🚨 BARRIE MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER OF PARTNER AFTER U-HAUL SEARCH
A 46-year-old Barrie man has been charged with second-degree murder following the death of his partner after what police initially described as a missing persons investigation involving a U-Haul truck.
According to court records, Antonio Chimienti has been charged with killing 46-year-old Torrance Sacha Charles. Police confirmed that a woman believed to be Charles was found deceased, and Chimienti was subsequently arrested in the Stouffville area.
“We recently lost a member of our community to violence that our investigators have determined was intimate partner violence and what we now recognize as femicide,” said Barrie Police Chief Rich Johnston in a statement shared online. Police declined to comment further on the investigation.
📌 Missing Persons Case Turns to Homicide Investigation
The couple had been reported missing for several days. On October 27, police issued a public alert seeking assistance in locating both Charles and Chimienti, as well as a missing U-Haul cube truck connected to their disappearance. Members of the public were urged to contact 911 if they saw the pair or the vehicle.
Days later, investigators confirmed that Charles had been found deceased and Chimienti was in custody. The U-Haul truck had been part of the original search effort but police have not said where it was located.
📍 Scene Investigation
Residents on McVeigh Drive in Barrie said the couple lived at a home that was searched extensively last week. Investigators spent several days at the property, collecting evidence and towing away a white Mercedes. A large dumpster was also removed from the driveway during the investigation.
Police have not revealed where Charles’ remains were discovered, nor have they released further details about the cause of death. The case is being investigated as intimate partner violence resulting in femicide.
⚖️ Court Proceedings
Chimienti appeared in a Barrie courtroom on Thursday afternoon, facing charges of second-degree murder and possession of cocaine. His next court appearance is scheduled to take place virtually in a week. The allegations against him have not yet been proven in court.
💬 Police Statement
“To Sacha’s family, we grieve with you. To our community, please reach out if you need help or know someone who does,” police said in a public statement expressing condolences.
🔗 Source
👉 What You Can Do
If you or someone you know is experiencing intimate partner violence, contact local police or the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability for support. Sharing awareness of these cases can help others seek safety before tragedy occurs.
Visit CanadaMissing.ca for more Canadian missing and homicide cases.
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