Update - Portage la Prairie RCMP requesting public assistance in identifying homicide victim and potential witnesses

July 17, 2020
Portage la Prairie, Manitoba

News release

The Manitoba RCMP would like to thank the public and the media for their incredible response to our plea for assistance in the Portage la Prairie homicide investigation.

Following the release of the additional information on July 15, 2020, over 250 tips were received through the Major Crime Services tip line, social media messages, and through Crime Stoppers.

Major Crime Services investigators are now working through every tip to determine if it can help move the investigation forward.

"Over 250 tips in less than 48 hours is remarkable and speaks to the important role of the community and media in these difficult investigations", said Superintendent Michael Koppang, Officer in Charge of Major Crime Services, Manitoba RCMP. "There's a lot of work ahead to get through all of the submitted tips but we are confident that some of the information provided will be of great assistance to our investigators."

The Manitoba RCMP is no longer requesting the public to submit tips on the identities of the four individuals who were seen on surveillance video captured at 4:00 am at a convenience store in Portage la Prairie.

Investigators are also following-up on information received in efforts to identify the victim.

We will continue to provide regular updates as the investigation progresses.


On June 24, 2020, at approximately 9:30 pm, RCMP responded to a report of found human remains near Baker Street, in Portage la Prairie. Investigators with Major Crimes Services and Forensic Identification Services attended the scene and worked with the Medical Examiner's Office to determine that it was a homicide.

A thorough review of all reported missing persons within Manitoba and Canada was undertaken and no reports matched the description of the victim.

On Friday, July 10, 2020, a description of the victim and a plea for information about his identity was released. Multiple tips from the public were received over the past 5 days but the identity of the victim remains unknown. However, based on some new information, it is now believed that the male is somehow associated to Winnipeg. He may have been residing in Winnipeg or traveling through the city around the time when he was murdered.

The Manitoba RCMP is once again asking for people to come forward with information about this victim.

He is described as:

  • Male
  • Between the ages of 20 – 40
  • 5'7" – 6'2" in height
  • Has scoliosis of the spine (curvature of the spine)
  • Light brown hair, possibly medium length
  • Was possibly residing in Winnipeg or travelling through the area

Additional developments

Based on extensive investigative work, officers with Major Crime Services now believe that the victim's body was placed near Baker Street in Portage la Prairie on June 20, 2020, sometime between 3:00 am – 5:00 am. This new timeline is a significant development and we are asking anyone who was driving near Baker Street or who resides close to the area and may have seen something suspicious in the early morning hours of June 20, 2020, to contact the tip line at 431-489-8551.

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Contact information

Cpl. Julie Courchaine, Media Relations Officer
RCMP Media Relations
204-983-8497
Media.Relations.RCMP.Manitoba@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/mb
Twitter @rcmpmb | @GRCManitoba
http://www.facebook.com/rcmpmb | https://www.facebook.com/GRCManitoba

File number: 2020-843241

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