The Saskatchewan RCMP announced Tuesday afternoon, in a press conference held in Regina, that an arrest had been made in the death of Misha Pavelick. Pavelick was killed during an incident at a campground near Regina Beach at Last Mountain Lake on May 21st, 2006.
“The question of who killed Misha Pavelick has haunted many, as family, friends and the public, and our own investigators, sought justice,” said Sergeant Major Darryl Milo with the RCMP’s Historical Case Unit. “Since then, investigators have committed to working diligently to make an arrest on this case, lay charges and hold someone accountable for Misha’s death.
Saturday, police arrested a 34-year-old man in Regina, and he was charged with second-degree murder in the death of Pavelick without incident. As the accused was a youth at the time of the offence, police are unable to release his name or provide any further details which may identify him.
“Throughout the investigation, the Saskatchewan RCMP Historical Case Unit was assisted by investigators from the Regina RCMP General Investigation Section, Federal Serious and Organized Crim Unites, Saskatchewan RCMP investigators and surveillance operations, along with officers from the Lumsden, White Butte, Carlyle, and Pelican Narrows RCMP detachments,” Milo added.
The accused made his first appearance in Regina Provincial Court Monday and is now scheduled to make his second appearance in the Regina Provincial Youth Court on July 17th. At this time, the accused has been released on conditions.
“We have explored every investigational avenue and gathered enough evidence to bring this case to charges,” Milo continued. “The public will now be able to see this case and its details through the court process. I know this (afternoon’s) announcement will generate a lot of conversations between the individuals who were at Regina Beach on Last Mountain Lake 17 years ago. What I hope is that this encourages people to continue to speak up. Even though this file is before the court, our investigational work has not concluded.”
A podcast released by the RCMP detailing the Pavelick case was recently released, which the RCMP credited with helping to create more conversation about the case. Milo stated they received 15 anonymous tips, with three more through CrimeStoppers and three directly to investigators within the first two weeks of the podcast release.
“On behalf of the family I want to express our sincere and grateful thanks to the RCMP Major Crimes and Historical Case Unit – always respectful, always hopeful,” Lorne Pavelick, Misha’s father, said at the press conference. “They never stopped communicating with us, sharing what they could. So many of them offering their commitment, courage and humility, and sometimes frustration, but only rarely. The units and other members of the RCMP exemplify a basic core, social value – together we can, together we can. Prioritizing the greater good and the concept of common welfare and safety. We the family, we realize this is not the end, just the beginning of the end, and it renews our hope for justice for our dear Misha.”