The 2024 Manitoba Homicide Victim List is available here

Portage la Prairie RCMP were called to a residence on Oak Bay in Portage la Prairie on December 1st at approximately 10 :30 pm.

Police arrived to find a 42-year-old male, and 37-year-old female deceased.

At this time, there is no concern for public safety.

It has been determined that on December 1, 2024, at 7:14 pm, two people exited a maroon SUV and entered a residence on Oak Bay in Portage la Prairie.

Both individuals exited the residence and fled in the SUV at a high rate of speed.

Update: Preston Whitford, was arrested on January 16th and charged with two counts of second-degree murder.

On March 5, 2025, Jeremy Whincup, 54-years-old from Portage la Prairie was arrested and charged with Second Degree Murder x 2 in relation to the double homicide.

Update August 2026: Preston Whitford and Jeremy Whincup were sentenced for their roles in the December 2024 killings of James Borden, 42, and Emily Smoke, 37, in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. The pair were involved in drug trafficking and targeted Borden over money he owed them. Whitford shot Borden twice before also killing Smoke, who was found hiding in a bathroom.

Whitford pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder and received a life sentence with no parole for 17 years. Whincup pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter and was sentenced to 18 years, with about 16 years remaining after credit for time served.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Portage la Prairie RCMP at 204-857-4445 Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477