Killer of missing Filipino in Manitoba sentenced to 16 years

Edward Balaquit with a photo of his missing father, Eduardo, after the sentencing of the latter’s killer. SCREENGRAB/CBC

A judge in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada handed a 16-year prison sentence to the convicted killer of a missing Filipino office cleaner, capping a four-year manslaughter case.

A Manitoba Court of King’s Bench Judge Sadie Bond sentenced Kyle Pietz, 37, who killed and robbed night cleaner Eduardo Balaquit, 59, who was working alone, and later disposed of his body, according to a Toronto Star report.

The victim’s son, Edward Balaquit, expressed relief at the sentencing, “but at the same time, we are still living through the pain,” he told the Star. He is encouraging Pietz to reveal where his father’s body is.

Balaquit left his home to go to work June 4, 2018. He was never seen again and his body has not been found.

Court records state that Pietz and Balaquit had worked together at Westcon Equipment and Rentals, but Pietz was jobless and in debt at the time of the crime.

Prosecution said that Pietz killed Balaquit in the building and disposed of his body near Arborg, some 120 kilometers north of Winnipeg. His SUV was tracked in the near the Westcon building and later near Arborg.

A sticky note with Balaquit’s bank card information, but not the actual cards, was found in Pietz’s home. $700 were taken from Balaquit’s accounts. Also found were zip ties and duct tape that police said were used by Pietz in killing the victim.