Detective Sergeant Jason Rybak briefs media on December 28th in connection to the city's 15th homicide. - Photo by Adam Riley
Thunder Bay Police have now released the identity of the city’s latest murder victim.
21 year old Ivan Achneepineskum, from Marten Falls, was found on December 24th in a room at the Kingsway Inn in the city’s southside, marking the 15th homicide of 2022.
Spokesperson Detective Sergeant Jason Rybak says at this point they are not releasing any names of suspects or persons of interest.
“Lots of video we’re reviewing, lots of people. Obviously the Kingsway is a full motel most days, so you can imagine there is lots of traffic over those days that we are trying to identify people, talk to people. So I don’t want to come out and say we have one, two, three persons of interest until we can really narrow that focus down.”
Rybak adds there were no local delays from investigators between the initial discovery of Achneepineskum, and the confirmation his death was that of murder four days later.
He notes video evidence gathering took some time due to holiday closures of businesses in the area and in some cases warrants were required.
“With the Coroner’s office, with the Crown’s office we have a really good working relationship with Crown John Laluk in town here. The judicial process, when its closed, we have to use the tele-warrant centre. We’re essentially relying on a Justice of the Peace potentially in southern Ontario.”
Police are continuing with their investigation surrounding Achneepineskum’s murder, a post-mortem has been scheduled to take place in Toronto.
Anyone with information that could assist investigators is asked to contact Thunder Bay Police or Crime Stoppers.
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