Male suspect finally charged in 1973 Attawapiskat homicide

A sign welcomes visitors to the remote northern Ontario community of Attawapiskat.

Ontario Provincial Police said new DNA technology helped it lay charges in the death of a woman from the small northern First Nation of Attawapiskat in 1973.

Helen Carpenter, 21, was found deceased on Oct. 23, 1973, in the James Bay coast community, OPP said in a news release Thursday morning.

"An investigation was conducted at that time, but no charges were laid," police said.

Two days after the 50th anniversary of her death, 78-year-old Remi Gregory Iahtail of Attawapiskat was charged with manslaughter and rape as per the criminal code at the time of the alleged crime.

"In late 2019, following the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) Inquiry, the OPP criminal investigation branch renewed the investigation and assigned a major case manager and other resources, working with members of the north east region crime unit and the OPP forensic identification service," police said.

"The investigation was conducted in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service."

Iahtail was 28 years old at the time of Carpenter's death.

"For 50 years, the family of Helen Carpenter and the community of Attawapiskat have been seeking answers concerning Helen's death. Now, with the advancement of DNA technology and a focused investigation, the OPP have made an arrest in this case," OPP Det. Insp. Shawn Glassford is quoted as saying in the news release.

"The family and community can now learn the truth about what happened in 1973. Our thoughts are with Helen's family and the entire community."

The accused is scheduled to appear in court Nov. 22 in Attapwapiskat.

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"As the matter is now before the courts, the OPP cannot elaborate on evidence or investigative processes which led to the arrest," police said.

The allegation has not been proven in court.