46-year-old Sonny Stephens is charged with second-degree homicide within the demise of his 75-year-old roommate at their Grove Avenue East house Saturday night time.
In line with court docket paperwork obtained by Ontario Chronicle, a violent altercation occurred, and Eric Beecroft died of his accidents.
“A Barrie police officer located an individual in the backyard who had sustained significant head and facial injuries,” mentioned Peter Leon with Barrie Police Service.
Stephens, whom police mentioned had taken off earlier than officers arrived on the scene, was arrested and charged about eight hours later when he returned to the house.
“We knew who we were looking for right from the outset, and the search was active. It was ongoing, we did utilize K9,” mentioned Leon.
A personalized Ontario licence plate studying SNY DAZ might be seen in one of many home windows going through the road. Police mentioned the 2 males knew each other and lived within the obvious rooming home alongside Grove Avenue East close to Duckworth Avenue.
A personalized Ontario licence plate studying SNY DAZ in a window at a house on Grove road East in Barrie, Ont on July 15, 2024 ( Ontario Chronicle/Mike Arsalides).
“The incident we believed right from the very outset was isolated,” mentioned Leon. “There was a disagreement of some sort, which led to a physical altercation, and that altercation ultimately resulted in the death of a 75-year-old male who resided at that home,” Leon mentioned.
The accused is scheduled to make his subsequent look by video from jail on Tuesday morning. The allegations in opposition to Sonny Stephens haven’t been examined in court docket.
