Residents of a rural Manitoba town are shaken by the murders of two people.
The body of an 81-year-old woman was found on Jan. 19 at a home in the Ethelbert community, located about 225 kilometres north of Brandon. While investigating her death, RCMP also found a 50-year-old man’s body on property grounds at the home.
Residents said the people who lived in the home were Elsie Steppa and Harry Jones.
People in the community describe the man as an environmentalist and very religious. They say the elderly woman kept to herself.
RCMP have not yet confirmed the identities of the victims. They also won't say if there are any suspects or whether arrests have been made.
Ethelbert resident Barb Maksymetz said she's frightened.
“Because you never know who comes to your door, like, are these the people that did this and are they doing a random thing? There's somebody out there that did this to them, you know," she said.
Ethelbert Mayor Mitch Michaluk said there has never been a murder in his community, let alone two at a time.
He also believes the police may not be communicating enough information. "When did this happen?” he asked. “We're not being told whether it was two weeks back or three or when (these homicides) occurred."
Autopsies on both victims have been completed, said police.
The home has since been boarded up and investigators have left the crime scene. Officers are now going door-to-door asking people for information.
Anyone with information in the case is asked to call Dauphin RCMP at 204-622-5050 or their local police. People can also call Manitoba Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
