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Officers charged with misconduct in Tess Richey missing persons investigation

The documents allege that while they were on scene, the officers learned that it was Richey's last known location, but they did not search the adjoining property, canvass the neighbourhood or notify a supervisory officer of the details
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Tess Richey, 22, was reported missing on Nov. 25. Her body was found four days later in an alleyway near the Church Street and Wellesley Street East — the bustling area at the heart of Toronto's gay village where Richey was last seen. (Supplied)

TORONTO — Two Toronto police officers are facing misconduct charges over allegations they failed to properly investigate the case of a former North Bay woman who went missing after a night out in the city's gay village.

Constables Michael Jones and Alan McCullough are charged under the Police Services Act with not performing a duty and not carrying out an order in the case of Tess Richey, whose body was found by family four days after a missing person report was filed.

See: Toronto police reviewing officer conduct after Tess Richey found dead

And: First degree murder charge laid in Tess Richey case

According to notices of hearing issued to the officers, they were asked to investigate an address on Nov. 26, 2017 — the day after Richey, 22, was reported missing by a family member.

The documents allege that while they were on scene, the officers learned that it was Richey's last known location, but they did not search the adjoining property, canvass the neighbourhood or notify a supervisory officer of the details.

The documents note that Richey's body was found by a family member at an adjoining property.

Kalen Schlatter, a man Richey is believed to have met the night she went missing, has been charged with first-degree murder in her death. Jones and McCullough's case was put over until the criminal proceedings are complete.

Richey's death sparked questions about how investigators had handled her disappearance amid wider concerns about several men who went missing from the gay village.

Chief Mark Saunders announced in December that the force would review its handling of missing persons cases.

The Canadian Press