Homicide investigation underway, linked to Steinbach

Major Crime Services in Manitoba is investigating a homicide, with a Steinbach connection.

On Saturday at 1:40 pm, Steinbach RCMP received a call indicating that a homicide had occurred. Officers responded to a residence along Creekside Drive in Steinbach to investigate. Upon arrival, the suspect had already fled in his vehicle.

Further investigation led officers to determine that the deceased victim was in the fleeing suspect's vehicle.

Officers from multiple detachments, including Steinbach, Stonewall, Sprague and Headingley, as well as officers from Traffic Services began an intensive search for the suspect. Winnipeg Police Service also assisted as the suspect's residence was within the city.

RCMP officers located the vehicle near La Broquerie and conducted a traffic stop along Highway 52, west of the town. During the arrest, the suspect was taken safely into custody, though his vehicle caught on fire.

Once the fire was extinguished by the local fire department, the vehicle was searched but the victim's body was not located.

Information was later obtained that directed officers to a remote ATV trail in the rural area south of Woodridge, where the body of a 20-year-old female from Winnipeg was located.

Police say the suspect and victim were known to each other.

On Sunday, 20-year-old Josh Benoit from Winnipeg was charged with 1st degree murder. He has been remanded into custody and scheduled to appear in court in Winnipeg on Monday.

Major Crime Services and Forensic Identification Services continue to investigate and are attempting to determine where the homicide occurred.