An RCMP vehicle blocks a road in the area of a home invasion near Esterhazy on Feb. 10, 2023. (Shane Clausing/980 CJME)

By Shane Clausing, CKOM News

Still not much known following killings near Esterhazy, Melville

Mar 10, 2023 | 10:28 AM

It has been one month since a 34-year-old man was found dead and a woman was found injured after three men broke into a home 20 kilometres south of Esterhazy in the early hours of Feb. 10.

Police said that while the suspects were inside the home, they shot the man dead and stole three long-barrelled firearms and a significant amount of ammunition.

The Mounties said the suspects arrived at the rural home in a vehicle and left in it after they lit the homeowner’s vehicle on fire.

Since then, police haven’t reported any trace of the suspects.

The incident caused concern in nearby communities, sending schools into hold-and-secure mode and prompting some people to close their businesses for the day.

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No emergency alert was issued after the incident.

The RCMP hasn’t provided much information about the incident since last month.

The good news is the woman injured in the home invasion has been released from hospital. The woman’s name and age weren’t provided, nor was her relationship to the victim.

As the investigation progressed, the RCMP released composite sketches of the three suspects.

Since the incident, 980 CJME has reached out to the RCMP for further updates, but has not received any further information.

Police say there hasn’t been any new information for them to release, but mentioned they’ll do so if it becomes available. They add there isn’t a current threat to public safety at this time.

With little news coming from the RCMP, 980 CJME asked Saskatchewan’s minister of corrections, policing and public safety about the lack of updates from the investigation.

In a statement, Minister Christine Tell’s office said: “The Government of Saskatchewan does not direct the operations of the RCMP and has full confidence in the ability of the RCMP to conduct investigations in a thorough and timely manner.”

No updates on Melville either

RCMP officers examine the scene of a murder in Melville on Nov. 2, 2022. (Lisa Schick/980 CJME)

The lack of updates from the shooting near Esterhazy could be bringing back memories for those who live in the Melville area.

Back in early November, residents in the community of Melville were left on edge after two men were shot at the Country Inn Motel. One was killed and another suffered life-threatening injuries.

The situation was significant enough for the Mounties to issue a dangerous person alert when it took place.

The alert was issued at 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 2 and was cancelled at 1:30 p.m.

Since then, no update has been provided by the RCMP and the public has been left in the dark.

When asked about that incident, the RCMP wouldn’t comment further on it either.