The Ontario Provincial Police have confirmed a Picton women’s death earlier this year was due to fentanyl toxicitiy and have updated charges laid against those connected with the premature expiration.

On July 2, 2020 shortly before 5:00 a.m., officers with the Prince Edward County Detachment of the OPP responded to a report of a sudden death at a home on Mary Street in Picton.

47 year old Leanne Champion was pronounced deceased. A post mortem examination and subsequent testing at Ontario Forensic Pathology Services laborotory in Kingston has determined the cause of death to be fentanyl toxicity.

As a result of the ongoing investigation additional charges have been laid against three individuals.

Lisa Bennett, 40 and Kody Aspeck, 31, both residents of Belleville, have been charged with the following offences:

• Manslaughter – Criminal Code (CC) sec. 236(b)
• Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence – CC sec. 465(1)(c)
• Possession of Proceeds Obtained by Crime Under $5000 – CC sec. 354(1)(a)
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking in a Schedule 1 Substance: Fentanyl – Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) sec. 5(2)
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking in a Schedule 1 Substance: Methamphetamine – CDSA sec. 5(2)

 

Bennett has been remanded in custody until an appearance before the Ontario Court of Justice in Napanee on November 6, 2020. Aspeck has been remanded in custody until an appearance before the Ontario Court of Justice in Napanee on November 5, 2020.

Krzysztof Wolf, 36 of Quinte West has been charged with the following offences:

• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking in a Schedule 1 Substance: Fentanyl – CDSA sec. 5(2)
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking in a Schedule 1 Substance: Cocaine – CDSA sec. 5(2)
• Possession of Proceeds Obtained by Crime Under $5000 – CC sec. 354(1)(a)

This accused was released and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Picton on November 4, 2020

The investigation continues with members of the Prince Edward County OPP Crime Unit, OPP Community Street Crime Unit (CSCU), and East Region Forensic Identification Services (FIS) Unit, under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB).

The OPP report they have investigated 22 occurrences where charges have been laid for Manslaughter and/or Criminal Negligence Causing Death in relation to fatal overdoses since 2016 including six already this year.

Any person with information regarding this incident should immediately contact the Ontario Provincial Police at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.