On June 13, 2024, the Russell RCMP arrested 81-year-old Constantin Turcoane of Regina, Saskatchewan, in connection with a sexual assault case dating back to the early 1970s. At the time of the alleged assaults, Turcoane was serving as a priest at St. Elijah Romanian Orthodox Church in Lennard, Manitoba.
The investigation began on March 16, 2022, when a woman in her 60s reported to the Russell RCMP that she had been sexually assaulted multiple times by Turcoane over a two-year period during her childhood. The survivor, who was 11-12 years old at the time of the assaults, was a parishioner at the church.
The RCMP’s investigation involved taking statements from multiple individuals, searching historic church records, and collaborating with church-related organizations to gather further evidence. As a result, a warrant was issued for Turcoane’s arrest on charges of Rape (1970) and Sexual Intercourse Under 14 (1970). Turcoane subsequently turned himself in to the police and has been released with a court date pending.
Authorities believe there may be additional survivors and are urging them to come forward. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Russell RCMP Detachment at 204-773-2675.
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