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Police say man wanted for murder was in a Saskatoon hospital two days ago

SASKATOON – Police say a man they’ve charged with second-degree murder in the death of a Manitoba woman was in a hospital in Saskatoon only a few days ago.

Mounties have issued a Canada-wide warrant for Russell Gordon McDiarmid, 51, of Fisher Branch, Man. in connection with the death of Nancy Swenty.

RCMP say they’ve confirmed McDiarmid was spotted in Saskatoon at a hospital late Thursday night, and they believe he may be heading to BC.

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Police say McDiarmid is possibly armed and may be travelling in a stolen 2006 grey Ford Ranger pickup truck.

The body of Swenty, 33, was found near Poplarfield, Man. last week, a month after she was reported missing.

RCMP Sgt. Line Karpish says police aren’t releasing information about what McDiarmid was doing at the hospital in Saskatoon in order to protect the integrity of their investigation.

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This is the second time police have sought McDiarmid in the Swenty case. Shortly after her disappearance, police issued a news release saying they believed Swenty might be travelling to BC with McDiarmid and they asked the public to help find them.

RCMP later located McDiarmid but did not find Swenty with him. They then issued another news release stating investigators believed Swenty was likely still somewhere in Manitoba.

Karpish says McDiarmid was not a suspect in the case at that time.

Since then, she says police acquired more evidence, including the recovery of Swenty’s truck, which was recovered near Fraserwood, Man. on July 31.

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