Family of slain man pleads for help

The family of a slain Winnipeg man is pleading for witnesses to step forward, echoing a police request for public assistance to identify two persons of interest.

“If (the public) knows any info, just get it out there,” said Tanya Chartrand, whose younger brother, Charles Danny Chartrand, was killed on Feb. 3.

“Help us to get over our grief.”

Charles, 43, died in hospital after being stabbed at a home on the 200 block of Fountain Street at about 3:15 a.m., the Winnipeg Police Service said.

On Thursday, investigators shared more details and released security images related to the slaying. Police believe two people who were caught on security cameras have “valuable information” that would help the investigation. They ask anyone with information about them to come forward.

Tanya, who lives in Quebec, said she had lost contact with her brother but remembers him as caring and outgoing. He leaves behind two children; a boy and a teenage girl, she said.

The release of security photos has given hope to the family, who has struggled to come to grips with the violent loss of their loved one, she said.

“For this to happen to my own brother is hard, very, very hard,” she said. “We have had a lot of loss in our family… but nothing like this has ever happened.”

“We are all trying to cope.”

Tanya remains in contact with homicide investigators.

“It’s very important that people come forward,” WPS Cons. Claude Chancy said about the plea for public assistance. “Even if they don’t think it’s important, they can provide valuable information and, in many instances, can break open an investigation.”

In addition to helping identify and apprehend suspects, information from the public can help police secure convictions by providing evidence to corroborate times, locations and events, he said.

Tips often result from a variety of sources, including witness testimony and video footage from cellphones, security cameras or vehicle dash cameras, he said.

Police said Thursday Chartrand had been stabbed.

Chancy noted it is not uncommon for police to withhold details of an incident until investigators are sure releasing certain information will not hamper the investigation or compromise the court process.

“Every incident is different, so it is looked at very carefully and methodically,” he said.

Police ask anyone with information about either case to contact the homicide unit at 204-986-6508, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477 (TIPS) or winnipegcrimestoppers.org.

“Every tip is investigated and is followed up,” Chancy said.

tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca