Aklavik on edge after homicide on trail
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Monday, November 23, 2015
AKLAVIK
Residents of the Beaufort Delta community of Aklavik are heartbroken and scared following the death of a life-long resident last week who was found badly injured on a snowmobile trail within hamlet limits.
The woman was found unresponsive mid-morning on Nov. 11, according to an RCMP news release. Police have not released her name and no arrest has been made. However, she has been identified on social media as May Elanik. RCMP are also asking the public about any information they can share about a black iPhone that may have been in the area where the victim was found.
Aklavik RCMP continues to work with the NWT RCMP Major Crimes Unit in an investigation into what is now a homicide, according to a news release from the Mounties.
"We'd really like to hear from anyone who has any knowledge of activity on or near the J.J. Stewart Road area where the victim was found," stated Aklavik RCMP Const. Todd Glemser in the release. "The black iPhone continues to be an item we are seeking information on as well."
Fred Behrens, senior administrative officer for Aklavik, said the incident has been the main topic of conversation around town since it happened.
"It's pretty depressing and sad. I've had a few people come to me and see if we can set up some kind of security guard system at night," Behrens said. "We do have a bylaw officer that patrols at night five nights a week but on the weekend she is not on duty."
The bylaw officer works from about 5 p.m. until about 1 a.m. and Behrens concedes that because of those hours the officer may not have even seen what happened. RCMP had a meeting on Nov. 13 with community leadership to share information with councillors and others.
"The RCMP here are very good to work with. Every council meeting we have them come and do their monthly reports. Council and RCMP try to work very closely together on any issues that are out there. Right now we on working on the possibility of restricting alcohol, or prohibition," said Behrens.
Aklavik has never been a restricted community when it comes to alcohol.
"I just put out an information sheet on what a restricted community is versus a prohibited community just to get people talking about that - if they want to go that route or not," Behrens said.
