The 2025 Ontario Homicide Victim List is available here

Sarnia Police Service responded to a 911 call from the Sarnia Jail regarding an unresponsive inmate in his cell on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at 3:42 AM

Police, fire, and paramedics arrived at the scene shortly after and confirmed that the male inmate had no vital signs. Despite efforts to revive him, he was pronounced dead.

After a thorough investigation, authorities have ruled the death as a homicide. Sarnia Police arrested Devin Gary Fentie, a 33-year-old inmate from Sarnia, who shared the cell with the deceased. Fentie has been charged with first-degree murder and remains in custody awaiting a bail hearing.

The deceased has been identified as Douglas Cutbush, a 51-year-old resident of Sarnia. A post-mortem examination (autopsy) has been scheduled for Thursday, January 9, 2025, in collaboration with the Ontario Coroner’s Office to determine the cause of death.

This tragic event has sparked ongoing investigations by the Sarnia Police Service, with further updates expected as more information becomes available. The incident highlights the ongoing concerns regarding safety and security within correctional facilities in Ontario.

According to The London Freepress Fentie was charged in late 2023 with uttering a death threat by letter to mass murderer Nathaniel Veltman, 23, between Nov. 20 and Nov. 29, 2023.