Saskatchewan RCMP announced Tuesday that an individual has been charged in a 2006 homicide that happened near Regina Beach.
Misha Pavelick, 19, died after being stabbed at an abandoned campground during a May long weekend high school party.
Another was left seriously injured.
Seventeen RCMP confirmed that a 34-year-old male is facing one count of second-degree murder and made their first appearance in Regina Provincial Court Monday.
“6,246 sounds like a large number, right? 6,246 is the days between Misha’s death and today,” said Misha’s father Lorne Pavelick.
“We the family realize this not the end, just the beginning of the end.”
The accused was arrested in Regina by RCMP on Saturday. His identity is not being released as he was a youth at the time of the murder.
Sgt. Major Darryl Milo, Officer in Charge of the Saskatchewan RCMP’s Historical Case Unit said RCMP cannot release any specific details or evidence that led to the suspect’s arrest but noted that 19 anonymous tips came forward after a podcast about the investigation aired.
“Some were reluctant to provide information as they themselves were just 17, 18 years old,” Milo said, answering why witnesses might not have been vocal about the incident years ago. “When you are 17, 18, friendships might be more important.”
More than 200 witnesses and subjects were questioned by officers during the investigation. Milo said some of them were spoken to again after the suspect was arrested.
“I saw the emotion that they were experiencing, and it was such a wide array of emotions, not just relief or joy. There were a lot of people who were solemn.”
In 2019, RCMP recently launched a three-episode podcast called Who Killed Misha Pavelick? – the first-ever podcast created by RCMP.
Milo said that it allowed additional information and investigation to be brought forward in the case.
“The podcast was such a unique tool that any RCMP has ever used,” said Milo.
He said that the RCMP’s Historical Case Unit currently has 172 active files, 90 of which are homicides or suspicious missing persons cases.
“I’m sure there is some joy and comfort that they find when they hear we have laid charges in Misha’s case,” Milo said, speaking to the family members of open cases.
The accused’s next court date is July 17 in Regina Provincial Youth Court. He is not in custody in the meantime.