Suspect in deadly blaze in Courtice, Ont. arrested while trying to set another house on fire: police

The Durham Regional Police East Division building is shown in Bowmanville, Ont. on Saturday March 15, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Doug Ives

Durham police have charged a suspect with manslaughter after he allegedly started a house fire in Courtice, Ont., that killed a 78-year-old man.

Emergency crews were called to residence near Nash and Varcoe roads on Feb. 22 at approximately 10:35 p.m. that was fully engulfed in flames.

Once inside, a deceased male was located. Police have identified him as Gerald (Gerry) Schad. A post-mortem determined that Schad died because of the fire.

In a news release issued Tuesday, police said a suspect was located on April 1 using an “improvised ignition device” to start a residential fire near Townline Road North and Nash Road in Courtice.

In an email to CTV News, Durham police said the device consisted of a “combustible material” that could be lit with an “electronic ignition source.”

The residence was occupied at the time, however no injuries were reported.

Investigators with Durham police’s east divisional criminal investigations branch and homicide unit now say that the suspect is believed to have started the Feb. 22 fire.

Matthew Bryce Shawn Jones, 23, of Oshawa, is charged with manslaughter, and two counts each of arson-disregard for human life, mischief under $5,000, breach of propagation, and one count of prowl by night.

Police are asking anyone who may have information about either incident to contact them Det. Stewart of the Homicide Unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5416 or Crime Stoppers anonymously.