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Nov 03 2004 Arrest made in Joseph homicide By Monisha Martins The Fort St. James RCMP with the assistance of North District Major Crime Unit have arrested a 23-year-old from Tachie in connection with the murder of Barbara Anne Joseph. Winchester Orlando Thomas has been charged with second degree murder and has been remanded in custody awaiting a court appearance on Nov. 2 in Fort St. James. “The members of the North District Major Crime Unit and members of the Fort St. James and Tachie satellite detachments spent their own time to bring this to fruition,” said Fort St. James Staff. Sgt. Steve Berney. “They worked their hearts off to get to this point.” Fort St. James RCMP worked directly with investigators from the North District Major Crime Unit from Prince George and dozens of family members, friends and acquaintances of the victim were interviewed to piece together the last known activities of Joseph. Joseph was last seen alive at 11 p.m. on September 5. She was found in a house on Lower Road in Nak’azdli the next day. During the investigation, police did not rule out the possibility of prior contact with the suspect and said they were treating the matter as a possible targeted act. Joseph’s family is finally getting the closure it wants. “We are so relieved,” said Belinda Joseph, the victim’s daughter, who has been contacting her siblings to give them the news. “I’ve been trying to reach them all day,” she said. Winchester Thomas was an acquaintance of Joseph’s and is known by members of the her family. He was questioned early in the investigation. RCMP would still appreciate more information on the case. “If you witnessed or heard anything on the day, you can call the Fort St. James RCMP or Crime Stoppers. The RCMP always appreciates more evidences,” said Berney. Belinda Joseph said the RCMP were also waiting on DNA evidence connected to the case. No more arrests are expected. © Copyright 2007 Caledonia Courier Archive Search Result http://web.bcnewsgroup.com/portals-code/searchd.cgi?sid=563... 1 of 1 12-10-18 8:43 PM

Arrest made in Joseph homicide

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In 2006, Winchester Orlando Thomas was sentenced to 12 years in a federal penitentiary after pleading guilty to manslaughter in the death of Barbara Ann Joseph near Fort St. James.I covered the murder in 2004 - the details were gruesome. I got to see the crime scene. It was a crime mired in the drugs, alcohol and despair that plagued the First Nations community.

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Page 1: Arrest made in Joseph homicide

Nov 03 2004

Arrest made in Joseph homicide

By Monisha MartinsThe Fort St. James RCMP with the assistance of North District Major Crime Unit have arrested a23-year-old from Tachie in connection with the murder of Barbara Anne Joseph.Winchester Orlando Thomas has been charged with second degree murder and has beenremanded in custody awaiting a court appearance on Nov. 2 in Fort St. James.“The members of the North District Major Crime Unit and members of the Fort St. James andTachie satellite detachments spent their own time to bring this to fruition,” said Fort St. JamesStaff. Sgt. Steve Berney.“They worked their hearts off to get to this point.”Fort St. James RCMP worked directly with investigators from the North District Major Crime Unitfrom Prince George and dozens of family members, friends and acquaintances of the victim wereinterviewed to piece together the last known activities of Joseph.Joseph was last seen alive at 11 p.m. on September 5.She was found in a house on Lower Road in Nak’azdli the next day.During the investigation, police did not rule out the possibility of prior contact with the suspectand said they were treating the matter as a possible targeted act.Joseph’s family is finally getting the closure it wants.“We are so relieved,” said Belinda Joseph, the victim’s daughter, who has been contacting hersiblings to give them the news.“I’ve been trying to reach them all day,” she said.Winchester Thomas was an acquaintance of Joseph’s and is known by members of the herfamily.He was questioned early in the investigation.RCMP would still appreciate more information on the case.“If you witnessed or heard anything on the day, you can call the Fort St. James RCMP or CrimeStoppers. The RCMP always appreciates more evidences,” said Berney.Belinda Joseph said the RCMP were also waiting on DNA evidence connected to the case.No more arrests are expected.

© Copyright 2007 Caledonia Courier

Archive Search Result http://web.bcnewsgroup.com/portals-code/searchd.cgi?sid=563...

1 of 1 12-10-18 8:43 PM