Officers have been on site at a Point Douglas home in Winnipeg for two days. CTV News has learned the investigation is part of Project Devote, a joint task force involving both Winnipeg police and RCMP that is focused on cases involving missing and murdered women in Manitoba.
Officers were still on scene at the Lorne Avenue home early Thursday morning. They first arrived on Tuesday morning. On Wednesday, the identification unit arrived on scene.
Neighbours said officers are focused on a main floor suite and a basement suite, which CTV News is told has been vacant for months, but three sisters who were sex trade workers previously lived in one of the apartments.
Winnipeg police said they’re assisting RCMP on the case, but wouldn’t comment further.
RCMP would only say Wednesday that the matter is a criminal investigation.
CTV News has uncovered information that there might be a connection to a B.C. case.
Jennifer McPherson disappeared from her home on Hanson Island a week ago. The 41-year-old’s body was later found. Her 37-year-old husband Traigo Andretti faces a charge for second-degree murder.
CTV News is told the couple lived in Winnipeg five years ago and police received information they should look into Andretti’s past. It’s not yet clear if he once lived in the Point Douglas home being investigated, but CTV News is told Andretti may also have ties to a case involving a missing Manitoba woman.
RCMP would only say Wednesday that a criminal investigation involving a Manitoba file is underway at the Point Douglas home and that more information will be released at a later date.
- with a report from Caroline Barghout
