Police say the man who allegedly killed and dismembered two people in Barrie, north of Toronto, this year once lived in the same encampment as the victims, and the murders were targeted.
“What began as a missing person investigation in January this year has grown into one of the largest investigations Barrie police have ever had,” said Sgt. Brett Carlton at a news conference Tuesday.
Robert Ladouceur, 52, was arrested on Aug. 2 with the help of provincial police and now faces 33 criminal charges, Carlton said.
Charges include first- and second-degree murder, as well as two counts of indignity to a dead body. Ladouceur is also accused of firearms and drug trafficking offences along with theft. He was denied bail at a hearing this month, Carlton said.
Police declined to explain how they believe the accused killed 45-year-old William “Blake” Robinson and David “Kyle” Cheesequay, or what his motive may have been.
Ladouceur, Robinson and Cheesequay lived together at one point at an encampment in a wooded area of Barrie located between Victoria Street, John Street and Anne Street S., police said.
Robinson was last heard from in January, the same month he’s now believed to have been killed, while Cheesequay was reported missing at the end of July, police said.
As part of the investigation, officers searched several locations including the encampment, a property in Huntsville, Ont., and a residence in North Simcoe County. They said they found the suspected remains of the victims at the encampment and in Huntsville.
Chief Richard Johnston told reporters Tuesday that police do not believe there are any additional suspects or victims in the case.
“These were not random murders,” he said. “Incidents like this are shocking and understandably shake our community, but they are exceedingly rare.”
He said Ladouceur had a criminal history and was known to police at the time of his arrest.
