Saskatchewan RCMP have announced dozens of charges against an Assiniboia man who they say is suspected of sexually abusing over 32 children, with officers investigating 1.5 million pieces of digital evidence.
Mr. Dyke was already in police custody after being arrested in November 2023 and charged with three offences of a sexual nature against three boys under the age of 12. He will remain in custody until his court appearance, an RCMP news release said.
Mr. Dyke’s spouse ran a home-based daycare, where some of the victims came from, according to RCMP Senior Superintendent Ted Munro, while police noted that victims came into contact with him through “various relationships.”
The incidents are said to have occurred between 2005 and 2023, with victims ranging from 18 months to just under 17 years of age, most of them male.
Victims are believed to be from several different communities in southern Saskatchewan, including Tisdale, Estevan, Coronach, Assiniboia, Swift Current, and Gravelbourg, Supt. Munro told reporters.
Supt. Munro said that investigators found 1.5 million pieces of digital child sexual abuse material on devices seized from Mr. Dyke’s home in November 2023.
“If you were to take that evidence that we located and would put that out it'd equate to a six-storey building of paper. So you can imagine the amount of evidence that our investigators had to go through,” he said.
Police noted that Mr. Dyke’s spouse was not being investigated.
“At this time there is no evidence to suggest that this spouse was aware of what was taking place,” Mr. Munro said at the news conference, adding the spouse was cooperating with investigators.
Mr. Dyke was also an instructor with the Royal Canadian Air Cadets in southern Saskatchewan. However, Supt. Munro said investigators have not identified any victims from his role with the cadets to date.
RCMP say the investigation is ongoing and invites any tips or information from the public related to the case in order to identify other victims as well as investigate leads on other potential perpetrators.
“Our investigators are continuing their work, following up thoroughly on every tip and investigational lead that comes in,” Supt. Munro said in the news release.
“The nature of these types of crimes is devastating for both the victims and their families,” he added. “We will meticulously investigate these crimes and use a victim-led approach, as these young victims navigate this extremely difficult situation. Our ultimate goal is to bring justice for these children, their families, and communities affected by this.”
