Missing Young Mother Dead – Common-Law Ex Charged!!

Could Different Laws Have Prevented Death?

July 3, 2011, Peterborough Lakefield Community Police Service launched a missing person investigation to locate 23-year-old Joanne MacKenzie of Apsley.
Joanne’s brothers Scott and Joseph, papered Peterborough with posters of their sister for days, when she disappeared while her 5 year old was visiting her father. One anonymous commenter noted police were notified with concerns about suspicions her former common-law partner might cause her harm, referring to the killing of another young mother, Kami Keller, by common-law spouse Nathan Williams in nearby Tweed, just last month.

Ex Common-law Spouse Charged

After an extensive search and public appeal, on July 6, 2011, Peterborough Lakefield Community Police Service requested the assistance of the Ontario Provincial Police.
OPP Detective Inspector Kari Dart of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch lead the joint investigation between the Peterborough Lakefield Police Service and the Peterborough County OPP Detachment. Whether the human remains cordoned off by police on July 6, 2011 in Smith-Ennismore-Lakefield Township were those of Joanne was not stated. However, shortly after the crime scene tapes were erected, her former former common-law partner, Robert McGregor was arrested. OPP cordoned off the discovery site at Preston Road and Old Young’s Point Road, and also sealed off a nearby home at 2086 10^th Line of Smith.
Robert (Robby) McGregor, 25 years of Smith-Ennismore-Lakefield Township, former common-law of Joanne MacKenzie has been arrested and charged with First Degree Murder and Obstruct Police, contrary to the Criminal Code. However, police point out although a person has been arrested, the investigation is still young. They are still appealing to anyone that might have any information related to this case.
McGregor was remanded into custody ,and will appear next in the Ontario Court of Justice on July 12, 2011 at 70 Simcoe Street, Peterborough, Ontario.

Most Domestic Violence Deaths in Small Communities

While McGregor may be innocent, there have been too many deaths of women from former partners and family in Ontario. In the period from 2002 and 2007, males were perpetrators of 92% of Domestic Violence Deaths in Ontario. While shock headlines isolate a few of these as honour killings,more shocking is the 159 women and children killed in domestic violence, with the highest proportion occurring in small communities. Important to note, separation of a couple was the highest common stressor in almost all of these tragedies. Something needs to be done to stop this slaughter.

Friends Speculating Circumstances

Meanwhile, rumours and speculation revolve around a Facebook picture of Joanne: ‘she was going t go meet robbie to see her daughter and he says he got jumped by 6 ppl so he left tim hortons’…’if robby was jumped by 6 people i wanna know who witnessed it happen and who jumped him.’..’i think robbie is full of shit who jumps ppl at 9 am and no one sees of all places a tim hortons parking lot’. Friends are changing their Facebook profiles to the picture of Joanne at the top left, Joanne’s own profile photo states the truth police are seeking: ’you know my name NOT MY STORY’.
Anyone with any information that may help fill in the gaps in the timeline of Joanne MacKenzie’s tragic disappearance,and death are asked to call Peterborough-Lakefield police, 705-876-1122 extension 225, or Crime Stoppers, 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Resources:
Domestic Violence Death Review Committee Annual Report to the Chief Coroner,
CHEXTV: Joanne MacKenzie Murder Investigation
Toronto Sun: Woman’s Disappearance Worries Brothers

CKWS TV TWEED MURDER:A domestic dispute in Tweed has left a young mother dead, and a O-P-P Officer wounded.