Murder charge issued in northwestern Ont. death investigation

An Ontario Provincial Police cruiser is shown driving down a northern highway. (File Photo/Ontario Provincial Police/Facebook)

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have charged a 72-year-old Kenora man with second-degree murder following a death investigation in the northwestern Ontario community.

The investigation began on March 13, when officers responded to a call for service at a residence on Heenan Place and located an individual in medical distress.

“The individual was subsequently pronounced deceased,” said OPP.

The deceased has been identified as Albert Keesick Jr., a 46-year-old local man. A postmortem examination is scheduled to take place at the Ontario Forensic Pathology Services in Toronto, according to police.

As a result of the investigation, the 72-year-old local man from Kenora has been charged with second-degree murder. He has been remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Kenora on Monday.

The OPP Criminal Investigation Branch is leading the ongoing investigation, with assistance from the Office of the Chief Coroner and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service.

Residents in the area can expect to see an increased police presence as the investigation continues.

“(However,) there is no threat to public safety,” said police.

The accused and the victim are known to each other.

Police urge anyone with information about the death or related to the investigation to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers anonymously.