M’CHIGEENG—Following two months of investigation by the Ontario Provincial Police’s (OPP) North East Crime Unit, the OPP announced late last week that an arrest has been made in the murder of M’Chigeeng elder Johnny Panamick.
The United Chiefs and Council of Manitoulin Anishnaabe (UCCM) Police and the OPP North East Region Crime Unit, under the direction of Detective Inspector Tracy Dobbin of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB), arrested 26-year-old Kimel Corbiere of Mindemoya last Thursday, July 17 and charged him with the first degree murder of Mr. Panamick.
On Sunday, May 11, between 7 and 11 pm, Mr. Panamick, age 70, was assaulted inside his residence on Back Street in M’Chigeeng. The elder was discovered later that same night by a neighbour who called 911, requesting an ambulance. Mr. Panamick was transported to the Manitoulin Health Centre where he was then transferred to Health Sciences North in Sudbury with two broken legs, broken ribs, a punctured lung, a broken cheek bone and numerous facial injuries. Mr. Panamick succumbed to his injuries on June 13 in hospital. Regional coroner Dr. David Eden conducted a postmortem examination with his findings then shared to police.
A motive for the assault has not been released by police at this time.
Mr. Corbiere had his first appearance at the Ontario Court of Justice in Gore Bay on Friday, July 18.
Police are continuing to seek the public’s assistance and are asking anyone with information about this crime to call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122, UCCM Anishnaabe Police at 1-888-377-7135 or if you wish to remain anonymous call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
