SAINT JOHN – Timeline of the investigation into the death of New Brunswick businessman Richard Oland, whose son Dennis was arrested Tuesday by police:
July 7, 2011: Richard Oland, 69, is found dead in his office in Saint John, N.B.
July 11, 2011: Police say Oland was a homicide victim and there is no evidence to suggest his slaying was the result of a robbery or a random act.
July 12, 2011: The Toronto Star, quoting an unnamed source, reports that Oland was bludgeoned to death with an axe. Police decline comment on the report.
July 14, 2011: Police execute a search warrant at the home of Oland’s son Dennis in the Saint John suburb of Rothesay.
July 21, 2011: Police search the Royal Kennebeccasis Yacht Club, where Richard Oland kept his boat.
June 15, 2012: A provincial court judge rules that search warrants in the investigation into Oland’s death will remain sealed as it considers a request from police to keep the documents under wraps for six months.
July 31, 2012: The Crown withdraws its request to prevent the release of search warrants in the investigation into Oland’s death.
Aug. 1, 2012: Police say in an affidavit that releasing the search warrants could jeopardize their investigation by exposing investigative techniques and possibly identifying people they interviewed.
Aug. 16, 2012: Portions of search warrants and related documents are released. They say police believe Oland was murdered.
Oct. 5, 2012: More portions of search warrants and supporting documents are released. They say police have a suspect who was “experiencing financial hardships” and owed Richard Oland more than $500,000. The suspect’s name is blacked out.
May 17, 2013: A Court of Queen’s Bench judge lifts a publication ban on the identities of people who were subject to search warrants. That information says police believe Dennis Oland is the suspect in the case.
Sept. 6, 2013: An affidavit is released that says Dennis Oland would occasionally get into “big fights” with his father but they would dissipate quickly.
Oct. 4, 2013: Transcripts of in-camera testimony from a lead investigator in the case are released. They say a sports jacket with blood on it was seized from Dennis Oland’s home as part of the police investigation.
Oct. 25, 2013: An affidavit is released that says blood on a sports jacket found in the home of Dennis Oland matches the DNA profile of Richard Oland. The document says the estimated probability of selecting an unrelated Canadian Caucasian randomly with the same profile is one in 180 million.
Nov. 12, 2013: Saint John police say they have arrested Dennis Oland in connection with his father’s death and a court appearance has been scheduled, but no charges are specified in a news release. The Oland family releases a statement saying it believes he is innocent and places its faith in the justice system.
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