On March 27, police responded to a call about a person in distress near Airport Road in a remote community of Pikangikum, northwest of Thunder Bay.

When they arrived, they found 50-year-old Douglas Turtle from Pikangikum, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

At first, authorities treated his death as suspicious. However, in an update shared Thursday, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) confirmed that the case is now being investigated as a homicide. A suspect has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection with Turtle’s death.

The person charged is 17 years old, so their identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. According to police, the accused is currently in custody and is scheduled to appear in court in Kenora on April 10.

The investigation is ongoing, and police are asking anyone with information to come forward. They also expressed appreciation to the Pikangikum First Nation community for their help during the investigation.