The subject of an Amber Alert in the La Ronge-area has been found safe — but a manhunt continues for the suspect in her abduction and a murder in a reserve residence early this morning.
RCMP say 17-year-old Kayla Natomagan was abducted from a residence on the Lac La Ronge Indian Band shortly after 3:00 am today.
But police say she was found safe by members of the RCMP detachment in Cranberry Portage, Manitoba this morning and is no longer in any danger. Mounties are not providing details on how that happened, where it took place or what role the RCMP played in that development.
The man who allegedly took her captive — 43-year-old Jonas Budd — is also wanted for the murder of a male on the Lac La Ronge Indian Band. At last word, Budd was still at large.
RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Craig Cleary is believe to have fled into the bush near the Saskatchewan-Manitoba boundary.
“The last area where we was found was in and around the Sturgeon Landing or Cranberry Portage area. And he was thought to be on foot. He was seen by police running into the bush on foot.”
RCMP “D” Division spokesperson Holly Plato says it’s believed Budd is in northern Manitoba.
“I don’t want to comment on where exactly he is. Because where Kayla was located was so close to the border, it could be either or. We do believe he’s in northern Manitoba.”
The victim was shot dead in the reserve residence just prior to Kayla’s abduction.
RCMP spokesman Sgt. Craig Cleary says local Mounties found the victim after responding to a report of a shooting.
“When they arrived on scene, they found a male who appeared to be suffering from a gunshot wound. This male was pronounced deceased on the scene. Early reports indicate that a 17-year-old female — Kayla Natomagan — was forcibly removed from this residence, her home, immediately after the shooting.”
RCMP say there were four people in the home at the time of the shooting — the murder victim, Kayla, the suspect and another man.
Mounties also say the victim was the only one injured in the shooting, but they’re not sure how many shots were fired.
Police also say someone inside the home summoned the RCMP after the shooting by calling 9-1-1.
Police say Kayla is the daughter of Budd’s estranged common-law spouse.
Budd has connections to Cumberland House, Pinehouse, Sturgeon Landing, Prince Albert and Thompson, Manitoba.
Cleary says Budd is considered to be armed and dangerous and is not to be approached because Mounties believe he has a rifle or other weapons in his possession.
Anyone who sees Budd is to immediately call 9-1-1.
Plato says the RCMP search for the suspect continues.
“We have RCMP officers from both Saskatchewan and Manitoba who are currently searching for Jonas Budd. I don’t want to get into operational details of how we’re looking for him — but we have several officers from both provinces who have boots on the ground looking for this man.”
As to why it took six hours from the time of the murder and abduction until the Amber Alert was issued, Cleary says there are a lot of steps that have to be taken before an Amber Alert can be declared. But he says the RCMP response to the murder and abduction was immediate.
“It doesn’t mean that we’re not actively pursuing the suspect already. It’s just that’s the portion where we’re soliciting the public’s assistance. We were actively pursuing the suspect, as well as trying to ascertain the whereabouts of our 17-year-old female that was abducted. And there were roadblocks being set up, and what have you. And as you can see, within a fairly short period of time after the Amber Alert was being publicly announced, the female was located.”
Meanwhile, Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson says her community is in shock.
“This is . . . . it’s very shocking, this is horrible to happen in our community. And our thoughts and prayers are with the family as we’re dealing with this tragic, terrible event that happened in our community. And our thoughts and prayers are with both the families — with Kayla’s family and with the family that’s grieving right now.”
RCMP have not released the name of the murder victim but friends and family on social media have identified him as 17-year-old Dustin Bird, Kayla’s boyfriend.