RCMP are following up on multiple tips received after the release of suspect sketches in relation to a homicide on Friday in the Stockholm/Esterhazy area. The woman found injured in the home has been released from the hospital, and the man found dead in the home has been identified as a 34-year-old man from the RM of Fertile Belt. Police are conducting interviews and collecting and analyzing evidence and surveillance footage.

Police responded to a home about 20 kilometres south of Stockholm Friday morning. Investigation has determined the suspects drove a vehicle to the scene and left in it after stealing and setting the homeowner’s vehicle on fire, and three firearms and a significant amount of ammunition were taken from the home.
The descriptions of the suspects are below.

The Saskatchewan RCMP says in a news release there have been several inquiries about emergency alerts. The response is that the decision to issue a civil emergency alert for a dangerous person is situationally based. Not every homicide or serious investigation will result in an emergency alert. With the homicide on February 10th in the Stockholm/Esterhazy area, neither specific suspect information nor vehicle description were available, so it would be challenging what to ask the public what to look for. Officers attended residences in the vicinity of the incident shortly after it occurred to confirm their wellbeing and to notify them about the incident, and then by 8:30 that morning, there was a news release issued and as soon as the suspect sketches were prepared, they were released on Sunday.

Here is the complete RCMP explanation:

The Saskatchewan RCMP’s decision to issue a civil emergency alert for a dangerous person is situationally based. Not every homicide or serious investigation will result in an emergency alert being issued. Specific criteria – like that for an AMBER Alert – are challenging to define, because every situation and investigation is unique and varies greatly. Generally speaking, investigators will consider if there is an imminent ability, intent and means for someone to cause serious/significant bodily harm or death to others. We also must provide instructions for the public to act upon (example: shelter in place). These considerations and discussions are fluid and ongoing during the course of an investigation and unfolding incident. Reassessments occur on an ongoing basis as circumstances change and investigations continue.
When the February 10, 2023 homicide occurred in the Stockholm/Esterhazy area, specific suspect information nor vehicle descriptions were available. Given these factors, we have to consider: where would an emergency alert be issued and what would we ask the public to look for? Police officers physically attended individual residences in the vicinity of this incident shortly after it occurred to confirm the wellbeing of others in the area and notify them about the incident. A media release was issued publicly at 8:23 a.m. February 10. As soon as the suspect sketches were prepared, they were released to our news partners and shared with the public on February 12.
We continue to encourage the public to report information about this incident to police by calling 310-RCMP, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 or call 911 in an emergency.

Suspect information

Suspect #1:
– Male, believed to be in his 20’s
– Approximately 6′ 2″ tall
– 180-200 pounds, slender build
– Piercing/scar or absence of hair on left eyebrow
– May have a lower stomach tattoo
– Face was covered by a thin neck warmer/tube pulled up
– Wearing a black beanie-style head covering/hat
– Dark-coloured Carhartt/work-style jacket with a lighter-coloured “sherpa” style liner

Suspect #2:
– Male, believed to be older than suspects #1 and #3
– Approximately 5′ 11″
– Approximately 210 pounds
– Face was covered by black balaclava
– Sparsely-haired moustache visible
Tattoos:
– Small, pointed tattoo near the corner of left eye (possibly a teardrop or arrow)
– Top of arched tattoo partially visible under facial covering near the top of the left cheekbone, under the left eye

Suspect #3:
– Male
– Shorter than suspects #1 and #2
– Approximately 200-240 pounds
– Face was covered by a thin neck warmer/tube pulled up
– Wearing a black beanie-style head covering/hat