Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Aug 31/01) - A Yellowknife woman is living in fear while a man that is accused of attacking her with an axe remains on the loose somewhere south-west of the city.

Heavily armed searchers are involved in the manhunt for Ronald Roy Villebrun, who police have charged with the attempted murder of his ex-girlfriend. - Dawn Ostrem/NNSL photo

As of deadline, heavily-armed RCMP from Yellowknife and Edmonton continued their search for Ronald Roy Villebrun. They focused on a 13-square kilometre area about 20 km west of the city, using police dogs and an infrared-equipped helicopter.

Villebrun, 36, has been the subject of the intense police manhunt since a woman was attacked with an axe in downtown Yellowknife Aug. 26.

Villebrun has been charged with attempted murder in connection with the incident.

The 29-year-old woman is originally from New Brunswick and moved to Yellowknife in 1996. She recently worked as a flight attendant with First Air.

She was abducted on School Draw Avenue and driven downtown. She managed to get out of the vehicle, but was caught and hit in the head with an axe.

She now has a six-inch scar above her ear where she said the axe blade swiped down, cutting away much of her hair.

"I saw the axe and I thought, 'it's over'," she told Yellowknifer.

The woman said she cradled her head in her arms and remembers seeing the blade come down. She also described how she lay on the pavement watching a puddle of blood pool beside her.

Finally, she said she heard the wailing sounds of sirens. Yellowknife mara-thon organizers Gordon Stewart and Terry Chang happened to be near the incident and drove her to the hospital where she was treated and released.

A skilled hunter

Mid-week, police said they were still in the initial stages of the search for a man some say is a skilled hunter and outdoorsman.

Sources told Yellowknifer Villebrun had guns in his vehicle before he fled. The RCMP seized his truck on Aug. 26 but did not seize any weapons.

"I have a lot of really good people out there and we don't know what he's got," said Staff Sgt. Terry Scott.

Scott said he does not believe Villebrun could have gone far in the area covered by bush and water.

"He would have to get some means to travel and he does not have the means," he said.

"We have reason to believe he is still out in the bush."

Even so, police have supplied airports and travel venues with photos of Villebrun.

Brain injury

Villebrun's mother Gloria is worried about her son.

"I know if he got through the roadblock he would have called us," she said.

"Police should be looking harder because of his medical situation."

Villebrun suffered a head injury in 1990 from a fight outside the Landing Lounge in Fort Smith. His mother said it left him in a state in which he can not control his emotions.

"When you have a brain injury it is never the same but we don't want to blame it on that," she said.

Dissatisfied with the search, Villebrun's parents went in a plane and searched the area themselves.

They have been in Yellowknife since the day of the incident and worry Villebrun's life may be in danger without his medicine.

Villebrun was wearing a red jacket, blue jeans and running shoes last time he was seen. He is about six feet two inches and 200 pounds.

Police are asking drivers to take care along Highway 3 due to increased vehicle and foot activity.

They are asking the public to immediately tell police if they come into contact with Villebrun.