Slain Manitoba family identified in obituary, remembered as beautiful souls

CARMAN, Man. — A mother, her three young children, including a two-month-old daughter, and a teenage family member killed in Manitoba are being remembered as beautiful souls.

An obituary has identified the victims as Amanda Clearwater, her children — Bethany, Jayven, and Isabella Manoakeesick — and her niece Myah-Lee Gratton.

“It is with great sorrow to announce the sudden and tragic death of these innocent lives,” said the obituary from Doyle’s Funeral Home in Carman, southwest of Winnipeg.

Family and friends have also been sharing stories of the family on social media, calling their deaths tragic, unimaginable and a horrible nightmare.

Their bodies were found Sunday at multiple crime scenes in and around the town of Carman.

Clearwater’s common-law partner, who is the children’s father, was arrested the same day.

Ryan Howard Manoakeesick, 29, has been charged with five counts of first-degree murder. RCMP have not identified the victims but said Manoakeesick’s partner was 30, their oldest daughter was six, their son was four, and their baby girl was two months. The woman’s niece was 17.

The couple had been together off and on for at least 12 years. Facebook posts from 2011 show Clearwater calling Manoakeesick her boyfriend and writing that she doesn’t know what she’d do without him. A year later, she posts that her boyfriend had moved to the city and no longer lived next door.

Throughout the years, Clearwater posts about how much she loves Manoakeesick and how she misses him, but also about anger and tears.

In more recent years, Clearwater shared photos of their young children.

Court records show Manoakeesick had a criminal record. He was convicted of mischief to property in 2019 and sentenced to 18 months probation. He was also facing charges for impaired driving from 2021.

His next court appearance for the murder charges is Feb. 23.

RCMP have said autopsies are taking place this week as they continue to investigate how the deaths unfolded.

Police were first called to an area outside Carman, a town of about 3,000 people, early Sunday for a report of a hit-and-run. Clearwater was found lying dead in a ditch.

More than two hours later, and 70 kilometres to the north, officers were called to a report of a burning vehicle. RCMP said Manoakeesick was seen by witnesses pulling the three children from the vehicle.

The children were pronounced dead, and police took Manoakeesick into custody at the scene.

Further investigation led officers to the home in Carman, where they found the body of the 17-year-old girl.

Carman Mayor Brent Owen has said the whole community has been affected by the tragedy.

The family’s obituary offered special thanks to the Carman community “for standing behind our family during this devastating time.”

By Brittany Hobson in Winnipeg and Kelly Geraldine Malone in Saskatoon

The Canadian Press