Young father charged with five counts of murder – Winnipeg Free Press

A man has been charged with five counts of first-degree murder, killing his three young children, his common-law wife and his nephew.

Ryan Howard Manoakeisik, 29, of Carman, was charged Monday with three shootings in southern Manitoba on Sunday.

Friends identified the five victims as 30-year-old Amanda Clearwater, her children Bethany, 6, Jayven, 4, and two-and-a-half-month-old Isabella, with Manoakisik, and Clearwater's 17-year-old niece. , Maya Gratton.

“Our thoughts are with the families and friends who have been affected by this unimaginable tragedy,” said Insp. Tim Arsenault said at an RCMP press conference Monday afternoon.

“Young, innocent lives were senselessly taken yesterday, and we mourn with all Manitobans.”

The victims are remembered as caring and loving people.

“The biggest question I have is why would they? They didn't deserve this,” said a family friend who asked not to be named. “They didn't harm anyone at all. It's very sad, very scary.

“They were wonderful people. Amanda was someone who would help you in any way she could. His children were everything to him.”

RCMP were initially dispatched to the ditch near Highway 3 between Carman and Winkler at 7:30 a.m. Sunday morning while responding to a suspected hit-and-run incident. They found Clearwater dead in a ditch.

“Initial reports say that the witness helped to get three small children out of the burning car. However, upon speaking with the witness, this is no longer accurate,” the RCMP said in a press release Monday. “Additional information revealed that the accused took the children from the vehicle.”

Police were called to a vehicle on fire on Provincial Road 248 near St. Eustatius at 10 a.m.

Three small children died at the scene. The suspect was detained near the vehicle.

RCMP then went to the Carman home where Mya's body was found.

Court records show Manoakeesik has a limited criminal record, with one conviction in 2019 for criminal damage to property under $5,000, for which he was sentenced to 18 months of supervised probation.

At the time of his arrest on Sunday, he was arraigned on two counts of impaired driving causing bodily harm in connection with the September 11, 2021, incident.

Court records show he received a summons on Jan. 12, 2022, after he failed to appear in court. A warrant for his arrest was issued on May 24, 2023.

Court records show he appeared in a justice of the peace on July 14 and spent at least four days in jail before being released on July 18.

The examination of the injured began today and will continue on Tuesday.

“These are dark times in Manitoba,” said Premier Wab Kinew, who attended a press conference with NDP cabinet ministers.

The mountains will no longer be on the scene of the two highways, but in Carman's home. Friends said Clearwater, her children, Maya, and the suspect lived together in the home. The city is located 85 kilometers southwest of Winnipeg.

They said Clearwater stayed home to care for the children while Maya was a student at Carman College.

“She devoted all her time to her children,” a family friend said of Clearwater. “Miya, he was still a child.

“Bethany was well-liked in elementary school. He was the sweetest boy. And so did Jayven. He was your four-year-old boy.'

Jayden Yackel, who met Maya in high school, said her friend helped care for the Clearwater children.

“She was the funniest and most caring person you could ever meet,” Yakkel said of Mya. “He promised to protect these little boys until his last breath, and that's exactly what he did.

“I looked up to Amanda as one of my aunts. She was loving and caring, and just a really strong woman. “He cared deeply about every child that walked through his door.”

The mood in Carman was somber Monday as forensic experts worked at the home where one of the victims was found.

“This is the second year we've lived here, and in the summer we'd see the kids playing in the yard and stuff,” said Daniel Schmitt, who lives in the alley behind the house.

“It's a very scary feeling, you don't know what's going on in your neighbor's house. You would never expect it. It's an absolute shock to the city.”

As news of the incident began to spread in Carman, he witnessed residents of the neighborhood walk past the house in groups of twos and threes — some stopping briefly with their heads bowed in prayer or in tears behind pieces of police tape.

Several people came to knock on her door Sunday evening, and others in the neighborhood came to check on each other and offer support, Schmitt said. He stayed home from work Monday to spend time with his wife and one-year-old daughter; he believes other people in the community have done the same.

A GoFundMe page that identified the five people was shut down Monday after collecting nearly $5,500 in donations to help with funeral and other expenses.

— With files from Tyler Searle and Dean Pritchard

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