Police aware of Eichler, missing woman link

REGINA — The Regina Police Service has acknowledged that it investigated a relationship between Clayton Bo Eichler — who is accused of murdering two women — and a woman who was reported missing in Regina more than two years ago.

“And, of course, as part of their investigation, they would explore whether that has any bearing on the Kim Cruickshank missing person case,” said Elizabeth Popowich, spokeswoman for the RPS.

Cruickshank, 27, was last seen in Regina on March 23, 2013. According to a CBC report on Thursday, she and Eichler knew each other for several years. At times, she babysat Eichler’s son, and days before her disappearance, he messaged her.

Eichler, 33, has not been charged in relation to Cruickshank’s disappearance. He is currently in custody and before the courts on charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of Kelly Nicole Goforth and Richele Lee Bear. Eichler is also charged with committing an indignity to Bear’s body, which police have not located.

Eichler also faces charges of aggravated sexual assault against a 24-year-old woman, and overcoming resistance by attempting to choke her. Those crimes are alleged to have occurred on June 28, 2012 in the 1600 block of Broder Street in Regina.

If the murder charges proceed beyond a preliminary inquiry, Eichler has elected to be tried by a judge and jury in Regina Court of Queen’s Bench.

Typically, police don’t discuss ongoing investigations out of concern for affecting court cases. In this case, Popowich noted that the investigator had been in touch with Cruickshank’s family and the families of the two deceased women.

Cruickshank’s sister Kristen couldn’t be reached Thursday for comment.