3 Regina deaths probed as triple homicide

Regina police say the deaths of two adults and a child whose decomposing bodies were found in a townhouse Friday will be investigated as a triple homicide.

At a news briefing Saturday afternoon, Chief Troy Hagen said it was too early to conclude the deaths could be considered murder-suicide.

"If the theory holds true that we are investigating three homicides in a single place, this would be the worst incident of multiple homicides in Regina in our history," Hagen noted.

Because of the condition of the bodies, police aren't ready to confirm the victims' identities, he said.

Hagen would not reveal how the victims died but said it wasn't by gunfire.

The bodies of a man, woman and a child under the age of 10 were discovered Friday afternoon by the property manager, who was acting on concerns raised by neighbours, police said.

"They had a sense there was something wrong," police spokeswoman Elizabeth Popowich told reporters Friday night. "There was also a concern about odour emanating from the dwelling, and so the property manager entered and immediately called police after that."

Neighbours said a couple lived in the unit with a toddler.

Police said Saturday they do know who the tenants of the dwelling were and added that those people were unaccounted for.

In a news release, police said that information was not enough to confirm identities.

Police, along with forensic investigators and a coroner, were on the scene well into the night Friday.

"Everyone wants to know what happened," Dennis Beer, a neighbour, said. "I mean, everyone gets a little concerned about their own safety."

Police said an autopsy was set for Monday.

The bodies were found in a townhouse at 323 Oakview Drive in Regina.