REGINA — There are still not a lot of details that the RCMP are able to share publicly with respect to Wednesday’s triple homicide in the Turtleford area and elsewhere.
What is being reported is that Madison Paddy-Jimmy, 25, from Thunderchild First Nation, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Tonio Cantell, 28, from Island Lake First Nation. Paddy-Jimmy appeared in North Battleford provincial court on Nov. 7 by telephone and is due back in Lloydminster Provincial Court at 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 13. Two other victims, one of them a 46-year old man, have not been identified.
Insp. Ashley St. Germaine, Senior Investigative Officer with the RCMP Major Crimes Branch provided an update at F Division on Friday. She said she was very limited in what she could share, but these are the facts that she was able to provide:
“In the first week of November, our Major Crimes Teams, Provincial General Investigation Sections, supported by Forensic Identification Section, and detachments across the province, have travelled to four different communities to investigate the suspicious deaths of six people …
“On Nov. 2nd, there was a homicide in La Ronge. The investigation resulted in a second-degree murder charge.
“On Nov. 5, a triple homicide occurred in Turtleford. The investigation is ongoing and one individual has been charged in relation to the death of one person. Investigators are still determining the circumstances of the events leading to the death of the other two people. We cannot confirm whether additional charges will be laid.
“Later that same day, Nipawin RCMP responded to a wellness check. Officers located a deceased person. The investigation has led to one male being charged with second-degree murder.
“On Nov. 6 there was a report of an injured person in Whitewood who later died and their death is considered suspicious. There is no risk to public safety in relation to this investigation and we are hoping to share more information about that later today.”
St. Germaine acknowledged the work of their investigation team, who are asked daily to “take on some of the most challenging and complex investigations imaginable.”
She also said these investigations “are very much active and ongoing with court processes to come and I'm very limited in the information I can share.”
When pressed for details about the individuals involved, as well as any weapons or specifics about the incidents, including what led up to them, St. Germaine repeatedly said she “can't confirm any details besides what I've already provided.”
As for why the other two victims in the Turtleford case are not being identified, St. Germaine pointed to the need to respect the Privacy Act, plus they are not seeking information from the public with respect to their identity at this time. If charges are laid in relation to them, their names will be made public at that point.
As for the impact this sort of investigation has on RCMP resources and officers, St. Germaine said that “generally speaking, our investigators treat every homicide with the utmost integrity, with, like I said, the ultimate goal being to hold those who were responsible for the deaths accountable in court.
“Attending one homicide and investigating that is an honour that our investigators take very deeply and it takes a toll on them, it takes a toll on our teams across the province, especially when these clusters happen. We've had clusters of homicides occur. In 2024, we had four different homicide clusters occur. Our investigators are specially trained and dedicated to the job and they get the work done each and every time.”
