On a cold winter morning in Manitoba, the life of David Lawrence Maytwayashing, a 50-year-old man from the nearby town of Ashern, came to a violent and unresolved end. In the early hours of Thursday, January 29, 2009, members of the Ashern and Lundar Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) were called to a residence on the Lake Manitoba First Nation, a community located about 170 kilometers northwest of Winnipeg. Inside the home, they discovered David’s body.
Police quickly determined that his death was a homicide. The investigation revealed that on the evening of Wednesday, January 28, 2009, David had been at the same residence, attending a house party. What began as a social gathering ended in tragedy, leaving a family with unanswered questions that have now stretched over more than a decade.
An autopsy was scheduled for the following day in Winnipeg, but authorities have never publicly released the specific cause of his death or details about his injuries.
The investigation into David's murder was launched by the Ashern RCMP, with the case assigned file number 2009-100567. In the initial days, police confirmed the death was not random, but released few other details to the public. Investigators from the RCMP Major Crimes Unit were brought in to assist, signaling the seriousness of the case. They worked to piece together a timeline of David's last hours and identify everyone who was at the house party that night. Despite their efforts and interviews conducted within the community, police have been unable to formally identify the person or persons responsible for David's death.
Very little has been publicly shared about David Maytwayashing's personal life, but records show the profound and lasting impact of his loss. He was a father, and his death left a void in the lives of his children. The grief his family has endured was compounded by another tragedy years later. The pain of his unsolved murder is a shadow that has remained over his loved ones and the close-knit community of Lake Manitoba First Nation.
Lake Manitoba First Nation, also known as Dog Creek, is a community situated on the shores of Lake Manitoba. In a place where many families have deep roots and know each other well, an unsolved homicide leaves a particularly painful scar. The silence surrounding the case has been a heavy burden for those who knew David and for a community that desires justice and healing. The lack of resolution means that those with knowledge of the crime have carried that information for years.
As of today, David Maytwayashing's case is listed by Manitoba Crime Stoppers as an unsolved homicide. The RCMP continues to seek information from the public that could lead to a breakthrough. Years may have passed, but the hope remains that someone who was at the party on January 28, 2009, or who heard something in the days and years that followed, will finally come forward. The smallest detail could be the key to providing long-awaited answers and a measure of peace to a family still waiting for justice for David. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Ashern RCMP or to remain anonymous by calling Manitoba Crime Stoppers.
