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Fourth person charged in woman's 2023 slaying
Winnipeg homicide detectives have charged a fourth suspect in connection with the slaying of a 30-year-old woman who was last seen alive near Polo Park mall nearly two years ago.
Homicide investigators arrested Katrina Musawagon, 32, at the city remand centre Tuesday.
She's charged with first-degree murder in the slaying of Shelby Dawn Hayward, the Winnipeg Police Service said Thursday.
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Shelby Dawn Hayward, 30, was reported missing to the Winnipeg Police Service in November 2023, after she was last spotted near Polo Park mall. Winnipeg police now say Hayward was the victim of a slaying.
Musawagon has a criminal record that consists of two counts of assault, one of assaulting a peace officer and court order breaches committed in 2011 and 2012.
She was given a suspended sentence and two years of probation in Thompson provincial court in 2012 for the assaults and two of the breaches.
Musawagon also remains before the court on a slew of drug trafficking and firearms possession charges allegedly committed in December.
She's due in court on the trafficking charges on June 12 and the slaying and gun charges June 13.
Musawagon is the fifth person to be charged in Hayward's disappearance and death.
Investigators previously arrested and laid first-degree murder charges against Tamara Gayle Moneyas, 24; Vincent Charles Fontaine, 39; and Taylor Lena Ray Moose, 25.
Fontaine is the only other accused with a record, which includes sex assault, breaching court orders, common assault, mischief and drug possession.
Police identified another suspect, who died during the investigation, police have said.
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Homicide detectives believe Hayward was killed between Oct. 20 and Oct. 30, 2023, records show.
Hayward was last seen in the area of Polo Park on Oct. 20 and was reported missing on Nov. 17.
Missing persons investigators put out a plea to the public in early January, asking for information on Hayward's disappearance. Those investigators handled the case until homicide detectives took over, after they confirmed Hayward was dead.
First-degree murder charges indicate police and prosecutors believe Hayward's death to have been planned and deliberate.
Erik PinderaReporter
Erik Pindera is a reporter for the Free Press, mostly focusing on crime and justice. The born-and-bred Winnipegger attended Red River College Polytechnic, wrote for the community newspaper in Kenora, Ont. and reported on television and radio in Winnipeg before joining the Free Press in 2020. Read more about Erik.
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