The death of a woman found frozen on the doorstep of a Pinaymootang residence that was initially considered a medical incident is now being investigated after pressure from the woman’s family and community.
Gympsumville RCMP were called Jan. 31 after a woman was found unconscious outside a home on the First Nation, 240 km northwest of Winnipeg.
April Woodhouse, 50, was taken to hospital in nearby Ashern. Her sister Rose Stagg says family members — who were attending a wake when they were notified — rushed to her bedside where they say she appeared to have been “brutally beaten.”
Get daily National news
Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
“We have photos,” Stagg says. “Someone beat her and left her for dead.”
Woodhouse died in hospital, leaving the family without answers.
Family of April Woodhouse say her body had bruises and they don’t believe she simply froze to death outside a Pinaymootang home.
Stagg said police seemed convinced nothing criminal had occurred, which RCMP confirmed on Feb. 3 telling Global News in an email that the incident was “a medical incident and nothing criminal in nature occurred.”
Two days later, the RCMP said major crimes is investigating and taking statements from those who may have had contact with Woodhouse prior to her death.
“An autopsy has been scheduled for early next week, which should provide information on any criminality or if it was due to exposure,” said Sgt. Paul Manaigre.
