Probe of unsolved triple homicide in Regina gets funding

An ongoing investigation into the slayings of three refugees in Regina in 2010 has been given $100,000 from a special provincial crime fund.

The deaths of Gray Nay Htoo, 31, his wife Maw Maw, 28, and their three-year-old son Seven June have been under investigation since the family was found dead Aug. 6, 2010 in their townhouse on Oakview Drive in Regina's Uplands neighbourhood.

On Monday, the province announced that the Regina police service would receive $100,000 from Saskatchewan's Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund.

The fund holds money from criminal prosecutions when assets associated with a crime are ordered, by a judge, to be handed over to the province.

According to the Regina police, Monday's disbursement was the result of an application the service made to access some funds.

"We applied over two years ago for some assistance out of the fund," police chief Troy Hagen said Tuesday. "So the $100,0000 will roll into our operating account and will help to offset ongoing costs associated to the investigation."

Hagen said most of the costs are for staff. Six officers have been working the case, full-time, for almost three and a half years.

"It's a bit of an anomaly in terms of investigations and very complex in nature," Hagen said. "We remain committed to try and solve this crime and the money will be directed towards those efforts."

According to the province, the fund -- which was established in 2009 -- currently has $1.31 million.

Also on Monday the province announced that another $100,000 from the fund would be transferred to another government fund, known as the Victims Fund. Money from that fund is used to help people who have been victims of violent crime.