3 charged in Saint John woman’s 2021 death after ‘highly complex’ investigation - BERITAJA

Police successful Saint John, N.B., opportunity they’ve arrested and charged 3 group successful narration to the death of Courtney MacKenzie, whose assemblage was recovered astatine a location successful the city’s northbound extremity 5 years ago.

MacKenzie, 27, was reported missing connected May 8, 2021 and recovered dormant astatine a residence connected Victoria Street 3 days later. At the time, constabulary said her decease was suspicious.

Two group were arrested successful 2023 arsenic portion of the investigation, but released without charges. Police confirmed Wednesday that those 2 group — a 37-year-old female and a 40-year-old man — are now charged.

“I deliberation immoderate clip we are capable to bring justness to a family that it’s a alleviation and it provides closure to the family. Even though group don’t perceive possibly from america for a long, extended play of time, it doesn’t mean that we’ve forgotten,” Staff Sgt. Shawna Fowler told reporters.

“We’re still successful the backgrounds putting successful the activity and making judge that we are diligent and relentless successful the pursuit of justness for these people.”

Police said Terrence Joseph Keheler, 39, is facing charges of manslaughter, improperly interfering pinch quality remains, kidnapping, forcible confinement and various counts of assault.

The 37-year-old female was arrested Tuesday for being an accessory aft the fact, and for improperly interfering pinch quality remains.

The 40-year-old man has been charged pinch being an accessory aft the truth and interfering pinch quality remains successful relationship pinch MacKenzie’s case.

Fowler said the investigation has been “extensive” and “highly complex.” When asked why it took 5 years for the arrests, she said it was “just a matter of time.”

“These investigations are complex, they are lengthy, waiting for grounds to travel back, tying up immoderate loose ends, making judge that everything is done very thoroughly,” she said.

“Then, there’s consultations pinch the Crown to reappraisal the charges, to reappraisal the file, and past making judge that we person everything that is needed for the judicial process.”

‘She had the champion laugh’

MacKenzie’s obituary said her family was announcing her unexpected decease pinch dense hearts, and that she would beryllium missed by her son.

Her friend, Shadana Krause, told BERITAJA that MacKenzie’s decease “still sits dense pinch me” years later.

“She had this measurement of making group consciousness seen and cared for, the benignant of personification who would springiness anyone the garment disconnected her backmost without reasoning twice,” Krause wrote.

“She was genuinely hilarious, pinch the champion consciousness of humour, and nary matter what benignant of time I was having, she could make maine laughter each azygous clip we were together.”

And supra all, Krause said she wanted her friend to beryllium remembered for her laugh.

“She had the champion laugh, too. I could still perceive it for illustration it was yesterday,” Krause wrote.

In a connection Tuesday, Chief Robert Bruce said the constabulary unit “never gave up connected getting justness for her, her family, and friends.”

“Courtney MacKenzie was not conscionable a sanction connected a record folder; she was a vibrant young female whose life was taken acold excessively soon,” he wrote.

“My dream is Courtney, her family, and our organization could remainder a small easier coming knowing that the Saint John Police will stay ever vigilant successful keeping our organization safe and secure.”

Back successful court

Keheler remains successful custody and will look successful tribunal connected May 19. He is besides facing charges for different incident involving a female victim, including robbery, forcible confinement and battle pinch a weapon.

The 37-year-old female who was arrested has been released connected an undertaking and will look successful tribunal connected July 27. She was besides arrested for forcible confinement, robbery, battle causing bodily harm, and theft involving different female victim.

The 40-year-old man was group to beryllium released connected an undertaking pinch conditions and will look successful provincial tribunal astatine a later date.