Reid Dickie
Ethelbert is a little community of 312 people north of Dauphin, a quiet town near the Duck Mountains. I have had several reasons to be in Ethelbert this summer, one of them my curiosity about a double homicide that occurred there last winter.
On a cold January day, Elsie Steppa, 81 and her nephew Clarence Thornton aka Harry Jones, 50 died of “blunt force trauma” in a little white stucco house next to abandoned railroad tracks. For me, the event has an irresistible bouquet of surrounding elements.
The house still stands and hasn’t been touched since the investigation. I took pictures of the house, side and backyards on several visits. Click pic to enlarge.
Payton Saari, 20 of Ethelbert has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
ReadReidRead 
How creepy! How sad!
A full measure of both, indeed. Thanks Sharon.
Nice series!
Thanks Dan.
I think you’ve captured the weirdness of the case.
Thanks Julie.
Did you capture the ‘beanie babies’ in the north window?
As well, one of the victims had a house in Pine River….some interesting shots there, as well.
Great photographs!
A horrific event for a small community.
Thanks Jude.
This was such a crazy story!! I recently moved there and have yet to see this place. Hopefully it’s gone now… Craziness.
Last I checked the village had it up for tax sale. The plan was to demolish it if it didn’t sell. It is/was located on a short street facing the former railroad tracks. There’s a little footbridge over the creek just below the murder house. Enjoy Ethelbert.
It was demolished/leveled last summer.
Good. Thanks Jude.