'Lovely young woman': 20-year-old homicide victim remembered fondly

A young woman identified as a homicide victim in Steinbach over the weekend is being remembered as a passionate and caring youth worker.

"We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Mackaylah Gerard-Roussin," Rossbrook House says in a social media post on Monday. Rossbrook House is a youth drop-in centre in Winnipeg.

The centre says that Gerard-Roussin began attending their programs as a young child and became involved in working with the centre as she grew older.

"Mackaylah was a long-time participant who began attending Rossbrook House from a young age, alongside her cousins. They all became beloved junior staff followed by senior staff members," the post says.

Roussin, who lived in Winnipeg, went missing on Thursday. Two days later, Steinbach RCMP was notified that a homicide had occurred. Officers responded to a residence along Creekside Drive in Steinbach. Investigators have yet to say whether the homicide happened at that residence.

When police arrived on scene, the male suspect had already fled in his vehicle and investigators believed the body of Roussin was in that car. The suspect vehicle was located near La Broquerie and though the suspect was arrested, his car caught fire.

Once the fire was extinguished, the vehicle was searched but the victim's body was not located. Gerard-Roussin's body was later found along a remote ATV trail in a rural area south of Woodridge.

Rossbrook house says she "was a lovely young woman" who had recently graduated from the Rising Sun alternative high school. "She was a part of our Pow Wow and programs for many years. We will always remember her as outgoing, smiling, and singing at our Christmas parties."

A 20-year-old Winnipeg man, Josh Benoit, has been charged with first degree murder in relation to the case.

Gerard-Roussin's family has asked for privacy but have said a vigil in her honour will take place soon.

"Our sympathies go out to Mackaylah’s family and friends. She will be fondly remembered," Rossbrook House says.

With files from Shannon Dueck