The Htoo-Maw family had escaped a life of hardship and uncertainty in a Thai refugee camp, arriving in Canada as Karen refugees from Myanmar. They had only been in Regina, Saskatchewan, for two years, hoping to build a better life in a safe and welcoming country. But that dream came to a horrifying end sometime on August 6th, 2010.
Neighbors and the building’s property manager first noticed a foul smell coming from the Htoo-Maw home. On August 7th, they contacted authorities, who quickly made the grim discovery. Inside the modest townhouse on Oakview Drive, the bodies of three family members were found: thirty-one-year-old Gray Nay Htoo, his twenty-eight-year-old wife Maw Maw, and their three-year-old son, Seven June Htoo. The details of the crime scene were never fully disclosed to the public, but investigators described it as particularly brutal and disturbing.
Although the murders happened in a relatively busy residential area, no one reported witnessing the crime. Some neighbors recalled hearing strange, loud noises the night before—possibly a struggle—but it wasn’t enough to alert anyone at the time. One resident said it sounded like a gunshot. Police would later dismiss that theory, further deepening the mystery.
The Htoo-Maw family were active members of the New Friends in Christ Church. According to those who knew them, they were kind, humble people who were grateful for the safety and opportunities Canada offered. Gray worked in recycling, and Maw Maw stayed home to care for their son.
The news of their murders devastated the small but close-knit Karen community in Regina. Many found it difficult to believe such violence could strike a family who had already endured so much.
Regina Police launched an intensive investigation involving more than twenty-five officers. They were later joined by the RCMP and even the FBI, who offered assistance, especially in considering the possibility of a hate crime or culturally motivated violence.
Over 200 people were interviewed, many with the help of translators familiar with the Karen language and culture. The police even assigned a Karen-speaking RCMP officer to work closely with the community in hopes of building trust. Despite several arrests early in the investigation, no one was ever charged, and the leads eventually dried up.
With few facts publicly confirmed, speculation has filled the void. Some believe the murders were connected to criminal activity, perhaps drug-related, pointing to rumors that “shady” individuals had been seen visiting the home. Others wonder whether Gray might have been targeted personally, with his family tragically caught in the crossfire. Still others raise the possibility of a hate crime against newcomers from a refugee background.
Online discussions have also highlighted strange details, like reports of floorboards being pulled up, possibly to access a hidden storage space.
Despite all this, police have never officially confirmed any motive or person of interest.
In 2014, a $50,000 reward was offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction. That reward remains in place to this day. In 2015, the case was turned over to Regina’s Cold Case Unit, where it remains active, but unresolved.
Crime Immemorial 