Victim, accused named in Wikwemikong murder case

OPP NEWS RELEASE

************************* Police identify victim and three accused

WIKWEMIKONG, ON – Police have identified all three men arrested in connection with the murder of a local man.

The victim is Clarence Lewis, 62 years old, of Wikwemikong.

An autopsy performed at the Sudbury Regional Hospital on January 27, 2009 confirmed that Mr. Lewis died as a result of a gunshot wound to the head.

On January 25 at approximately 2:01 p.m., Wikwemikong Tribal Police received a 911 call of a male found dead inside a residence on Wikwemikong Way on the Wikwemikong Reserve.

Officers from Wikwemikong Tribal Police, and Sudbury Area Ambulance medics responded to the residence.

An intensive investigation into this occurrence led police to determine that the victim had been murdered.

Three local men were identified as suspects in this homicide and were subsequently arrested.

On January 26, 2009 Travis Esquimaux, 22 years, of Wikwemikong was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

Later the same day, Jordan Trudeau, 27 years, turned himself in at the Wikwemikong Tribal Police station.

Patrique Gareu, 20 years, was arrested later in Sudbury by the Greater Sudbury Police Service.

Both men are from Wikwemikong and both have been charged with first-degree murder.

The police would like to advise the community that, although the investigation is still ongoing, it is believed that all the persons responsible for this murder have been apprehended.

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Northeast Region Crime Unit and the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) under the direction of Detective Inspector Bernie Murphy of CIB are assisting with the investigation at the request of the Wikwemikong Tribal Police.

Police are asking anyone that may have information in relation to this investigation to call police at 1-888-310-1122.

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