Deaths in Manitoba: First-degree murder charges in 5 deaths

A 29-year-old Manitoba man has been charged with five counts of first-degree murder after allegedly killing five family members, including their three children, in and around Carman on Sunday.

RCMP say a 30-year-old woman who lived with the suspect was found dead on Highway 3 early Sunday morning.

After that, police officers were called to a burning car on Highway 248. There were three children in the car – a six-year-old girl, a four-year-old boy and a two-and-a-half-month-old girl. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators initially reported that a witness had pulled the children out of the car, but later learned that the father had taken them out.

The investigation led police to a home in Carman, where another woman was found dead. Police said it was the family's 17-year-old nephew.

Police said all the victims lived together in Karman.

RCMP have charged 29-year-old Ryan Manoakisik with five counts of first-degree murder. RCMP are continuing to investigate.

The charges in court have not been proven.

This is a breaking news update. Original story below.

Manitoba RCMP are ready to provide an update on suspicious deaths reported over the weekend.

Mounties will hold a press conference from RCMP headquarters at 2 p.m. CTV News Winnipeg will cover the trial live.

Officers are set to release more information about the investigation into five suspicious deaths — three children and two women — in southwestern Manitoba.

According to a preliminary police report, the investigation began around 7:30 a.m. Sunday when officers responded to a report of a hit-and-run on Highway 3 southwest of Manitoba.

The mountains arrived to find a woman's body in a nearby ditch. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The incident continued later that morning, when RCMP were called to a vehicle on fire on RM 248 in Cartier. While officers were en route, a witness pulled three small children from the burning vehicle.

All three children were found dead at the scene.

The suspect was arrested at the scene of the car fire.

Yard in Karman, Man. On February 12, 2024, police tape surrounded the area. (Source: Joseph Bernacki/CTV News Winnipeg)

Officers continued their investigation, which led them to a home in Carman, where they found the body of another woman.

The 29-year-old suspect is in custody and is not a threat to the public. No charges have been filed.

Police said the suspect and the victims knew each other. All five deaths are considered suspicious. RCMP have not released the identity of the suspect or the victim.

They say that all three events are connected.

“It's just devastating”

Carman Mayor Brent Owen said the weekend's tragic events left the community devastated.

“It was terrible news. I can't imagine how something like this could happen in our small community,” Owen told CTV News Winnipeg on Monday.

The mayor says that nothing like this has ever happened in the small town and people are coming together to support each other.

“It's just devastating. As a parent, it's unimaginable,” Owen said.

“We're a small community and we're a proud community. We will hold a rally. We will get through this. I hope there will be a lot of support for everyone involved.”

In a statement to CTV News Winnipeg Monday afternoon, Terri Osiowie, head of the Prairie Rose School Division, which represents the two schools in Carman, said her deepest sympathies go out to all those affected.

“Our school division has established crisis response teams at Carman College and Ecole Carman Elementary School to support our students and staff,” he said.

“Our department is committed to supporting students, staff and the community during the many difficult times this tragedy has brought upon us.”

This is an evolving story. Full details to come.

Carman Mayor Brent Owen is pictured in an interview with CTV News Winnipeg on February 12, 2024.

– CTV with files from Kayla Rosen and Joseph Bernacki