Investigation into Serpent River death continues
Monday, February 18, 2013 by: SooToday.com Staff
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is continuing its investigation into circumstances surrounding the sudden death of an Elliot Lake man.
The man's body was discovered on Februray 15 in a ditch beside Highway 17 near Handy Spot Road within the community of Serpent River.
He was positively identified as Gerard Martin Smits, aged 44 and his next of kin have been notified by OPP officers.
A post mortem examination is scheduled to be performed on his body at a Sault Ste Marie area hospital tomorrow.
The OPP's Criminal Investigations Branch (CIB), in conjunction with the East Algoma OPP Crime Unit and the OPP's Forensic Identification Unit, are currently investigating the nature of the events leading up to the man's death.
Witnesses who drove by the area of the police investigation on Friday morning report that Smits' body was visible from the road, that he was not warmly dressed and that there was no blood aparent at the scene.
A comprehensive OPP investigation into the circumstances surrounding the man's death remains underway.
Anyone with relevant information about this event is encouraged to call the East Algoma OPP or to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (1-800- 222
