Manitoba Alert: Woman Abducted in Pimicikamak Cree Nation, Suspect Armed and Dangerous
A dangerous-person alert has shaken northern Manitoba after a 20-year-old woman was reportedly abducted at knifepoint from the Pimicikamak Cree Nation. Authorities say the suspect, identified as 39-year-old Joshua Paupanekis, is considered armed and extremely dangerous. The alert lit up mobile phones across the province, warning residents to remain vigilant and avoid approaching him.
RCMP reports indicate the incident unfolded early Thursday morning when Paupanekis allegedly forced his way into a home and attacked a 24-year-old man with a hammer before abducting Raeanne Thomas, believed to be a current or former partner. Eyewitnesses saw Paupanekis fleeing on foot with Thomas in a heavily forested area, prompting a large-scale search involving officers from Winnipeg, police dogs, drones and the RCMP’s major crime services.
This is not Paupanekis’ first run-in with the law. Court records show a history of violent behavior, including multiple assaults, threats, probation breaches and weapons restrictions. Authorities have emphasized the risk to public safety, noting that this case falls under intimate partner violence but carries the additional urgency of an armed abduction.
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Community leaders are urging calm while emphasizing safety. Pimicikamak Chief David Monias advised residents to stay in secure locations unless leaving for essential reasons, highlighting the seriousness of the situation in this northern Manitoba community of roughly 7,000 people. For many locals, the shock is compounded by the tight-knit nature of the area and the rarity of dangerous-person alerts, with only eight issued in Manitoba since 2020.
Family members are pleading for resolution. Paupanekis’ mother publicly appealed for her son to surrender, urging him not to harm Thomas and to allow law enforcement to safely resolve the situation. Her message reflects both fear and hope, a reminder of the human dimension behind these alerts.
The RCMP is actively seeking information on Paupanekis’ and Thomas’ whereabouts and has asked anyone with knowledge to contact the Cross Lake detachment immediately. The authorities continue door-to-door searches, checkpoints on key roads and ongoing coordination through their emergency operations center.
Incidents like this underscore the urgent challenges surrounding domestic and intimate partner violence, particularly in remote and northern communities where response times are complicated by geography and sparse infrastructure. The implications are profound, not just for the immediate victims but for the wider community that must grapple with fear and uncertainty until the situation is resolved.
Stay informed as this investigation develops and keep tuned for updates on safety measures and police efforts to bring both the victim to safety and the suspect into custody.
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