THUNDER BAY -- Here is a recap of the 11 homicide investigations the Thunder Bay Police Service has been responsible for in 2014:
Homicide case no. 1, Jan. 25:
Jeffrey Munroe, 35, became the first victim linked to a homicide investigation in 2014. Police believe the man died inside his apartment building on the corner of Kingsway Avenue and Walsh Street following a domestic dispute.
A neighbour, Scot Sanford, said Munroe, and the woman now accused of second-degree murder in connection with his death, had just moved into the apartment together a few months before the fatal incident.
“They seemed pretty happy,” Sanford told tbnewswatch.com in January. “I didn’t see anything particularly wrong or anything that stood out negatively.”
Thomas is expected to head to trial in the New Year.
Homicide case no. 2, May 14:
The city’s second homicide case followed the death of Adam Nicodemus Beaver. The 46-year-old was rushed to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre where he was pronounced dead.
The death followed reports of a stabbing at the Cumberland Street South apartment complex of Andras Court. Police later arrested another resident of the apartment complex who was eventually charged with second-degree murder and breach of probation.
Homicide case no. 3, June 5:
Robert David Barbeau, 48, died in hospital from injuries sustained during an assaultBarbeau was rushed to the hospital after being stabbed outside of his apartment building in the 800 block of McLaughlin Street. He later died on June 15.
A 48-year-old city man was eventually taken into custody and charged with aggravated assault. The accused, who lived in the same apartment building as Barbeau, now faces a charge of second-degree murder.
Homicide case no. 4, July, 1:
Police began investigating an aggravated assault after Canada Day when 52-year-old Christopher Adams became the victim of what was first investigated as a savage robbery. The assault, which took place near city hall early in the morning, turned into a homicide investigation after Adams died from those injuries in the hospital days later.
The three individuals arrested in connection with the case, a 31-year-old man, 26-year-old man and 21-year-old woman, are facing charges of second-degree murder. Police initially said robbery was the suspected motive.
Homicide case no. 5, July 18:
The burned body of Lloyd Oskineegish, 44, of Wunnumin Lake, was discovered Friday, July 18 in a wooded area between the Harbour Expressway and Field Street.
Police held the area as a potential crime scene throughout the weekend, only to later reveal the case was a homicide investigation after the results of a post-mortem examination.
Six suspects were eventually arrested in connection with the investigation. Thunder Bay Police Service Det. Sgt. Don Lewis said at least three of the suspects and the victim were known to each other. While intoxicants may have played a role, investigators told media in July that the investigation was ongoing and those facts are still being collected.
Homicide case No. 6, Aug. 14
Brandi Marie Wingert was eight years old when she became the victim of this city’s sixth homicide investigation of 2014.
Police say the girl was pronounced dead after being rushed to the hospital after a violent incident at a Donald Street home.
Police Chief J.P. Levesque said in August that a 34-year-old woman was assaulted by her 38-year-old ex-boyfriend around 3 a.m. Monday. The woman was able to get out of her basement apartment, run across the street and have the residents of that house call 911.
The woman stayed at the neighbours and the male suspect left the apartment and attempted to break into the upstairs apartment.
“The residents of that apartment forced him out. Then they called 911. He leaves the area. The people in the upstairs apartment go downstairs and find the young girl gravely injured,” said Levesque, adding that police arrived within three or four minutes of the 911 call.
“Our officers found the mother across the street and the two kids in the basement apartment and again finding Brandi seriously injured.”
Homicide case No. 7, Aug. 25:
Leslie Ruben Perrault, 64, of Fort Frances, Ont., died after an incident at a Machar Avenue home. Two 44-year-olds, described by police as a being couple, were each charged with second-degree murder in connection with his death. Police later confirmed that the couple were residents of the home, while the victim was not.
Homicide case No. 8, Sept. 3:
William Darryl Wapoose, 32, of Thunder Bay was identified as the victim of Thunder Bay’s eighth homicide investigation. Wapoose’s body was discovered by a passerby off the bike path in Chapples Park.
Few details are known about the circumstances surrounding the man’s death. Police have yet to make any arrests connected to this case and have not released the cause of death. This is the lone case of 2014 where police have not yet identified a suspect.
Homicide case No. 9, Oct. 3:
The Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School community mourned the loss of one of their own after a fatal stabbing claimed the life of student Daniel Levac.
About 250 people attended a memorial service at the Edward Street high school for the 20-year-old from Sachigo Lake First Nation. The student died after an incident in front of the SilverCity movie theatre.
Principal Jonathan Kakegamic said they held the service so staff and students could remember Levac and acknowledge his life.
“We’re a close-knit family,” said Kakegamic. “Today is important because we’re together mourning and grieving and we’re here to support the family.”
Levac’s family was in attendance at the service.
Kakegamic said Levac’s family is grieving and are thankful for the support they’ve received from the community.
“That helps, but it’s going to take time for them…it’s important to support each other in this time and that’s what’s happening today,” he said.
Homicide case No. 10, Oct. 19:
Rene Sortolovo became the victim of Thunder Bay’s tenth homicide investigation. Originally from El Salvador, the 51-year-old man had lived in Thunder Bay since the 1990s. At the time of his death he lived alone in a Marks Street apartment.
Few details are known about the circumstances surrounding Sortolovo’s death, but a media release issued by police stated the man died suddenly at his home.
Homicide case No. 11, Dec. 21:
The eleventh murder investigation of the year was launched after the body of 62-year-old Richard Spence was found inside a Secord Street apartment. His cousin, 45-year-old Monica Spence, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. Police said alcohol was a factor in the incident.
