September 13, 2023
North Battleford, Saskatchewan
On September 5, 2023, Saskatchewan RCMP charged an adult male in relation to a December 24, 2021 double homicide in North Battleford.
31-year-old Wade Frenchman from Moosomin First Nation is charged with two counts, first degree murder, Section 253, Criminal Code in relation to the deaths of Alyssa LeCaine, 25, and Daphne Bear, 20.
"On December 24, 2021, most people were getting ready to begin holiday celebrations. However, that's when an absolutely senseless tragedy struck for the friends and family of Alyssa and Daphne, and for the Battlefords community at large. Our thoughts continue to be with these young women's loved ones as we announce these charges today. It's our hope that it will help provide some closure as they continue their grieving and healing processes," says Supt. Josh Graham, officer in charge of Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes. "This was a complex investigation, one that took time to complete. I'm grateful to our dedicated Major Crimes investigators, and our many partners, who conducted a thorough investigation that allowed us to support these first-degree murder charges."
During the course of the investigation, Major Crimes worked with partners including: Saskatchewan RCMP's Battleford detachment, North Battleford Forensic Identification Services, North Battleford Provincial General Investigation Services, Polygraph Section, Digital Forensic Services, Divisional Criminal Analytical Section; the Saskatchewan Coroners Service; City of North Battleford Fire and Emergency Services; and fire examiners with the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency.
Investigators obtained 15 judicial authorizations, interviewed approximately 160 witnesses, and gathered/processed more than 150 exhibits during the course of the investigation.
Wade Frenchman was arrested at the Saskatchewan Provincial Correctional Centre. He is scheduled to appear in North Battleford Provincial Court on September 20, 2023.
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Backgrounder
RCMP Major Crimes release video related to Christmas Eve homicides
2022-04-16
North Battleford RCMP and Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes continue to investigate the 2021 Christmas Eve homicides of two adult females in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. Alyssa LeCaine and Daphne Bear were located deceased after a residential fire on the 1000 block of 108th Street in North Battleford, Sask. on Friday, December 24, 2021. Their deaths are considered homicides.
"With the increased quality and prevalence of privately or business-owned video surveillance systems, comes the opportunity to potentially utilize captured video to assist serious police investigations," says Superintendent Joshua Graham, Officer in Charge of Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes. "In the video investigators released today to assist the ongoing investigation in North Battleford, viewers can note trim around the hood of the jacket and distinctive brown or yellow-coloured boots. We are hoping these two notable features will help us identify the individual in the video. Investigators would like to speak with this person as they may have important information about Alyssa and Daphne's deaths."
The individual is shown in the back alley between 108th and 109th streets of North Battleford, they cross 10th Avenue and enter the alleyway beyond.
If the public has surveillance cameras in the areas noted above, we encourage them to check their footage to determine if they recorded this individual between 3:00 and 3:45 p.m. on December 24, 2021.
Report any findings or other activity captured in this time period to police.
North Battleford: Seeking information related to December 24 homicide
2021-02-08
Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crime Unit continues to investigate the homicides of Alyssa LeCaine and Daphne Bear. They were discovered deceased after a house fire on Friday, December 24, 2021 on 108th Street in North Battleford. Investigation has determined Alyssa and Daphne died prior to and not as a result of the fire. Anyone with information about this homicide investigation is asked to contact North Battleford RCMP at 306-446-1720.
You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477. –30– North Battleford deaths determined to be homicides 2021-12-30 As a result of continued investigation by the Saskatchewan RCMP, in conjunction with the Saskatchewan Coroner's Service, the deaths of the two people located after a fire at a residence in North Battleford are now considered homicides. Autopsies were completed by the Saskatchewan Coroner's Service on December 29, 2021.
Cause of death will not be released as the information is part of the ongoing investigation. The deceased people have been identified as 25-year-old Alyssa LeCaine from North Battleford and 20-year-old Daphne Bear from Sweetgrass First Nation. Their families have been notified. Alyssa and Daphne were located in a residence on 108th Street in North Battleford after North Battleford Fire Department responded to a fire there on December 24. The cause of the fire will be investigated by a provincial fire investigator with the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency.
Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact North Battleford RCMP at 306-446-1720, or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477. -30-
