Murder in MacGregor

Murder in MacGregor RCMP were called out to a house located on the corner of Talbot Street and Fox Street in MacGregor on May 26, 2014, regarding a suspicious death. The murder victim was later found to be 96-year-old Niels “Arne” Nielsen. (Svjetlana Mlinarevic/The Graphic/QMI Agency)	Murder in MacGregor RCMP were called out to a house located on the corner of Talbot Street and Fox Street in MacGregor on May 26, 2014, regarding a suspicious death. The murder victim later turned out to be 96-year-old Niels “Arne” Nielsen. (Svjetlana Mlinarevic/The Graphic/QMI Agency)	Murder in MacGregor An RCMP forensic investigater inspects the inside of the doorway to a house located on the corner of Talbot Street and Fox Street in MacGregor on May 26, 2014. Police were called to investigate a suspicious death. The victim later turned out to be 96-year-old Niels “Arne” Nielsen. (Svjetlana Mlinarevic/The Graphic/QMI Agency)
Murder in MacGregor An RCMP forensic investigator leaves a house located on the corner of Talbot Street and Fox Street in MacGregor on May 26, 2014, carrying vials of evidence. Police were called to investigate a suspicious death. The victim later turned out to be 96-year-old Niels “Arne” Nielsen. (Svjetlana Mlinarevic/The Graphic/QMI Agency)	Murder in MacGregor An RCMP forensic investigator leaves a house located on the corner of Talbot Street and Fox Street in MacGregor on May 26, 2014, carrying evidence. Police were called to investigate a suspicious death. The victim later turned out to be Niels “Arne” Nielsen. (Svjetlana Mlinarevic/The Graphic/QMI Agency)	Murder in MacGregor An RCMP officer walks to his car as students from MacGregor Collegiate and MacGregor Elementary School go home. Police were investigating the murder of 96-year-old Niels “Arne” Nielsen on May 26, 2014. The schools are located adjacent to Talbot Street and Fox Street where his body was found. (Svjetlana Mlinarevic/The Graphic/QMI Agency)
Murder in MacGregor RCMP forensic investigators take measurements at a house located on the corner of Talbot Street and Fox Street in MacGregor on May 26, 2014, while investigating the death of Niels “Arne” Nielsen. (Svjetlana Mlinarevic/The Graphic/QMI Agency)	Murder in MacGregor An RCMP forensic investigator walks towards a house located on the corner of Talbot Street and Fox Street in MacGregor on May 26, 2014. Police were called to investigate the death of Niels “Arne” Nielsen. (Svjetlana Mlinarevic/The Graphic/QMI Agency)	Murder in MacGregor An RCMP officer checks his UAV after surveying a house located on the corner of Talbot Street and Fox Street in MacGregor on May 26, 2014. Police were called to investigate the death of Niels “Arne” Nielsen. (Svjetlana Mlinarevic/The Graphic/QMI Agency)
Murder in MacGregor An RCMP drone, or UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle), takes images of a house located on the corner of Talbot Street and Fox Street in MacGregor on May 26, 2014. Police were called to investigate the death of Niels “Arne” Nielsen. (Svjetlana Mlinarevic/The Graphic/QMI Agency)	Murder in MacGregor RCMP were called out to a house located on the corner of Talbot Street and Fox Street in MacGregor on May 26, 2014, regarding the death of Niels “Arne” Nielsen. (Svjetlana Mlinarevic/The Graphic/QMI Agency)

Svjetlana Mlinarevic

Portage Daily Graphic/Herald Leader

May 28, 2014

A 96-year-old man was found murdered in his MacGregor home by RCMP officers on May 25.

Police report finding the body of Niels “Arne” Nielsen at 13 Talbot Street East. After performing an autopsy and investigating his home, the RCMP have determined his death was a homicide.

For MacGregor resident Sarah Morris, the news has come as a blow.

“Anger, I’m quite upset because I was very fond of him,” she said. “(He was) just a true, quiet gentleman.”

Morris was a home care worker for Nielsen several years ago after he had hip surgery and lives right down the street from him.

“Before that, I knew of him, but I didn’t really know him. He was a very quiet person. He didn’t socialize much,” said Morris. “He used to go to Portage to the Kingdom Hall regular as a beat, winter, summer, rain, shine.”

Despite not being social, Morris said Nielsen was a very generous person.

“(If) there was a death on the street or I collected for Alzheimer’s, I would always go to Arne, and he would always give,” she said.

As a home care worker, Morris has had a lot of clients and it’s always hard to lose one.

“But in this way, I just feel bad, I feel very bad, not only was he a neighbour, but in a little town, on your street this takes place, of course you’re devastated.”

On the day of the investigation, police ran yellow tape around the orange and brown house. The forensic identification unit was seen going in and out of the residence all day with RCMP vehicles blocking off the street.

Police took measurements and placed evidence markers in the yard and along the street, while the RCMP canine unit searched the outside of the home as well as neighbouring properties. An unmanned aerial vehicle was also used to take images of the neighbourhood.

Police have not made arrests in this matter and are asking for the public’s assistance.

Anyone who may have spoken to or seen Nielsen in the days leading up to May 25 or who may have any information regarding his death are asked to contact the Portage la Prairie RCMP at (204) 857-4445.

To provide information anonymously, please contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, submit a secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com or text “TIPMAN” plus your message to CRIMES (274637).

Updates

June 2, 2014 - RCMP have made an arrest in the murder of a 96-year-old man in MacGregor.

Jason Conway, 21, of MacGregor has been charged with first degree murder of Niels “Arne” Nielsen, 96, on May 25.

Conway will appear in Portage la Prairie Provincial Court on June 2.

Sept. 26, 2014 - RCMP have arrested and charged a second man with the murder of Niels “Arne” Nielsen of MacGregor.

MacGregorite Martin Sutherland, 54, has been charged with first degree murder. He was scheduled to appear in Winnipeg court on Sept. 26.

Police found the body of 96-year-old Nielson on May 25 at his home on 13 Talbot St. E. On the day of the investigation, police ran yellow tape around the orange and brown house. The forensic identification unit was seen going in and out of the residence all day with RCMP vehicles blocking off the street.

Police also charged Jason Conway, 21, of MacGregor with first degree murder in June.