‘She has not been forgotten’: RCMP make arrest in killing of woman 17 years ago

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WINNIPEG — Police stated Monday advances in DNA know-how and an intensive investigation helped within the arrest of a Vancouver man within the killing of a Manitoba girl practically 17 years in the past.

Kevin Queau, a 42-year-old from Vancouver, has been charged with second-degree homicide within the loss of life of Crystal Shannon Saunders, whose physique was present in 2007.

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“Whereas investigators labored tirelessly and introduced the investigation to a profitable conclusion, on the finish of the day this doesn’t carry again Crystal,” Supt. Rob Lasson with RCMP main crime providers stated Monday.

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“Crystal was a mom. She was a daughter and a pal to many who needlessly misplaced her life to violent crime.”

Saunders was 24 when she was final seen in Winnipeg on April 18, 2007. An off-duty RCMP officer discovered her the subsequent morning close to St. Ambroise, some 80 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, when he was checking his traplines within the space.

Lasson described Saunders as somebody who was well-liked and pleasant. He additionally stated she struggled and was exploited.

“Sadly, Crystal was a weak individual and somebody took benefit of that,” stated Lasson.

An unknown man’s DNA was discovered on Saunders’ stays. But it surely was thought-about “inadequate” on the time to be positioned within the nationwide DNA databank, so the crime was unsolved for years.

Lasson stated police caught a break in 2014, when developments in know-how discovered a hyperlink to the DNA pattern.

Queau had been convicted of earlier offences exterior of Manitoba.

“We’ve got to repeatedly reassess and resubmit our DNA profiles till it meets a threshold that’s substantive sufficient for the lab to be confirmed to say it’s a match … and generally that may take years,” stated Lasson.

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He added the investigation got here collectively prior to now 14 months after discussions with Manitoba prosecutors.

Investigators needed to depend on some “very advanced investigative strategies” to collect proof past the DNA pattern, stated Lasson. He didn’t elaborate on the strategies.

“That gave us the proof to place us over the sting, to safe a cost,” he stated.

Queau is initially from Winnipeg and went to highschool within the Manitoba capital however has additionally hung out in Ontario and throughout Western Canada, RCMP stated. He was arrested with out incident within the Vancouver space on the weekend.

Police stated there is no such thing as a proof to counsel he’s a suspect in some other murder, however they’re persevering with to look at any potential connections between Queau and different unsolved crimes.

Households Minister Nahanni Fontaine provided her power to the Saunders household, who didn’t attend the RCMP information convention saying the arrest.

“It’s going to have a ripple impact in the neighborhood as effectively in that this retraumatizes and retriggers lacking and murdered Indigenous girls, women and two-spirit households, not solely right here in Manitoba, however definitely throughout the nation,” Fontaine stated.

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Anita Campbell, a spokeswoman for the Manitoba Metis Federation affiliate group Infinity Girls Secretariat, stated the group is getting ready to supply assist to the girl’s household. Earlier studies advised Saunders was from Sagkeeng Anicinabe Nation, however police clarified Monday that her household identifies as Metis.

“We wrestle with nonetheless figuring out who a few of these (lacking and murdered) individuals are, as a result of they’re recognized as Indigenous and never nation-focused,” stated Campbell.

“What we’re making an attempt to do is make it possible for there are ongoing helps after, as a result of it doesn’t cease proper now.”

Lasson stated Saunders’ mom was overwhelmed with unhappiness and appreciation after investigators advised of the arrest.

“We sincerely hope that the arrest of Kevin Queau and the second-degree homicide cost he now faces, provides some solace to those that knew and liked her,” he stated.

“She has not been forgotten, nor will she ever be.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed on Jan. 29, 2024.

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