Seven homicides for Battlefords RCMP in 2023, most of any Sask. detachment

The first happened in July when RCMP charged two women with manslaughter in the death of Kaylee Crookedneck. Fast forward to August when James Barbaric was found deceased in a vacant home. Then in September Nitanas Scarlett’s remains were found just outside the city. No one has been charged in Barbaric’s or Scarlett’s deaths at this time.

What put the Battlefords detachment at the top of the list for most homicides were the deaths that happened in the rural areas. There were four, happening in the Town of Battleford, Moosomin First Nation, the Village of Meota, and the Poundmaker Cree Nation.

Gilbert said this was a bit surprising, but it’s practically impossible to know why there were more murders in 2023 than in previous years.

“I’m sure there are multiple reasons as to why it may be happening,” he said.

While he couldn’t speak about the specifics of each death, Gilbert said there was one trend he was noticing quite a bit in 2023.

“I do know that firearm offenses have gone up a bit in the rural area, we have seen a bit of a rise in the city as well although not nearing the [previous] peak,” he said.

Despite the high number of homicides, Gilbert explained there were some positives to take away from the year.

This includes the 9 p.m. routine they started with the City of North Battleford, reminding residents to check their vehicles at that time to ensure they’re locked and that any valuables are taken out or hidden. Gilbert said this has helped decrease the overall number of vehicle thefts in the area.

He also touched on the “You Etch It. We Catch It” program where local businesses were encouraged to engrave the last 8 digits of a vehicle’s identification number onto its catalytic converter to make it harder for criminals to sell them. Since it was launched, the Battlefords haven’t had one catalytic converter stolen.

“[Thefts] are down across the province so I can’t say for sure that was part of it,” joked Gilbert.

Meanwhile, Central and Northern Saskatchewan accounted for the majority of the other 23 homicides in 2023.

Four were investigated by Prince Albert RCMP, three by La Ronge RCMP, while the Pelican Narrows and Waskesiu RCMP detachments each had two. There were also homicides around Buffalo Narrows, Spiritwood, Deschambault Lake, Big River, Meadow Lake, and Cut Knife.

The other six were in the southern part of the province.

Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow

by Jaryn Vecchio

Seven homicides for Battlefords RCMP in 2023, most of any Sask. detachment

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