Posted on 05/16/2005 7:07:35 PM PDT by NorthOf45
RCMP lay charges in grisly N.B. double murder
Canadian Press
CTV News
April 30, 2005
FREDERICTON — RCMP have laid two charges of first-degree murder in the grisly slayings of a couple from Minto, N.B.
Gregory Alan Despres, 22, was charged on Friday with the murders of Fred Fulton, 74, and his wife, 70-year-old Verna Decarie, whose bodies were found in their Minto home on Tuesday.
Despres, a neighbour of the victims, was arrested earlier this week in Massachusetts where he is being held until extradition proceedings are completed. Police have yet to question Despres.
"We have enough evidence to lay these charges, but our investigation is continuing," said RCMP spokesman Sgt. Gary Cameron, adding there are no other suspects. Police have described the murder scene as bloody. An RCMP alert sent to U.S. police forces said there was one decapitation.
"It was a scene that was hard for our members to take," Cameron said, refusing to discuss the condition of the bodies.
Autopsies were being done Friday in Saint John, N.B. Despres was convicted last month of an assault in Minto, a small mining and forestry community about 45 kilometres east of Fredericton. He was initially arrested in Massachusetts on a Canada-wide warrant that was issued after he failed to show up for a sentencing hearing on the assault charge. The victim in the assault was Frederick Mowat, Fulton's grandson.
Despres was found guilty of assaulting Mowat with a knife and threatening him. Despres walked into the United States on Monday, crossing at the St. Stephen, N.B., and Calais, Maine border crossing. U.S. customs officials said he was wearing a bullet-proof vest and was carrying a chain saw, a hatchet, a sword, an assortment of knives and a can of pepper spray.
Border officials confiscated the arsenal, then let Despres continue on his way. He was arrested on Tuesday night in Mattapoisett, Mass., after local police recognized him from a description in the RCMP alerts.
Minto, a village of about 2,700, is still reeling from the crime.
Fulton was a well-known musician. He was inducted into the Minto Country Music Wall of Fame in 2001 and was known as the "Chet Atkins of Minto."
"They were well respected and loved by their community," said Rick Turnbull, who spoke on behalf of the grief-stricken family.
"The charges are a huge relief to the family."
Having said this, it could have just as easily been the other way ... him entering Canada from the US that is.
In addition, I saw a photo of the accused and it was pretty scary. I'll see if I can find it online and post it.
So a bloody handed killer can stroll into the USA carrying a chainsaw etc. That's comforting.
Unbelievable! The Canadians are really our friends, though. < / sarcasm >
Not sure what this has to do with Canadians in general ... but OK.
Apologies to Canadian FReepers. We know you are on our side.
Both borders, North and South, are leaking like sieves. I was a little astonished by this article...that they would let an obvious madman walk away with no attempt to detain him. I guess he had his papers in order.
Thank you for the clarification. The whole situation is a little bizarre. At least they got him though.
Don't give this guy back until the Canadians return AWOL solders.
No provincial police in New Brunswick? I thought murder cases are tried at provincial level.
True. New Brunswick found that out with their ill-fated Highway Patrol in the '80s. Only lasted a few years.
My mom lives in Woodstock and sent me clippings from the Telegraph about this. Unbelievable that US Customs didn't try to check this guy out.
Sounds like our BP on the Canadian border have some retraining to do.
You say don't give Gregory Allen Despres back to Canada until you get AWOL soldiers, well AWOL soldiers are your problem... They don't agree with the war. A lot of other American's don't agree either... As for Gregory Allen Despres, he murdered 2 innocent people. An elderly couple who harmed noone. If he can murder 2 people in Canada, he surely can murder 2 people in the U.S.. So let's hear you say that if he murders 2 of your relatives... Fred was a cousin of mine.
Better yet. Canada should deport anyone who can't spell the word soldier
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.