BY JASON THOMPSON
Greater Sudbury Police have arrested a 39-year-old Chelmsford man in connection with the death of Bernard Jonasson and believe there is a link between the homicide and drug use.
At a news conference held Tuesday Aug. 29, the lead investigator in the case, Staff Sgt. Todd Zimmerman, confirmed that Jonasson, whose body was discovered by family members in his Azilda apartment Aug. 20, died of multiple stab wounds to the upper body. He was 59.
Mark Bangs, who is an acquaintance of Jonasson's, and who is known to police, is currently in police custody awaiting a bail hearing. He has been charged with second degree murder, meaning that at this time, police believe the crime wasn't premeditated.
"We located Mr. Bangs at his residence in Chelmsford . . . we got information through informants, through witness statements and from physical evidence taken at the scene," said Zimmerman. "I don't want to compromise the investigation . . . there is a lot of work that we have to continue doing."
Zimmerman said while the murder weapon hasn't been found, police have credible information that they think may lead them to it.
"The basis for the charge is statements, evidence taken at the scene and we are still waiting for a response from the forensic people to give us some details relative to what we found at the scene and at least one other location," said Police Chief Ian Davidson who was also at the news conference.
"The circumstances that we found in that environment clearly indicated to investigators that there was evidence of drug use and perhaps the sale of drugs. How that fits into the overall circumstances that ultimately led to this homicide is not something we're prepared to release," said Davidson.
"We believe there is a nexus between the homicide itself and drug use."
Because of some forensic results that have yet to come back from the lab, Zimmerman said he couldn't confirm whether or not drugs were found in Jonasson's system.
As the investigation is still ongoing, police are asking anyone with information to contact them or Crime Stoppers at 675-TIPS.
