Body discoveries prompt homicide probes

Winnipeg police are investigating two homicides after the bodies of a woman and a man were found in the city over the weekend.

Police spent much of Saturday evening and Sunday morning in the 200 block of Balmoral Avenue, where they confirmed that a man's body was found in a yard between two houses.

Police did not release the man's name, but family members have identified him as John Felix, who was in his early 20s.

Family members told CBC News thatJohn was a kind and loving man who worked as a model and dreamed of going into the army.

"He was a wonderful nephew, a wonderful son, and a wonderful kid," said Dolly Felix, an aunt.

"We all miss him. I'll always remember his laugh and his happy-go-lucky gorgeous smile."

An uncle, Hector Felix, described him as "the most caring person."

"If he saw something wrong with you or you needed change, he'd be the person to come up and give you the last of his change," the elder Felix said, sobbing.

Neighbours asked about gunshots

Family members gathered on Balmoral Street on Sunday afternoon.

Police have not said how the man died, but said they are treating his death as a homicide.

Crystal Gray, who lives across the street from the house, said police knocked on her door early Saturday morning to ask if she had heard any gunshots.

"They were like, 'Did you hear any shots? Did you hear any yelling or screaming or fighting?'" Gray said Sunday morning.

"I did hear screaming and fighting, but I didn't recall because it woke me up."

Woman's body found near Notre Dame

Police also announced on Sunday that a woman's body has been recovered from behind an apartment complex on the 700 block of Notre Dame Avenue.

Officers were called to the back lane by Notre Dame, between Toronto and Victor streets, on Saturday morning on reports of "suspicious circumstances."

Neighbourhood residents told CBC News they saw what appeared to be human body parts inside bags by a dumpster.

"We walked up and saw the blood and everything and it kind of clicked, like, 'Wow, this is a dead body,'" said Jesse Kehler, who said he saw the bags while walking past the scene.

"It was bad, really messy," he added. "Never seen anything like it before. Hope I never see it again."

Police said officers did locate "evidence" near a garbage bin, but they would not say if it was human remains.