Saskatchewan on track for another record homicide year: RCMP

RCMP officers in Saskatchewan have responded to seven homicides over the past 30 days, and the Mounties say numbers like that are no longer out of the ordinary.

Joshua Graham, officer in charge of Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes, issued a statement following a weekend that saw three homicides around Saskatchewan in as many days.

“A cluster of homicides like Saskatchewan experienced this weekend is unfortunately no longer an anomaly,” Graham’s statement read.

If the numbers continue to grow at their current rate, Graham said the province is likely to “experience another record number of homicides for the fourth consecutive year.”

The number of homicide cases in the province is straining police resources and taking a toll on the officers involved, Graham noted.

So far in 2023, the RCMP has investigated 15 homicide cases. That’s up from 12 in the same period in 2022, and 11 in 2021.

“Charges have been laid in 13 of the 15 homicides reported in 2023,” the RCMP said in a statement.

“Investigators laid charges in seven homicides within the first 24 hours of investigation, and within the first week of investigation on four additional homicides. In total, 17 people — 12 adults and five youth – have been charged in relation to a 2023 homicide.”

No charges have been laid in connection with the death of Kaylee Crookedneck in North Battleford on June 16, the RCMP said, or in connection with the death of Dalton Linklater in Pelican Narrows on Jan. 11.