Regina triple homicide autopsies underway
Missing family were refugees from Burma
Last Updated: Monday, August 9, 2010 | 4:32 PM CST
CBC News
Police were at the scene of a triple homicide at a Regina townhouse on Friday. (CBC)Autopsies were being conducted Monday on the bodies of a man, woman and small child found decomposing in a north end Regina home late last week.
It's the latest development in what Regina police are calling a triple homicide.
The bodies were discovered Friday inside a townhouse in a complex at 323 Oakview Drive.
Acting on neighbours' concerns, the townhouse's property manager went to the home and called police.
Investigators have previously said it was too early to say if it is a case of murder-suicide, but added they haven't ruled out that possibility.
Police have not revealed how they believe the people died, but said they were not shot to death.
'There are so many questions … why did this happen, who did it?'—Wayne Wyatt
While police have not released the victims' identities, they do say the people who lived in the apartment are currently unaccounted for.
CBC has learned that the missing people were a family who were part of a community of refugees from Burma, also known as Myanmar.
The man worked at a local business called Crown Shed and Recycling, according to company president Jack Shaw.
Shaw said the well-mannered man was a valued employee who failed to turn up for work after his vacation ended last Tuesday.
"He was on holidays, and didn't return after his holidays were over," Shaw said. "We didn't worry too much about it on the Tuesday, and then Wednesday we started to wonder where he was.
"We started phoning, but we didn't pressure too hard. We assumed he abandoned his job or whatever," Shaw said.
Shaw said police asked him to provide them with the man's fingerprints in hopes of helping them make a positive identification.
Officials expected to finish the autopsies by Tuesday.
Church congregation devastated
The people in the missing family were being hosted and educated about urban life by members of Regina's First Baptist Church.
Wayne Wyatt, a member of the church congregation, said the family came to Canada after living in a rural setting in their home country.
Wyatt said adjusting to city life was "very overwhelming" for the family when they first arrived.
People at the church are confused and saddened, he said.
"There are so many questions … why did this happen, who did it?
"How did it happen?," Wyatt said.
"People don't know what to think yet."
