The 2022 Ontario Homicide Victim List is available here
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Niagara Regional Police Service 8 District responded to an incident where 27-year-old Erin Saudelli was found deceased in her bedroom at her family’s Grimsby home. Police said the cause of death appeared to be the result of a drug overdose.

Investigators said the overdose drug was Protonitazene, a synthetic opioid significantly stronger than Fentanyl.

On April 17, 2023, 27 year old Sophie Ward of Grimsby was arrested for the following offences:

Trafficking in a Schedule I substance held out to be Oxycontin contrary to section 5(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act

Manslaughter, contrary to section 236(b) of the Criminal Code.

Update July 30th: Sophie Ward has been sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter in the 2022 death of 27-year-old Erin Saudell. According to The Hamilton Spectator, Saudelli purchased the pills, which she thought were oxycodone for pain relief, from a childhood friend ahead of a tattoo appointment.

The court heard the accused purchased the pills from a third party and resold them to Saudelli for a small profit. While the defence argued she was not a drug dealer, the judge ruled the financial gain and circumstances amounted to drug trafficking that resulted in a tragic and preventable death.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact detectives by calling 905-688-4111, option 3, ext. 1009476.