UPPER BIG TRACADIE/WEST ARM TRACADIE – Police investigations continue into two unrelated homicides that occurred over a 10-day period in late May in eastern Antigonish County.
Cpl. Carlie McCann – Nova Scotia RCMP public information officer – told The Journal Tuesday in an email response to a request for updates on both probes, which are being led by members of the Southwest Nova Major Crime Unit, are “progressing well,” while reiterating that the “incidents are not related.”
She added, “All evidence and information gathered to this point continues to indicate that these were targeted incidents that involve persons known to each other. Investigators have not gathered any evidence or information that would suggest a risk to public safety.”
In outlining the depth of the separate investigations, Cpl. McCann explained “more than 425 ‘taskings’ have been completed to date, including more than 135 interviews and 14 crime scenes having been processed.”
On May 21, at approximately 7 p.m., members of the Antigonish County District RCMP responded to a report of a deceased 42-year-old man located outside on Arthurs Point Ln. in West Arm Tracadie, who has been identified as John Christian Pettipas of Antigonish. Five days later, on May 26, police announced that the manner of death was homicide.
Ten days later, on May 31 at approximately 8:25 p.m., police and fire rescue services answered a call to a property in Upper Big Tracadie, where they found Terry Izzard dead near his burning home and trailers. His death was also determined to be a homicide.
As the RCMP said in a June 4 press release, they are also investigating a series of fires that occurred in quick succession in the region that are “believed to be linked” to the Upper Big Tracadie homicide later on the night of May 31.
Police, fire services, and the Office of the Fire Marshal responded to four other fires, which have been “deemed suspicious and are being investigated for possible links to the homicide,” according to the RCMP.
At approximately 9:25 p.m., they responded to another residential fire in Upper Big Tracadie – on a property near Izzard’s home, where a classic car owned by Izzard was also burned.
Less than two hours later, at approximately 11:20 p.m., first responders answered a fire call to an apartment complex on Tower Rd. in Mulgrave, which resulted in the displacement of residents and some non-life-threatening injuries.
The final two fire calls came from Havre Boucher Rd., one at a vacated residence and another at a lot.
As part of this investigation, police have seized a pair of vehicles – a black 2014 Chevrolet Sonic with pink spray paint and a silver 2010 Hyundai Accent with a temporary permit – and continue to seek assistance from the public on their locations and movements before they were located. They are asking anyone with video from the evening of May 31 to the morning of June 1 that may have captured footage of either vehicle to contact police.
“Homicide investigations are complex and investigators continue to work towards gathering sufficient evidence to support prosecutions in both cases,” Cpl. McCann wrote.
Anyone with information that can support the investigations, including video footage, is asked to call the Southwest Nova Major Crime Unit at 902-365-3120. To remain anonymous, contact Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.
