OPP find human remains near Smiths Falls day after murder charges laid in missing person case

More than two years after Robbie Thomson disappeared, the OPP charged three suspects with first degree murder. CTV’s Katie Griffin reports.

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) say three people have been charged with murder in connection with the disappearance of a Smiths Falls man.

Robbie Thomson went missing in October 2023. The OPP say the investigation has determined Thomson was the victim of a homicide, despite the fact that his body has not been found.

On Friday, the OPP said human remains were found at a property on Kelly Jordan Road, northeast of Smiths Falls, but say an autopsy is required to confirm the identity and cause of death.

Officers from the Smiths Falls Police Service, Lanark County OPP, and the Kingston Police Service arrested three people on Wednesday.

Christopher Fenton, 48, of Montague Township; Erin Mackie, 40, of Montague Township; and Joshua Belfiori, 34, of Kingston are each charged with first-degree murder.

Police would not say what led to the charges or if the accused and victim were known to each other.

“Whether they knew Robbie or not, that’ll be part of the information that is heard in court once the matters proceed,” OPP media relations coordinator for east region Bill Dickson told CTV News Ottawa.

“It’s been a major, major project involving a lot of parties from both Smiths Falls Police and the OPP.”

The accused remain in custody and are scheduled to appear in court for bail hearings on Thursday.

“The investigation by the Lanark OPP, in partnership with the Smiths Falls Police Service, is continuing, under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch, in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Coroner and Ontario Forensic Pathology Service,” the OPP said in a news release Thursday morning.

“Residents of Kelly Jordan Road, northeast of Smiths Falls, can expect to see a large police presence at a residence as part of this investigation. There is no risk to public safety.”

Smiths Falls is located southwest of Ottawa.

Earlier this month, police offered a $50,000 reward for information about Thomson’s disappearance.

Dickson says police are still asking individuals to provide them with any information that might be relevant to the ongoing investigation.

“We do appreciate any information that people did provide and we are still encouraging people to come forward with any information because even though we have made these arrests, the investigation is not over,” Dickson said.

Anyone with information that could assist investigators is asked to call the dedicated tipline at 1-855-677-4636. If you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit a tip online at ontariocrimestoppers.ca.

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