Barrie Police say the man charged in the slaying and dismemberment of two people knew the victims and at one point had lived together at the Anne Street homeless encampment.
Police said at a news conference Tuesday this began as a missing person investigation in January of this year, and grew into one of the largest investigations Barrie Police have ever had.
"Barrie is a safe community," said Chief of Police Rich Johnston at the news conference. "Incidents like this are shocking, and understandably, shake our community, but they are exceedingly rare."
Earlier this month, officials identified the victims as 45-year-old William 'Blake' Robinson and 41-year-old David Cheesequay.
"These were not random murders," lead investigator Sergeant Brett Carleton said at the news conference. "The accused and victims were known to one another and all lived in the encampment on Anne Street at some point in time."
Carleton said Blake lost contact with his family on January 18 and was reported missing to police on February 10. Cheesequay was reported missing July 20.
Investigators believe the alleged murders occurred in January and July, respectively, but Carleton did not elaborate on a cause of death.
Police said investigators received information on July 30 that led them to the encampment near Anne Street South in relation to an ongoing missing person investigation. The investigation also included additional locations in Huntsville and a property in north Simcoe County.
With the assistance of the OPP, police arrested a 52-year-old man in Midland on August 2. He appeared for a bail hearing via video link August 15, but was denied.
Initially, police charged him with 19 offences, mostly related to firearms. He's since been charged with one count each of first-degree and second-degree murder, two counts of indignity to a dead body, and several firearm, drug, and drug trafficking offences.
In total, the accused is facing 33 criminal charges. Carleton later shut down the notion that the accused is a serial killer. However, police were already familiar with the suspect, who was unemployed at the time of his arrest.
"We know what the motive is, but I can't speak to that now," said Carleton, adding investigators don't believe there are additional victims.
Friday is the accused's next scheduled court appearance. The court has not yet tried any of the allegations.
He said authorities found human remains in Huntsville and at the homeless encampment. Police returned the encampment to the City of Barrie on August 8.
As the property owner, the City has taken responsibility for cleaning up the site. It hired a contractor to carry out the work, which officials say will cost millions of dollars and last months.
Authorities have since fenced off the site bordered by Anne Street South, John Street, and Victoria Street. Their investigation at that site has concluded.
The County of Simcoe has stepped in to help the people displaced by the incident and subsequent investigation.
In Huntsville, Carleton said that investigators executed a search warrant at the property, but didn't provide further details. Police remain on scene at that site.
"We do recognize when an incident like this takes place, it is shocking to the community—the entire community—but in particular those vulnerable populations," said Chief of Police Rich Johnston at the news conference.
—with files from Ian MacLennan
