Nunavut police investigate sudden death in Kugluktuk

Nunavut police have laid charges in one homicide and opened an investigation into another in the Kitikmeot community of Kugluktuk.

On Jan. 18, the RCMP’s major crime unit charged a young Kugluktuk resident with the 2017 murder of a 46-year-old woman.

The accused is a young person whose name is subject to a publication ban under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Family and friends of Margaret Ogina had contacted police on April 10 with concerns that they hadn’t seen Ogina for some time.

Police found Ogina’s body in her home later that same day.

The RCMP did not offer details on the almost two-year investigation. The accused is scheduled to appear in court in Iqaluit on Feb. 5, police said.

Woman, 31, found dead

Police in Kugluktuk are working on a separate investigation into the recent death of a 31-year-old in the same community.

The woman was found unresponsive in her home on Jan. 29, RCMP said.

The RCMP said the coroner’s office is conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of the woman’s death.

Police said the community has requested help from a crisis response team to support community members affected by both deaths.

In another Kitikmeot tragedy, police have laid a murder charge against a Cambridge Bay man in relation to the recent death of another Cambridge Bay man.