Man beaten to death in Berens River First Nation remembered as jokester, family man

One man is dead and three others are in police custody after a deadly assault on a Manitoba First Nation.

Berens River RCMP were alerted to an assault around 4 p.m. Thursday that left Leslie Mason, 45, with life-threatening injuries, according to a Saturday news release from Mounties. He was taken to the nursing station at Berens River where he died from his injuries, police said.

The father of 14 loved his friends and family dearly, and enjoyed hunting and playing hockey with them, a family member told CBC News on Saturday.

Mason regularly travelled for work between Winnipeg and Berens River — which straddles the eastern shore of Lake Winnipeg about 275 kilometres north of Winnipeg — and was preparing to move into a home he had purchased there and was renovating, the family said 

His family described him as an outgoing person who enjoyed cracking jokes and making people laugh. Mason loved his nieces and nephews, they said, and treated them like they were his own children.

An investigation by RCMP determined that three men left the community in a black Dodge Ram pickup on the day Mason was killed, and were believed to be headed to Bloodvein First Nation.

The suspect vehicle was found near Bloodvein First Nation and three men were arrested without incident.

Michael Oliver Franklin, 31, and Thomas Bryton Goosehead, 22, were both charged with second-degree murder on Friday. Russell Lee Franklin, 43, was charged with accessory to murder after the fact, the Mounties said.

The younger Franklin had a large following on social media: His TikTok account has amassed more than 90,000 followers.

Berens River RCMP, as well as major crimes and forensic units, continue to investigate. 

Anyone with information in relation to this homicide is asked to contact the Berens River RCMP at 204-382-2436, call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.