NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE
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MUNICIPALITY OF HURON SHORES - Three individuals have been charged in relation to a residential fire investigation from Feb. 6, 2023.
On Feb. 6, 2023, at approximately 9 a.m., members of the East Algoma Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Mississauga First Nation Police Service and the Huron Shores Fire Department responded to a suspicious fire to a residence and a vehicle on Mississagi Bay Road. The remains of 51-year-old Dwayne Kozuch were recovered in the residence.
The East Algoma OPP Crime Unit, under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch, continued the investigation, with assistance from the OPP's Forensic Identification Services Unit in conjunction with the Office of the Fire Marshal and the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario and Ontario Forensic Pathology Service.
On Thursday, the OPP arrested and charged three individuals with offences contrary to the Criminal Code.
Nathaniel Bates, 28 years old from Blind River was charged with:
- First degree murder, section 235(1)
- Arson-disregard for human life, section 433(a)
- Arson-damage to property, section 434
The accused remains in custody and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Elliot Lake on Feb. 6.
Lindsay Rietze, 28 years old from Blind River was charged with:
- First degree murder, section 235(1)
- Arson-disregard for human life, section 433(a)
- Arson-damage to property, section 434
The accused remains in custody and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Elliot Lake on Feb. 6.
Amanda Soum, 42 years old from Blind River was charged with:
- Accessory after the fact to murder, section 240
- Arson-disregard for human life, section 433(a)
- Arson-damage to property, section 434
The accused remains in custody and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Elliot Lake on Friday.
Anyone with any information that may assist the investigation, should contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.
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