Two from Sault Ste. Marie charged with drug overdose death

Health officials in the Nipissing-Parry Sound district have issued a warning about toxic drugs circulating in the region.

Two suspects from Sault Ste. Marie have been charged with manslaughter in the fatal drug overdose that killed a 23-year-old woman last month.

The 28-year-old man and 29-year-old woman are also both charged with trafficking cocaine and opioids.

The man is further charged with causing death by criminal negligence.

Emergency crews were called to an unresponsive female at a home on Gran Street in Batchewana First Nation just before 6:30 a.m. March 1, Ontario Provincial Police said in a news release Thursday night.

When she was found, she was pronounced dead.

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“Batchewana First Nation Police Service requested assistance from the OPP Sault Ste. Marie Crime Unit in relation to the investigation,” OPP said.

“The investigation is being conducted by the OPP Sault Ste. Marie crime unit under the direction of the OPP criminal investigation branch, in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Coroner and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service. Assistance is also being provided by OPP forensic identification services, digital forensics and Batchewana First Nation Police Service.”

The two suspects were arrested and are being held in custody pending a bail hearing in Sault Ste. Marie.

“Anyone with any information that may assist the investigation is asked to 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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