The search for an Oxford House woman who went missing in Winnipeg more than seven months ago has come to a tragic end.
Winnipeg police have arrested a man in connection with the disappearance of Christine Wood and charged him with second-degree murder.
Wood hasn’t been seen since the evening of Aug. 19, 2016 when she was at the Days Inn on Berry Street where she was staying with her family. They had come to Winnipeg from Oxford House First Nation for a medical appointment and Wood, who was 21 at the time, went out for a night with friends.
She never returned. Calls and texts went unanswered.
"It's tough. It's really hard," Melinda Wood, Christine's mother, told CTV News on Saturday.
Family, friends and total strangers have searched for Wood and held out hope that she would be found safe.
"I've been all this time telling (Christine’s mother) to stay positive, we're going to find her. This is going to be ok. I was wrong, so that's a bitter pill right there," said James Favel, leader of the Bear Clan Patrol.
Winnipeg police have charged 30-year-old Brett Ronald Overby with Wood’s death.
Overby owns a home on Burrows Avenue that was under investigation by Winnipeg police officers for several days late last month. Police have not released any information about what they were investigating at the house.
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A Winnipeg police vehicle parked in front of the Burrows Avenue home on March 26, 2017.
Favel said about a week ago, Christine's mother Melinda was asked to submit a DNA sample.
Court documents obtained by CTV show on March 23, 2017 Overby was charged with assaulting a woman between January 2011 and January 2017. He was released on a $2,000 recognizance. The charges have not been proven in court.
WPS said they will release more information at a news conference on Monday.
Favel said despite the tragic outcome in this case, the Bear Clan will continue its work searching for missing people. If anything, Wood's murder has strengthened their resolve.
"This is why we do it. That's precisely why we're here, because of these outcomes. We want to see less of them," he said.
A vigil will be held in Christine Wood's honor in her home community of Oxford House.
With files from Sarah Plowman and Jon Hendricks
