Body found in Bloor Street home
Oct 30, 2008 - 12:27 PM
By Jennifer Stone
OSHAWA -- Two blue police tents tarp off a large part of the backyard of 307 Bloor St. E. this hour, as police investigate not only a marijuana grow operation, but the discovery of a dead 21-year-old woman, who had earlier been reporting missing.
Two men have been charged in connection with the grow-op. Police expected one of the men would be charged later today "in relation to the homicide," a media release said. Names of the accused are not being released, pending swearing of the charges in court, police spokesman David Selby said.
Durham Regional Police were called to the scene Tuesday night for a report of "suspicious activity." On Wednesday, when asked what was happening at the address, police remained tight-lipped, saying only that a suspected grow operation was being investigated.
But Thursday morning, a media release announced that not only was a grow-op found when police responded to a report of "suspicious activity" Tuesday night, but so, too, was the body of Amber Francis Young of Oshawa.
She had been reported missing and detectives were investigating her disappearance at the time.
Neighbours and even the owner of the home say they had been kept in the dark about what was going on.
When the tents went up Wednesday, police "told us they were just protecting the ground," said Erika Morra, who lives across the street from the scene.
"Two guys moved in with just plastic bags, nothing else," about a month ago, she said.
As she spoke, the owner of the property, identified only as Eugene, pulled in to her driveway. He said he had only been told there was a grow-op in the home.
The two men he had rented the house to were in their early 30s, he estimated.
"They were so good," he said. "They made a good impression, had good jobs; they were working all the time."
The two were employed as painters, he said.
Hilda Bartlett has rented living space two doors down from the scene since the beginning of August. She said hearing the body of a young woman had been found there made her feel like a "nervous wreck."
Prior to this, it had seemed like a fairly quiet neighbourhood, she said.
"But I don't think there's any safe place to live anymore," she said.
The murder investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is to call Detectives Dave Henderson (ext. 5326) or Detective Tom Dingwall (ext. 5319) at 1-888-579-1520. Anonymous tips can be made to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.
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