Autopsy determines man was murdered
The death of a 51-year-old man at the Whitehorse General Hospital has now been deemed a homicide.
The death of a 51-year-old man at the Whitehorse General Hospital has now been deemed a homicide.
Clayton Benoit was transported by EMS to the hospital on Aug. 30. He died from his injuries later that evening.
An autopsy performed Tuesday at Vancouver General Hospital has determined that the cause of his death was homicide.
Consequently, the Yukon RCMP Major Crime Unit has now taken over the investigation.
The RCMP are asking anyone with information about Benoit’s activities or whereabouts in the days leading up to his death to contact them at 667-5555.
Benoit is originally from the Northwest Territories. According to police, he had been living in Whitehorse “for some time.”
His death marks the sixth homicide of 2017 in the Yukon, and the fifth in Whitehorse.
The last reported homicide was that of Wilfred “Dickie” Charlie, 57.
His body was found on July 5 near Fort Selkirk. The member of the Little Salmon-Carmacks First Nation had been reported missing in Carmacks on June 19.
Findings from an autopsy performed at Vancouver General Hospital resulted in his death being deemed a homicide.
A week earlier, on June 28, the body of Adam Cormack, 25, was found north of the Old Alaska Highway, west of Whitehorse.
In early July, Edward James Penner, 20, of British Columbia, was charged with first-degree murder in connection to Cormack’s death.
The murder of Greg Dawson, 45, also remains under investigation. His body was found April 6 at a home near Riverdale.
The double homicide of Wendy Carlick, 51, and Sarah MacIntosh, 53 is also under investigation. The women were found dead April 19 at MacIntosh’s home in the McIntyre subdivision.
This is the largest number of homicides the Yukon has experienced since 2004, when there were seven.
Last year, there were four homicides in the Yukon. One occurred in 2015, three in 2014 and none between 2011 and 2013.
Comments (8)
Up 0 Down 0
Yukon Commentor on Sep 22, 2017 at 3:47 pm
@Havesomerepect I agree that commenting about rumours and suspicions on criminal investigations, especially where someone has died isn't inappropriate. But you really don't think it's news that there have been 6 murders in the Yukon this year? I think it would be irresponsible if the paper didn't report that. Otherwise it would just be an obituary. An accidental plane crash is a lot different than a murder and as far as I'm aware there haven't been more than double the average number of plane crashes this year.
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have some respect on Sep 9, 2017 at 9:46 am
I don't like the sensationalizing in the article. A man was murdered, and he was a good person. The article should have left it at that. Make a different story about murders. I didn't see a synopsis on plane crashes and a list going back years when a young man died recently in his plane. Just a respectful announcement of the sad news. Why is Mr. Benoit's death not treated the same way?
Same goes for the insinuations and guessing going on in the comments section. Have some class. This is someone's family and friend. He was a carpenter and a valued member of his community. Look at his facebook page if you are curious. A good person. It's pretty rude to be 'wondering' at a time like this.
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Josey Wales on Sep 9, 2017 at 12:17 am
Hey MO....true that, been bleating that for years here now.
Once nice town, is rife with criminal scum that have little value for their own life...never mind the lives of those whom they predate.
Hey Tom...a trend you hope not? Too late brother as it a trend, one highly encouraged by our laughable courts...to continue.
Imagine living in a place where when/if convicted, your melanoma, your identified gender, your claim to culture...will determine how short of a stay you may have?
No need to imagine, "lady justice" morphed into a SJW and pulled the blinders off around 1977.
It is called Canada, and it redefines in my opinion lunacy...shameful lunacy at that.
Whoever killed this man, if caught and convicted will never face a parallel consequence for their actions.
Idiots as our current federal apologist award killers with cash payouts.
And sr...ditto!
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Yukon Watchdog on Sep 8, 2017 at 6:03 pm
Unbelievable! Whitehorse is becoming such a sh*thole. Wouldn't let my kids out of the house if I had any. Now when I go for a walk, I'm more afraid of finding a dead body or running into some drug dealer with a gun than I am of running into a bear. Miles is so right. Something is seriously wrong with this city. Is it because the legal system here in the Yukon is so messed up they know they'll only get a slap on the wrist?
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Tom Stevens on Sep 8, 2017 at 8:14 am
That is a very large number of homicides based on population. Something isn't normal when there is so many murders. Substance abuse, high risk lifestyles?
Hopefully not a trend.
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sr on Sep 7, 2017 at 11:10 pm
Very sad. My condolences to his family.
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jc on Sep 7, 2017 at 9:00 pm
Publishing a picture of the victim might be helpful. The Mounties always want the public's help to solve crimes, but won't give the public any info. Maybe that's why so many crimes in the Yukon are unsolved.
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Miles Ocean on Sep 7, 2017 at 6:43 pm
Something is seriously wrong with this city.