Winnipeg police investigating homicide of 73-year-old woman

Winnipeg police have launched a homicide investigation after the death of a 73-year-old who was previously reported missing. CTV’s Harrison Shin explains.

Garden City residents are reeling after a missing neighbour was found dead.

The Winnipeg Police Service is investigating the death of a 73-year-old woman earlier this month as a homicide.

The investigation began on June 8 when officers were called to a home in the 1-99 block of Primrose Crescent for a missing person investigation.

Upon arrival at the scene, police found the body of 73-year-old Lexie Diane Smart.

CTV News went to Smart’s home. Her son answered the door but declined to speak to reporters.

A nearby resident, Nancy Zanella, described Smart as generous and friendly.

“Lexie was good to her daughter; she was good to her neighbours,” Zanella told CTV News on Monday.

“I used to see her sitting on her front porch and I waved to her.”

Zanella said several police vehicles were in the area for two days at the time of the incident.

“There were probably about five or six, maybe more, police cars, and then I guess they had forensics here for two days. They were just coming in and out and I guess collecting evidence.”

She added officers talked to the neighbours.

Another neighbour, Ed Teplyski, said Smart had just started working as a full-time teacher.

“She was so excited,” he said. “She was never a person to be down or anything. She was always a happy-go-lucky person.”

The homicide unit has taken over the investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 204-986-6508 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-8477.