Ontario suspect with connections to Terrace now faces 1st-degree murder charge

Two suspects in an Ontario homicide have had their charges upgraded to first-degree murder and the two are still on the run.

Ontario Provincial Police announced the upgraded charges against Ottawa men, 34-year-old Joseph Madore and 28-year-old Brayton Kennedy, on Thursday (Sept. 3). They were both previously facing second-degree murder charges previously. Both have warrants for their arrest.

Police are also still warning that Madore and Kennedy remain at large.

Madore is believed to be in B.C., and may be travelling through or camping in remote backcountry areas, while police believe Kennedy may be in New Brunswick.

Police have previously issued releases about the two, noting that Madore is believed to have connections to the Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Terrace and Richmond areas.

In June, RCMP and Ontario Provincial Police seized two firearms in connection with the case, following a search of a rural Terrace property.

Anyone with information about their locations is asked to contact police. People are asked to call 911 immediately if they see them and to not approach them.

Anyone with any information regarding this investigation is asked to immediately contact the Lanark County Ontario Provincial Police at 1-888-310-1122. To remain anonymous, people can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.

Lanark County police officers were called to Last Duel Park in Perth, Ont. on April 12 at 3:15 p.m. after one person was found with life-threatening injuries.

The victim was identified as Ottawa resident Christo Allison Richards, 34.

He was transported to a trauma centre and later died.

Two people have already been arrested and charged, while Madore and Kennedy remain at large.

A 46-year-old from Perth was charged with conspiracy to commit murder in May, while 32-year-old Lyna Du, of Ottawa, was charged with accessory after the fact to murder.

Arrest warrants were first issued for Madore and Kennedy in June.

– With files from Rod Link