Decade-old homicide case 'has haunted investigators,' Manitoba RCMP say

It was 10 years ago that 61-year-old Bernie Carlsonwoke up to the barking of his dog, Missy, and was shot dead by someone in the hallway of his home in Thompson, Man.

To this day, RCMPhave been unable to solve the crime and are urging the public to come forward with any bit of information that could possibly help investigators.

"This case has haunted investigators," said Sgt. Dan Barnabe, head of theRCMPhistorical case unit.

I want to know who did this. I want to know why they did this. Somebody knows what happened that night, and I beg them to come forward to the police.- ElvaCarlson

"Here was a guy, asleep in his home, and seconds later, he was dead. Investigators at the time did everything they could, and now it sits with my team,who specialize in investigating historical homicides.

"We need to find out what happened toMr.Carlson."

Carlson and his wife Elva went to bed on Oct. 25, 2007and, as always, left a light on and locked the front and back doors. Shortly before 1a.m. on Oct.26,Missystarted barking, startlingthe couple awake.

Carlson got out of bed and wentto see what was disturbing the dog. Elva heard gunshots and the sounds of footsteps running away, RCMPsaid.She rushed to the bedroom door and saw her husband of40years lying in the hallway.

Elva then hid in the bedroom and called911.

When RCMP arrived, they saw thefront door of the househad been forcibly opened. Carlson was dead and his killer was long gone.

"I relive that night over and over," Elvasaid in a news release issued by the RCMPon Friday.

"I want to know who did this. I want to know why they did this. Somebody knows what happened that night, and I beg them to come forward to the police."

Anybody with information about what happened is asked to call the RCMP Historical Crime Unit at204-983-6880,or call Manitoba Crime Stoppers anonymously at1-800-222-8477.

Anonymous tips can also be submitted onlineor by texting "TIPMAN" plus amessage to CRIMES (274637).