Man accused of helping youth in quadruple homicide on Carry the Kettle granted bail

The 2025 Carry the Kettle quadruple homicide is before the courts, with one man granted bail and another set for trial. Sierra D’Souza Butts reports.

A man charged in connection with a quadruple homicide on Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation in 2025 was granted bail at Regina King’s Bench Thursday afternoon.

Exactly one year after the homicide occurred, Lauren Elvis Hotomani, 67, was arrested by Saskatchewan RCMP along with the File Hills First Nations Police Service on Feb. 4.

Hotomani is charged with one count of accessory after the fact to murder. He was released under several conditions including no contact with any of the victim’s family members, no possession of weapons, as well as other conditions.

The three other people arrested by police, 18-year-old Darrius Racette, a 15-year-old male youth and 17-year-old male youth, are each facing four counts of first-degree murder. Both youths cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

A month-long trial for Racette’s case has been scheduled for early 2027.

Last month, the Crown indicated it will be seeking an adult sentence following any conviction for the 17-year-old’s crimes. The youth is also facing one count of attempted murder, stemming from an altercation between the accused and a fifth person at the home where the killings occurred.

• Download the CTV News app to get breaking news alerts sent to your device

The second youth accused in the killings pleaded guilty to manslaughter last month.

On Feb. 4, 2025, File Hills First Nations Police Service received a report of sudden deaths at a residence on Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation. Officers responded and found the bodies of four people inside the home.

The Saskatchewan RCMP’s Major Crimes Branch took control of the investigation and later deemed the deaths of Tracey Hotomani, Sheldon Quewezance, Shauna Fay and Terry Jack as homicides.

Hotomani will make his next court appearance on May 19 in Indian Head.

With files from Caitlin Brezinski