Archive - 1976
Homicide #??
Date - 1976-06-07
Victim - Supleve, Johanne (22)
Accused - UNSOLVED
Charge -
At roughly 2:30 a.m. on Monday morning (June 7, 1976), after finishing a cup of coffee at the Salisbury House restaurant, Johanne began walking home. As she lived on Avaco Drive, her route home appeared to be west on Regent Avenue, across Lagimodiere and then north on Panet Road. Numerous people saw her walking home, including a couple of police officers, night shift workers and people leaving for work. She was last seen alive at the intersection of Panet Road and Keenlyside around 2:45 a.m., walking homeward.
At roughly 3:15 a.m. a woman was heard screaming from the parking lot behind 1080 Moncton. An area resident awoke to see a "shadowy figure" running from the parking lot and speed away west on Molson Avenue in what appeared to be a 1968-70 vehicle, 2-door, hard top, sloped back and dark in colour. When the residents went to investigate they found Johanne beneath a truck in the parking lot. She had a broken leg and had been stabbed numerous in the upper body. She succumbed to these injuries a short time later.
Shortly before the stabbing, around 3:00 a.m., a tenant at 1080 Moncton, who was getting ready for work, heard a car revving its engine. When he looked out his window he saw what appeared to be a shiny blue 1967 Camaro driving quickly down the street. When he left his apartment 15 minutes later (about the time of the murder) he apparently saw the same vehicle speeding away down Monroe Avenue. A forensic examination of Johanne's clothing found traces of metallic turquoise automotive paint on her coat, jeans and sandals. As a 1967 Camaro is similar in styling to the vehicle seen speeding from the parking lot, it is believed that they are one and the same vehicle.
As the parking lot behind 1080 Moncton was not the most direct route home, it is possible that she was confronted by the driver of the Camaro (or a similar vehicle) around the intersection of Panet Road and Molson Avenue. As a result of this confrontation Johanne may have run down Molson towards Moncton, which would have been the closest residential area, seeking help or assistance. As she ran down Molson it is believed that the vehicle struck her from behind and threw her onto the boulevard where one of her shoes and her purse were found.
It is believed that the driver then sped away, circled around Moncton Avenue, came back to the general area where Johanne was laying and stabbed her to death. This would account for the two sightings of the Camaro by the tenant at 1080 Moncton. Furthermore, since the owner of this car has never been identified, he may very well be the killer.
Johanne was at very low risk of becoming a victim of violent crime. However, given that she was out alone late at night somewhat elevated that risk. While it is possible that she knew her killer based on the amount of rage directed towards her, it is unlikely that she actually knew who it was. In this case the suspect probably had a history of drinking that included abusive and controlling behaviour and a pattern of unpredictable explosive violence towards strangers, usually women. He will likely have been between 18 and 24 years of age (now 45-50), probably arrested by the police in the past for violent interpersonal offences and most likely drove (in 1976) a blue 1968-70, 2-door, sloped back car (possibly a Camaro). Anyone with information on this murder is requested to contact the police.
If you have any information about this case, please contact Crime Stoppers at 786-TIPS (8477), or e-mail Sgt. Al Bradbury and Det. Jon Lutz of the Cold Case Homicide Unit.
http://winnipeg.ca/police/Unsolved_Cases/Homicides/1976_supleve.stm