OPP charge Tweed man with first-degree murder

Provincial Police have charged a 36-year-old Tweed man with first-degree murder following a death investigation over the weekend.

Central Hastings OPP responded to a rural property on Kinlin Road, just 15 minutes west of Tweed at 7:45 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 14.

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Upon arrival, the lifeless body of 53-year-old Dartt MacPherson was discovered and a suspect was taken into custody without incident, police say.

Detectives with the Criminal Investigations Branch have charged 36-year-old Samuel Koch of Tweed with first-degree murder. He’s scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Belleville on Sept. 7.

The community is still reeling from the death. Local business owner Casey Trudeau says the victim was someone well known in the community.

“Dartt was a really innocent guy and I know a lot of people are going to miss him being around,” Trudeau said. “He was quite the character. I think a lot of people are going to remember him for who he was, and our prayers go out to his family.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Dartt was a really innocent guy and I know a lot of people are going to miss him being around," Trudeau said. "He was quite the character. I think a lot of people are going to remember him for who he was, and our prayers go out to his family."

Trudeau says not much is known about the suspect except that he resides at the property where the alleged crime took place.

Anyone with any information is being asked to call police or Crimestoppers.