Man charged with second degree murder in disappearance of Christine Wood

WINNIPEG — The disappearance of 21-year-old Christine Wood is now being treated as a homicide.

Winnipeg police say 30-year-old Brett Overby has been charged with second degree murder in Manitoba in the disappearance of Wood.

On August 19, Wood went missing after a visit to Winnipeg from Oxford House First Nation.

READ MORE: Bear Clan Patrol searches for missing Winnipeg woman, Christine Wood

Until the news release on Saturday from Winnipeg Police, there was no indication from officers that Wood’s disappearance had gone from anymore than a missing person’s investigation.

READ MORE: ‘We need her home’: Mother of missing Manitoba woman, Christine Wood makes tearful plea

Police confirmed to Global News that an on-going investigation at a home on the 300 block of Burrows avenue in March was connected to the investigation in to Christine Wood’s disappearance.

READ MORE: Winnipeg police presence remains for third day on Burrows Avenue

According to an online search, the 30-year-old charged with second degree murder, Brett Overby, is connected to the home on Burrows avenue that was being investigated in March.

No further details have been released at this time.

Global News spoke to Christine Woods’ mother Melinda, who said she was hurting too much to speak any further.

Wood’s cousin Robert Sneep spoke on behalf of the family, and said everyone is feeling shocked.

“It’s not the outcome we were hoping for, but definitely glad we know something now instead of being in the dark,” Sneep said.

He said Wood’s parents had a suspicion about their daughters death when they were asked to come to Winnipeg for a DNA test, to see if it matched blood found inside the Burrows Avenue home.

“They’ve been coming down on any and every request,” Sneep said.

Wood was last seen in the downtown area on August 19 of last year. When officers released a statement on Wood’s disappearance in August 2016, they said they were concerned for her well-being.

Members of the Bear Clan assisted family and officials in the search for Wood. Co-founder James Favel said the 21-year-old was likely dead when the searches began in August.

“I’ve been staying positive this whole time, saying we’re going to find her and I was wrong,” Favel said.

In September, Winnipeg police said Wood was facing some ‘personal challenges’ and said she might be associated with people tied to drug trade.

They said they had investigated persons of interest, but until Saturday, the missing person’s investigation had not been shifted to a homicide investigation.