OPP now treating sudden death as a homicide

OPP News Release

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KAPUSKASING - On Saturday August 22, 2009, shortly after 1 p.m. members of the Kapuskasing Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police were called to investigate a sudden death on Gurney Road approximately 1 km north of Hwy 11 in the Town of Kapuskasing.

Police have identified the deceased as 59-year-old Donald Bothwell of Opasatika, Ontario.

This incident is now being treated as a homicide and Police are appealing to the public for information.

The deceased was last observed operating a marked Blue Bird taxi at approximately 4 a.m. on Saturday morning, August 22, 2009 until he was discovered at 1 p.m. in the early afternoon on the same date.

Any person that had contact with the deceased or has information regarding his whereabouts during that time frame is asked to call investigators at the Kapuskasing OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

This investigation is ongoing and although the police believe this to be an isolated incident, the public is reminded to always be aware of their responsibility to remain vigilant of their surroundings for their personal safety.

The homicide investigation is being conducted by the Kapuskasing Crime Unit and the Northeast Region Criminal Operations Program, under the direction of Detective Inspector Greg Walton, Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB), OPP General Headquarters, Orillia.

In an emergency, dial 911.

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