The OPP has now laid additional charges in connection with a death in Picton earlier this year. On July 2, shortly before 5:00 a.m., officers with the Prince Edward County OPP responded to a report of a sudden death at a home on Mary Street in Picton.
47 year old Leanne Champion was pronounced deceased. A post mortem examination and testing at Ontario Forensic Pathology Services has determined the cause of death to be fentanyl toxicity.
As a result of the ongoing investigation additional charges have been laid against three individuals.
40-year-old, Lisa Bennett, and 31-year-old, Kody Aspeck, both residents of Belleville, have been charged with the following offences:
- Manslaughter
- Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence
- Possession of Proceeds Obtained by Crime Under $5000
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking in a Schedule 1 Substance: Fentanyl
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking in a Schedule 1 Substance: Methamphetamine
Lisa Bennett has been remanded in custody until an appearance before the Ontario Court of Justice in Napanee on November 6. Kody Aspeck has been remanded in custody until an appearance before the Ontario Court of Justice in Napanee on November 5.
36-year-old, Krzysztof Wolf, of Quinte West has been charged with the following offences:
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking in a Schedule 1 Substance: Fentanyl
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking in a Schedule 1 Substance: Cocaine
- Possession of Proceeds Obtained by Crime Under $5000
This accused was released and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Picton on November 4.
The investigation continues with members of the Prince Edward County OPP Crime Unit, OPP Community Street Crime Unit (CSCU), and East Region Forensic Identification Services (FIS) Unit, under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB).
The OPP have investigated 22 occurrences where charges have been laid for Manslaughter and/or Criminal Negligence Causing Death in relation to fatal overdoses since 2016. Of these occurrences, 6 were this year.
Any person with information regarding this incident should immediately contact the Ontario Provincial Police at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.
