Man Sentenced for 2007 Murder of Métis Woman

0:00A 44-year-old man from Vancouver just got 12 years in prison for killing a vulnerable meti woman almost two decades ago in Manitoba. Kevin Q pleaded guilty to manslaughter last week, down from second-degree murder charges filed in 2024. Crystal Saunders was 24 when she vanished from Winnipeg in April 2007 and knew DNA tech finally linked him to evidence on her. Body Back then, DNA from her neck and fingernails wasn't strong enough for the National Databank, but advances changed that. Heel's profile got added after his 2015 convictions for sexual assault and aggravated assault in British Columbia. Then RCMP ran a Mr. Big Operation with 52 undercover meets in British Columbia from February 2023 to January 2024, where he confessed to the crime. The judge called the family's pain profound after years of waiting without answers. Saunders' mom shared a victim impact statement, saying her daughter was brilliant caring with big dreams for herself and her kid.

1:02She wasn't defined by her struggles. The mom made it clear the hurt from Keo can't be forgiven and she's upset about the manslaughter plea. Prosecutors took the deal to avoid trial delays over credibility issues with the lead undercover officer tied to later misconduct allegations. Keo's lawyer says he's truly sorry and owns what he did, though he skipped a court statement himself. Justice moves slow sometimes, but tech and persistence brought some closure here, even if it's bittersweet for Crystal's loved ones still healing. I'm Corey with The Story. That's your Canada News Today update, AI powered and always on.