The RCMP made an arrest October 6 in connection to the 2017 murder of 12-year-old Ray (OJ) Taparti of Rankin Inlet.
Glen Kadlak Jr., 21, also of Rankin Inlet, is charged with murder. He will appear in the Nunavut Court of Justice in Iqaluit on Oct. 23.
The victim and the accused knew each other prior to the murder. The RCMP described them as "casual acquaintances."
photo courtesy of the RCMP
The Taparti family notified the RCMP that OJ had been missing for about five days on July 7, 2017. His body was found the following day by local searchers.
An autopsy conducted on the boy's remains listed his death as a homicide.
Kadlak's arrest follows a investigation by the RCMP's V Division Major Crime Unit – one of the largest ever conducted by the unit – aided by a number of specialized units from across the country, as well as other various investigative partners.
During the past 15 months since OJ's murder, the RCMP used more than 100 police officers in the investigation, conducted more than 75 interviews, followed-up on more than 250 tasks, involved more than 15 agencies and departments, and logged thousands of investigative hours.
The Taparti family has asked for privacy in the wake of the arrest, noting in a public statement that they are glad the RCMP worked so hard to bring justice to OJ, who is terribly missed by the family.
Nunavut Justice Minister Jeannie Ehaloak said in a written press release that OJ's death in July of 2017 had a devastating impact on his family and the community of Rankin Inlet.
"Now that charges have been laid, the community can work on moving forward," said Ehaloak.