Manslaughter charge laid in case of Winnipegger Eduardo Balaquit, missing since 2018

A 35-year-old has been charged with manslaughter in connection with the homicide and disappearance of Winnipegger Eduardo Balaquitnearly three years ago.

Kyle Alexander James Pietz, 35,was arrested in Saskatoon on Tuesday. Police are not looking for any other suspects, they said.

At the time thatBalaquit went missing,Pietzwas living in Winnipeg and "became a person of interest early on," said Sgt.Wade McDonald of the police service's homicide unit.

Balaquit, 59, was last seen between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. on June 4, 2018, near 380 Keewatin St., where he was supposed to be doing his regular janitorial work.Pietz worked at the same business,McDonald said.

Balaquit's van was found nearby the next day with the passenger window smashed in, a cellphone on the seat and personal belongings inside.

Just four months afterBalaquit went missing, police said he was"very likely"a victim of a homicide.

Balaquit andPietzhad no relationship other than knowing each other throughthe business, saidMcDonald, who wouldn't comment on any possible motive for the alleged crime.

Asked ifBalaquitjust happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time,McDonald talked aboutBalaquit's character.

"Eduardo was a hard-working man. He worked several jobs here in the city. He worked at this business for a number of years and had just gone to work and never returned home,"McDonald said.

"That's pretty hard for investigators to swallow, and I think it's pretty hard for the community to swallow as well."

A number of searches were organized to look for evidence in Balaquit's disappearanceand in 2020, the path led into the Interlake region.

That year, police announced that a blue Ford Escape was seen in the area of Balaquit's workplace the night of his disappearance. It later travelled to the Arborg area, said police, who, along with Balaquit's family and friends and strangers, searched extensively for signs of him but without success.

WATCH |35-year-old charged in connection with disappearance of Eduardo Balaquit:

Manslaughter charge laid in case of Winnipegger Eduardo Balaquit, missing since 2018

4 years ago

Duration 1:51

A 35-year-old has been charged with manslaughter in connection with the homicide and disappearance of Winnipegger Eduardo Balaquit nearly three years ago.

On Thursday,McDonald said that vehicle belonged toPietz. He did not say whether it was ever found.

"Sadly, investigators have been unable to locate Eduardo's remains. His family deserves closure,"McDonald said.

Asked what evidence there was to lay the charges, without any remains being located, McDonald again wouldn't provide any details.

"Over the last three years the investigation has evolved in so many aspects. With the assistance of Manitoba Justice and a review, they determined [manslaughter] at this time to be the appropriate charge."

In June 2018, police released security camera photographs of two people they wanted to speak with as part of the investigation. McDonald said both were located and interviewed and it was determined they were not involved.

He was also asked if police could elaborate in any way onBalaquit's death, such as how he may have been killed.

McDonald repeated his comments aboutBalaquitgoing to work and never returning home.

"This was a man his family was his number one priority. People describe him as caring, sincere and a loyal man that just tried to make a better life for his family than he had,"McDonald said.

"As for specifics on how he died, we're not going to get into that right now."

Police urge anyone with any information to contact themat 204-986-6508 or to leavean anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).