In January, 2020, Richard Netmaker was found dead just four days after being kidnapped. (photo submitted/RCMP)

By Nigel Maxwell

Court proceedings

Another guilty plea in Netmaker death case

Jun 16, 2023 | 1:00 PM

A man charged in connection to the death of a man near Big River First Nation has changed his plea and is now awaiting sentencing.

Roderick Dreaver, 27, has entered guilty pleas to criminal negligence causing death and forcible confinement. Not guilty pleas had initially been entered last year and a trial was originally scheduled to take place on Thursday at Whitefish court.

Sentencing has now been scheduled to take place Aug. 17.

On Jan. 6, 2020, Big River RCMP responded to a complaint that 36-year-old Richard Netmaker had been abducted from his residence on Big River First Nation and assaulted.

Police began searching for Netmaker and the investigation determined he was last seen in an isolated area northwest of the reserve.

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Four days later, Netmaker was found deceased in a rural area near Pekakumew Lake.

Roderick Dreaver was subsequently one of four people charged in the case.

One of the co-accused, Karlyne Morin, was sentenced in Dec. 2021. A guilty plea was entered to a single charge of criminal negligence causing death.

According to the statement of facts read in court, four people went to the house and assaulted Netmaker with bats and a machete. He was placed into a truck, with Morin behind the wheel, and driven approximately eight km.

Morin was the one who later showed police where Netmaker had been left. Through their investigation, police learned Netmaker walked two km in freezing temperatures before succumbing to the elements. The nearest house was four km away.

An autopsy report also showed Netmaker had a fractured rib and no defensive-type wounds.

For her involvement, Morin received a 2.5-year sentence but was given 204 days credit for time in remand. A weapons prohibition was also ordered for a period of 10 years.

While the specific reason for the assault remains unclear there was a suggestion in court that Morin had at one time been sexually assaulted by Netmaker. Dreaver had been Morin’s boyfriend at the time of the assault.

In May 2012, Saskatoon Police issued a special advisory concerning Netmaker’s decision to live in the city after being released from custody. He was described as a high-risk violent sex offender with a history of committing violent sexual offences against female acquaintances and with adults he came into contact with.

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell