Teen charged in death of 18-year-old girl: Winnipeg police

A 14-year-old male has been charged in connection with the death of an 18-year-old woman on Young Street Saturday.

An 18-year-old girl has died, and a 14-year-old boy is in custody after Winnipeg police responded to a home for reports of a homicide.

On Feb. 14, police were called to a home in the 500 block of Young Street and when officers arrived, a woman was found dead.

She has been identified as 18-year-old Avontai Hartleib of Sachigo First Nation, but police say she had been living in Winnipeg.

On Feb. 17, the homicide unit arrested a 14-year-old boy and he has been charged with second-degree murder and criminal negligence causing death.

Police said the boy remains in custody.

The charges have not been proven in court.

David Hartleib, Avontai’s father, called the situation tragic.

“I’m just keeping strong for the family and it hurts; it really does hurt,” he said. “I’m just trying not to fall apart here.”

David said he remembered his daughter as a happy child who loved to draw and loved her five siblings.

He said he is presently making funeral arrangements.

“She was young, and her life was taken away from her too soon,” he said. “She was just beginning her life as an adult. She only became an adult for one month, and it’s just sad to see someone so young to not continue with life.”