Charges of first degree murder have been laid in the case involving a body found on the Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation more than two years ago.

On August 7, 2020, a concerned co-worker contacted the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) and requested a well-being check on 56-year-old Bud Paul, as he failed to attend work and could not be reached for a number of days. Officers with the WPS immediately began their search and launched a missing person's investigation.

Three days later, on August 10, 2020, Paul's burned-out vehicle was discovered on Queen Street in Winnipeg; elevating the concern of investigators.

On August 11, a body was located by Manitoba First Nation Police Service (MFNPS) hidden in deep brush in Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation. It was later confirmed to be the body of Paul and deemed a homicide.

Bud Paul (submitted photo)

A joint investigation, involving Manitoba RCMP Major Crime Services, WPS and MFNPS, led officers to Neepawa, where surveillance video from a liquor store captured Paul with two individuals. The video was from August 1, 2020, and was the last known sighting of Paul alive. A plea to the public for any information about the two people in the video was issued on October 14, 2020.

On December 17, 2020, new information led RCMP and WPS investigators to Paul's last-known residence on Hespeler Avenue in Winnipeg and a search was conducted. On the same date, the two primary suspects in the homicide were publicly identified as a 36-year-old female and a 39-year-old male. Investigators also established that the suspects and the victim were known to each other.

On December 20, 2020, the female suspect was arrested in Winnipeg and taken to Manitoba RCMP headquarters for questioning. She was later released without charges.

Between January 2021 and July 2022, investigators from all three police services conducted multiple interviews and followed-up on all tips received by the public. During this timeframe, forensic evidence was also examined by the RCMP laboratory in Ottawa as well as a laboratory in the United States.

Through the use of the forensic evidence, tips from the public and statements obtained from witnesses, Aaron Mousseau a 41-year-old male from Winnipeg was identified as being responsible for the murder of Paul. On Tuesday of this week, Mousseau was arrested and charged with 1st degree murder.

Police say no additional charges are expected at this time.