A suspect arrested last week for the brutal abduction of a woman in Pimicikamak Cree Nation faces formal charges of kidnapping, assault with a weapon, and failing to comply with release conditions. Joshua Paupanekis, also known as Albert Allan Joshua McKay, appeared in court for the first time on Monday in Thompson.
Details of the Incident
RCMP officers responded to a residence in Pimicikamak, located 530 kilometers north of Winnipeg, around 5:40 a.m. on February 5. Authorities report that Paupanekis entered the home armed with a knife and hammer. He struck a 24-year-old man with the hammer before forcibly taking a 20-year-old woman from the property.
Police Response and Alert
The violent event led RCMP to issue a province-wide dangerous person alert, activating warnings on mobile devices across Manitoba. Officials expressed concerns for the woman’s immediate safety. Multiple units from Manitoba and Saskatchewan RCMP deployed to the area to assist in the search.
Arrest and Victim’s Condition
Investigators located Paupanekis and the woman the next morning at approximately 11:15 a.m. inside a vacant property in the community. The victim sustained minor injuries and received precautionary treatment at the local nursing station before release.
RCMP major crime services continue their investigation into the matter.
