An Alliston, Ont. man accused of second-degree murder and committing an indignity to a dead body made a brief court appearance Wednesday morning following his arrest last week. Brendon Blanchard, 24, is one of three people charged in connection with the alleged murder of 34-year-old Derek Perry in Alliston in 2023. Blanchard, who is no stranger to police, was charged a week after his brother-in-law Johnny Gagnon, 30, also known as Eddy, with murder and committing an indignity to a dead body. An Alliston woman, Krystal Carleton, 36, was charged with indignity to a dead body and being an accessory after-the-fact to murder., Carleton is accused of helping Blanchard and Gagnon escape between April 16 and 20 in 2023 according to court documents obtained by CTV News. Those who live in the area say investigators were at a home along Beattie Avenue in Alliston last week, the home according to court documents is tied to the alleged murder. Perry was reported missing June 17, 2023. Two years later investigators believe Perry’s disappearance is a homicide investigation and the three people charged are either involved in his killing or know what happened to Perry and helped cover it up. Investigators have not revealed whether his remains have been found. Blanchard, according to provincial police, was arrested late last year on several warrants dating back to the spring of 2023. He was charged nine months ago with mischief for destroying or damaging property, theft under $5,000, shoplifting and failing to comply with a release order. He was convicted of mischief and theft and sentenced to time served in March along with uttering threats a few years ago. Blanchard is scheduled to return to a virtual courtroom next month. Gagnon and Carleton will appear next week from jail in Penetanguishene. The allegations against the accused have not been tested in court.
