Police investigate a double homicide in Fort Erie where Juliana Pannunzio and Christina Crooks were found dead

The 2021 Ontario Homicide Victim List is available here.

Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) received a 911 call regarding a disturbance possibly involving a firearm at a residence in Fort Erie on January 19th at approximately 4:17am.

Fort Erie police attended a residence on the Niagara Parkway and located the bodies of two females. According to CHCH.com, the residence where the bodies were found was an Airbnb. Niagara police said evidence at the scene suggests that there were multiple people at the house, and detectives are attempting to determine the identity of everyone who was present or in the house before and when the incident occurred.

Detectives from the Homicide Unit and the Forensic Services Unit have been called in to investigate. The investigation continues with a dive recovery team in the Niagara River in search of evidence. Information will be added as it becomes available.

The investigation is in its early stages.  Anyone who may have information about this incident is asked to contact detectives at (905) 688-4111, ext 1009134.

Update January 22nd
Niagara police have identified the victims as 20-year-old Juliana Pannunzio of Windsor and 18-year-old Christina Crooks of Toronto.

Police are attempting to identify the origin of a take-out food order in relation to this investigation. The food was contained in a non-descript grey plastic bag with the number “923” written on the outside. The order included a cheeseburger, French fries, chicken wings, celery and carrots with blue cheese, in four separate white styrofoam containers [Photo 1] [Photo 2].  The bag also contained five disposable plastic “SUNSPUN” ketchup containers.

Share information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477.

Update August 26th:
Niagara police with the assistance of the Toronto Police Service arrested, 22-year-old Christopher Lucas, also known as “El Plaga”, of Scarborough on August 26th. Lucas has been charged with 2 counts of First-Degree Murder contrary to section 235(1) of the Criminal Code in relation to the homicides of Juliana Pannunzio and Christina Crooks.

On August 30th Heidi Bahler, 29, of Scarborough was arrested on Monday morning by the Niagara Regional Police in connection with the shooting at a birthday party in Fort Erie in January 2021.

On September 2nd Trevor Barnett was arrested and has been charged with accessory after the fact to murder.

Update February 19th
Naigara Regional Police announced on February 18th that as a result, detectives upgraded the charges against 30-year-old Trevor Barnett of Scarborough in connection to the murders:

  • 2 counts of First-degree murder