The Steinbach windmill, located at the Mennonite Heritage Village in Steinbach was destroyed by fire nearly 10 years ago.
The Steinbach RCMP have charged two individuals in connection with the arson to the Steinbach windmill which occurred almost 10 years ago.
On October 22, 2000, members of the Steinbach RCMP responded to the Mennonite Heritage Village on Highway 12 in Steinbach to a report that the windmill on the property was on fire. RCMP members responded and discovered the Windmill totally engulfed in flames resulting in the Windmill completely destroyed.
At the time, RCMP investigated the fire with the assistance of the Manitoba Office of the Fire Commissioner. The fire was deemed an arson and the value of the loss and replacement of the windmill estimated at about $600,000.
Over the years, despite a full investigation at the time and following up on any information that would come forward, RCMP were unable to gather sufficient evidence to lay charges and the matter remained unsolved.
Over the past two weeks, RCMP received new information and with the assistance of the RCMP Major Crime Unit have now charged 30-year-old Kynan Patram of Mitchell and 30-year-old David Wiebe of Winnipeg with one count each of Arson. They both have been released to appear in Steinbach court on June 24, 2010.
CPL Sean Grunewald
Steinbach RCMP
326-4452 (office)
392-5141 (cell)
