The RCMP logo is seen outside Royal Canadian Mounted Police “E” Division Headquarters, in Surrey, B.C., on Friday, April 13, 2018. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
Manitoba RCMP have charged a former priest with a historical sexual assault dating back to the early 1970s.
Mounties say their Russell detachment received a report on March 16, 2022 from a woman in her 60s. The victim reported she had been sexually assaulted multiple times over the course of two years by the priest when she was a parishioner at St. Elijah Romanian Orthodox Church. At the time of the assaults, she was 11-12 years of age.
Police began investigating and interviewed multiple people, searched historical church records and spoke with church-related organizations to obtain further material.
On June 13 of this year, Constantin Turcoane, 81, of Regina, Sask., was arrested. He was released pending a court date.
Police believe there are further victims and ask anyone with information to contact Russell RCMP at (204) 773-2675.
