Provincial police are investigating the discovery of three bodies found in Middlesex Centre, just outside Oneida Nation of the Thames.
Middlesex County OPP were called to Bodkin Road, north of Jones Drive, around 10 a.m. Sunday after the bodies were found. They’re treating the situation as “suspicious,” and Det. Insp. Pete Liptrott from provincial police’s Criminal Investigations Branch is leading the probe.
Speaking at the scene Monday morning, Middlesex OPP Cst. Max Gomez couldn’t provide information about the ethnicity, gender, or ages of the deceased, but in a brief update Monday afternoon, OPP identified them only as two males and one female. A post-mortem examination will be held on Tuesday in Toronto.
“We’re working in collaboration with the Office of the Chief Coroner and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service,” Gomez said.
Sources tell 980 CFPL the bodies were found inside a vehicle.
On Monday morning, an emergency road closure sign stood in the way of northbound traffic on Bodkin Road. The gravel road ends where it hits the Thames River, and the area around it is a mix of farmland, residential homes, and wooded area.
Police vehicles could be spotted far beyond the road closure sign, and for a time investigators wearing bright orange vests could be seen combing a property on the west side.
The west side of Bodkin Road is Oneida Nation land, though the boundary ends and becomes Middlesex Centre before the road stops. The land surrounding the northern tip and the east side of Bodkin Road is part of Middlesex Centre.
Though the grisly discovery wasn’t made on Oneida Nation land, the people living there have been left feeling shaken. One woman, who spoke to Global News Radio 980 CFPL anonymously, said her first reaction was to worry about family and friends.
“This is where I live, this is where I grew up. Who is it? And what’s going on?” she wondered out loud.
She described a sense of relief, after contacting people Sunday through text messages and on social media to make sure they were okay.
“We’re such a small community that if it was from any of our tribe … we would have heard by now. We would have heard something of family members passing. Word would have gotten around pretty quick.”
Oneida Nation Chief Jessica Hill issued a statement Monday afternoon, offering prayers and condolences to the families of those found dead north of the community.
“This incident is a great concern for our Nation, and demonstrates an issue for our community safety and the greater need for additional policing and/or security personnel within our territory,” the statement read.
A man from Oneida who also spoke to 980 CFPL anonymously described feeling sad about the discovery, but also frustrated.
“Who knows? Whoever did it could be out walking around right now,” he said.
Middlesex OPP Major Crime Unit, OPP West Region Criminal Operations, and OPP Forensic Identification Services are also helping to investigate. Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact major crimes at 1-888-310-1122, or Crime Stoppers if they wish to be anonymous.
Police say they’ll provide updates as soon as they become available.
Bodkin Road north of Jones Drive remains closed.
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