New leads sought in homicide
Questions remain as investigation continues a year after Billy Cholo's death
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, December 11, 2014
LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
It has been more than a year since the family of Billy Cholo of Fort Simpson last saw him alive.
Police are seeking more information on the death of Billy Cholo of Fort Simpson, who was found dead nearly a year ago in the village. - photo courtesy of Edward Cholo
|
In February, his death was declared a homicide.
No charges have been laid and a family member says whoever was involved is still walking the streets of the community.
RCMP have now made a public appeal for anyone with any information about what happened to Cholo to come forward, saying no tip is too small.
"Investigators would like to bring this incident back into the public's attention in hopes of generating more information that could help solve the case and bring closure to the family and friends of Billy Cholo," said G Division spokesperson Const. Elenore Sturko in a news release.
She wrote that investigators are "confident there are witnesses with information that can solve this homicide."
When asked whether any new tips had been generated since the news release was recently issued, she said police won't be discussing that or releasing any further information.
Remains found after search
Cholo was described as a gentle man who liked to joke around and enjoyed working in the bush.
He was last spotted alive Dec. 18, 2013 outside the Northern store, though family had not seen him since November.
Initially it was believed he was heading out of the village for work, but Edward "Chicky" Cholo doubted that story since his nephew left behind his snowmobile boots, insulated coveralls and mitts at his uncle's house.
An RCMP investigation began and a ground search of the island by family and friends started in January of this year.
Chicky was with the RCMP searching the area around the gazebo, near the health centre, when an officer found Cholo's remains in the structure on Jan. 9.
"It's a load off of my shoulders anyways," Chicky said to the Deh Cho Drum at the time about knowing where Cholo ended up.
The remains were sent to Edmonton for an autopsy, and in a press release on Feb. 13, police said his death was a homicide.
The coroner defines homicide as "any death resulting from injuries caused directly or indirectly by the actions of another person," except unintended motor vehicle accidents.
It hasn't been explained what led to that determination.
The cause of death hasn't been released.
Mayor thinks case will be closed
Fort Simpson Mayor Sean Whelly said in a recent interview he is confident police will be able to catch whoever is responsible for Cholo's death.
It was his understanding that police sent two batches of forensic evidence away for testing earlier this year.
"I think they (police) are trying to get as much on the forensic side that they can and hope that somebody out here that does know may come forward in the meantime," Whelly said.
He said hopefully the appeal for witnesses will jog someone's memory.
Whelly said he's not surprised the investigation has already taken a year.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Fort Simpson RCMP detachment at 867-695-1111 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
