Two individuals have been officially charged with second-degree murder regarding the tragic shooting incident that resulted in the deaths of a man and a woman in the rural municipality of Victoria Beach earlier this year, as stated by Manitoba RCMP. Nathoniel More-Harrison, aged 31, and Mitchell Johanson, aged 28, were taken into custody in connection with the double homicide of Sly Thibert and Melissa Wilson, announced the police during a news briefing held on a Wednesday afternoon.
The lifeless bodies of Thibert, aged 29, and Wilson, aged 41, were discovered in the Sandy Bay cottage area, situated approximately 100 kilometers north of Winnipeg, during the early hours of June 20. According to RCMP Staff Sgt. Sean Grunewald, the police have reason to believe that the suspects specifically targeted Thibert, leading to Wilson’s unfortunate demise as she was present at his residence when More-Harrison and Johanson arrived. The motive behind these tragic events is still under investigation, as mentioned by Grunewald.
It was revealed that the victims and the two accused individuals were acquaintances who resided in the same vicinity and were familiar with each other, shared Grunewald during the news conference. The unfortunate occurrences have deeply impacted two mourning families, numerous loved ones, and have caused worry among many residents in the Victoria Beach area and the wider province, emphasized Grunewald at the Wednesday press event.
Johanson, hailing from Grand Marais, Manitoba, was apprehended in Abbotsford, British Columbia, on October 7. More-Harrison, who is a resident of the RM of St. Clements in Manitoba, was arrested in the village of New Minas in Nova Scotia on Wednesday morning, according to police reports.
Glenn Thibert, the father of Sly Thibert, expressed minimal comfort upon learning of the arrests made in connection to his son’s tragic death. Despite receiving numerous calls throughout the day urging him to find solace in the developments, Thibert remained steadfast in his sorrow, acknowledging that the arrests would not bring back his son or Melissa.
Glenn shared that he was not taken aback upon learning the identities of those arrested for the murders. Describing his son as a commercial fisherman with a gentle demeanor akin to “a big teddy bear,” Glenn emphasized Sly’s non-violent nature, highlighting his jovial and straightforward personality. He underscored that despite any disagreements, Sly would never resort to physical violence.
Johanson has been remanded in custody and will be returned to Manitoba for a scheduled court appearance, as confirmed by RCMP. More-Harrison is also set to be brought back to Manitoba for legal proceedings.
Grunewald urged any residents possessing information pertinent to the case to get in touch with the RCMP.
