but related incidents include the deaths of three children.

“(Carman) is very quiet,” Mayor Brent Owen told 680 CJOB. Start. “It's sad. We do not expect this to happen in our society. It's just horrible.”

The investigation began Sunday when police said a woman was found dead in a ditch outside Carman – about an hour southwest of Winnipeg.

That same day, 70 kilometers to the north, in the rural municipality of Cartier, officers were called to a burning car, and a witness learned that three children had been taken from it.

The children were pronounced dead and RCMP arrested a 29-year-old man at the scene, but they have not yet clarified his relationship to the dead or what charges he will face.

Further investigation led officers to a home in Carman where they found the body of another woman inside.

It's a trend now

• Are you ready for spring? When does summer time start in Canada in 2024

• “Grey divorce” is becoming more common in Canada. Why bother?

Carman's mayor said Monday that he expects police to release more details about the investigation and the victims, and that the tight-knit community will try to come to terms with the tragedy together.

“We all come together as a community to do things for each other, to make our community better,” he said.

“My heart goes out to all my relatives, families, neighbors…if these kids are in the school system, everyone needs to be given some kind of counseling. (I'm) thankful to the first responders… what they're doing is incredible, and trying to piece it together must be terrifying.”

Randy McFarland, who lives in the community, says he was one of the first to notice police in his neighborhood.

“After dark, everything started to show up, trucks and all. he said.

McFarland said the whole situation took him by surprise and he never expected something like this to happen so close to home.

With Canadian Press files

© 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.