Nunavut RCMP lay first degree murder charge following Igloolik death

A suspicious death in Igloolik has turned into a murder investigation.

RCMP issued a news release June 12 saying a 24-year-old Igloolik man is charged with first-degree murder and has been remanded into custody.

Steven Akittirq, 24, is scheduled to make a first appearance in court June 17 in Iqaluit.

Police were alerted to the discovery of the body of a dead young woman on June 9, who was found just outside of the community.

The Nunavut RCMP division then sent investigators from its Major Crimes Unit and Forensic Identification Services to Igloolik.

News of the death even reached the floor of the legislature in Iqaluit that day, when Aggu MLA Paul Quassa expressed his condolences to the people of his home community.

Regular RCMP members, along with specialized units, are still investigating the death.

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call RCMP directly at 867-934-0123 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.