Ont. man accused of murder appears in court following wife’s ‘suspicious’ death

Warning: Details in this article may be disturbing and triggering to readers.

Neighbours have confirmed a woman found dead at a home in Adjala-Tosorontio over the weekend was married to the accused.

According to court documents obtained by CTV News, 44-year-old Ranjit Singh Cheema is charged with second-degree murder in the death of 41-year-old Sukhdeep Cheema, who was found at their Sparrow Way home following a call to police Saturday evening.

• Police investigate suspicious death at Adjala-Tosorontio residence

Ranjit Singh Cheema appeared in a virtual Barrie courtroom, where his murder charge was read to him. Very little information has been provided by investigators, including whether the two were married and lived together in the home.

“The nature of their relationship is part of the ongoing investigation,” said Const. Joe Brisebois of the Ontario Provincial Police.

Police have not formally identified the woman found dead as Cheema’s wife; however, neighbours told CTV News the accused, his wife Sukhdeep, their teenage son, and the accused’s parents have all lived in the home for about a year.

Cheema was arrested on Tuesday, three days after what provincial police characterized as a suspicious death investigation. Police have not revealed how the woman died or why it took three days to charge the accused.

“It all depends on situation, where the investigation leads us,” said Brisebois. “In this instance, it happened on Nov. 15 and the charge was laid on November 18.”

During his court appearance by video from the Nottawasaga OPP detachment in Alliston on Wednesday afternoon, Cheema was ordered not to communicate with 18 people, including loved ones. With the assistance of duty counsel, the court heard Cheema’s family is trying to retain Toronto defence lawyer David Locke.

• Second-degree murder charge laid in suspicious death investigation

Cheema, the court heard, required medical attention for a seizure disorder and recent cancer surgeries. Those who know Cheema said he was receiving treatment for cancer.

Investigators are asking anyone with information in the case to come forward with surveillance or dashcam video.

Cheema is scheduled to return to a virtual Barrie courtroom from jail in Penetanguishene on Tuesday. The allegations against him have not been tested in court.