Lambton County, Ont. victim identified in alleged double homicide
OPP have identified a person found deceased in in Lambton County, a death under investigation in connection with another homicide in Sarnia.
The remains were found the afternoon Dec. 28, 2021 at a property on Crooked Road in Enniskillen Township after police responded to a call about a supicious person.
The deceased has now been identified as 18-year-old Jelani Byer-Coates of Ajax.
On the same day a second body, later identified as 31-year-old Lance Richardson of Mississauga, was found deceased in a home on Watson Street in Sarnia.
CTV News London spoke with Richardson’s lawyer Stefan Peters. He says his client was reported missing a few days before he was found dead.
“I was contacted by his family over the holiday period, indicated that he had not been back home, which was not like him. And we spoke about it – and on my recommendation they put in a missing person’s request, and they got the tragic news of course, a few days later, that Lance was deceased.”
Matthew Theriault, 42, has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of indignity to a body in connection with the deaths.
It remains unclear if the three men were known to each other and where the alleged murders took place.
But Peters says his client, Richardson, was known to police.
“I had represented him on various, you know, drug and firearms-related offences, that’s a matter of public record, those charges were withdrawn at the Crown's request.”
OPP say the investigation continues, with the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch, Sarnia police, the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario and Ontario Forensic Pathology Services all involved.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.