Homeless encampment becomes a ‘heinous’ crime scene

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Tonight on Village Media's 'Closer Look' podcast: Barrie Police have charged a man with murdering and dismembering two people following an investigation inside a controversial homeless encampment.

The details are still trickling out, but what’s known so far is disturbing: A Barrie man is accused of murdering and dismembering two people after a police investigation that centred around a longstanding homeless encampment.

Barrie mayor Alex Nuttall called it a “completely heinous criminal event” and vowed to work toward having “zero encampments” in his city.

“I haven't been comfortable with the way that encampments have been handled over the years and allowed to expand,” Nuttall said. “And then to have this completely heinous criminal event take place here — there's no actual words to describe how unbearable that must be for the folks who were living in this encampment, and certainly something that is shocking to the city.”

Barrie Police are expected to release more information about the ongoing investigation at an Aug. 26 news conference.

BarrieToday reporter Kevin Lamb has been following the developing story and joins us tonight on Closer Look.

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