THORBURN: The Northeast Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit have charged a 61-year-old man with murder following an attack with an axe inside a home in Thorburn.
Residents across the Strait Area started Oct. 30 with a provincially issued emergency alert of a dangerous individual.
The alert, which rang out over cellphones and across television screens in Pictou, Antigonish and Colchester Couties happened abruptly after 10 a.m.
“Shortly before 9 a.m. on Oct. 30, Pictou County District RCMP responded to a report of a man attempting to break-in to a home on Greenwood Street in Thorburn, who was now running through the woods with an axe,” RCMP Public Information Officer Cpl. Chris Marshall told The Reporter. “When officers arrived at the scene, they began searching the area for the man. Some officers entered the suspect’s home, which is also on Greenwood Street, and located a woman suffering from serious injuries.”
The victim, who was identified as having “life-threatening injuries” was transported to hospital via ambulance.
A media notification highlighting an unfolding event in Thorburn indicated RCMP were searching for 61-uear-old John Douglas Cress in relation to an assault with an axe at a home in Thorburn.
“One person injured. Cress fled into woods and is believed to be on foot,” the alert read. “Residents of Thorburn are advised to shelter in place.”
An initial update at 11 a.m. advised Pictou County District RCMP were continuing the search for Cress and highlighted the fact the victim and Cress were known to each other but didn’t indicate how.
At the time the RCMP also issued a reminder for residents to stay away from the area.
“[The] emergency alert is active, and residents are advised to shelter in place,” the RCMP said. “Officers have observed people driving through the area who want to see what is happening.”
The search was being conducted with the assistance from the Colchester County District RCMP, the Nova Scotia RCMP Emergency Response Team (ERT), RCMP Police Dog Services and RCMP Air Services.
Roughly forty minutes later, a final update was made that Cress had been located in the woods and safely arrested by officers, the emergency alert had been cancelled, and that officers remained in the area to complete their investigation.
“At approximately 11:25 a.m., RCMP Air Services located the man, who was suffering from serious injuries, in the woods behind Greenwood Street using FLIR technology and members of RCMP ERT then safely arrested him,” Cpl. Marshall said. “The man was transported to hospital by ambulance with police escort.”
Speaking on the need to remind the public to stay away from the area, he advised when they issue an emergency alert advising a community to shelter in place, they are doing so out of concern for people’s safety in the area.
“When we have members of the public who drive into the area to try and see what’s going on, it not only puts their safety at risk, but it also places our officer’s safety at risk as well,” Cpl. Marshall said. “As we have to take time away from searching for the suspect in order to deal with the people who aren’t heading the instructions given in the emergency alert.”
RCMP officers later learned that the victim had succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased. The investigation has since been turned over to the Northeast Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit and is being assisted by the Southwest Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit and the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner’s Office.
Cress was charged with 2nd Degree Murder and was remanded into custody and was scheduled to appear in Pictou Provincial Court on Nov. 1.
According to the Public Prosecution Service, they identified the victim as 88-year-old Mary Evelyn Cress.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the Northeast Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit at 902-896-5060. Should you wish to remain anonymous call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers toll free at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips App.