The RCMP's emergency response team was called out around 12:30 p.m. after Carcross RCMP discovered 29-year-old Krystal Senyk's body in her home on the Tagish Road on Monday morning.

Cpl. Jim MacDougall of the Carcross detachment said police went to her home in response to a call they received, but could not elaborate further. Police are searching for Ronald Jeffrey Bax, 30, calling him a suspect in the homicide. He is described as having blond hair and a moustache and blue eyes. He is five feet, nine inches tall (175cm), weighs 165 pounds (75kg) and is considered armed and dangerous.

There were domestic problems involving the marriage break-up between Ron and Lynn Bax, RCMP Staff-Sgt. Mick Ryan confirmed this morning. Senyk was Lynn Bax' best friend during this period.

Senyk and Lynn Bax, (formerly Blaikie) first met at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont., in 1985. Lynn had previously worked in the Yukon, and returned here in 1986, where she met Ron. Senyk came to the Yukon about four years ago to visit her friend, was offered a job for the city as an engineer, and decided to stay. Ryan said police are protecting 16 people involved in the dispute, but can't reveal where they are now.

Police attended the Yukon government building Monday afternoon and removed one of these people, and searched several homes in Whitehorse for Bax. Around 6 p.m. the emergency response team stormed Bax's residence, also on the Tagish Road, but he was not inside. Police seized several rifles from inside the residence for safekeeping, Cpl. MacDougall said.

A search of the area around Bax's and Senyk's residences turned up nothing, and was called off around 9:30 p.m. It resumed this morning but conditions are difficult, Ryan said. The snow has frozen into a hard crust which makes movement easy, but tracking difficult. This, combined with high winds in the area, will make it extremely difficult for police dog Nine and his handler to make progress, Ryan said.

Police believe Bax is alone or in the company of another person because both his vehicles were at the home. Bax is very familiar with the bush and weapons and has worked as a big game guide. He is also a taxidermist, carver and sculptor. He operated Northern Sculpture out of Carcross.

Helicopters and planes are being used, and 25 officers are involved in the investigation, he said. Carcross residents, are stunned by the murder.

"Ryan said police are not certain how long Senyk was dead before she was discovered. There are nine hours of time unaccounted for between when she was last seen and when the body was found.

She was shot with a high-calibre rifle. An autopsy will be performed in Vancouver. Bax still remains at large.

From the pages of the Whitehorse Star Tuesday, March 3, 1992