By Angelica Ingram
Published Nov. 1 2016
Last week a significant step in an ongoing investigation was made as OPP announced they had arrested a man in connection to the death of David Palmer.
Forty-seven-year-old William Savage of Fenelon Falls was charged with first degree murder on Oct. 26 according to OPP.
The arrest was made in an investigation that has been ongoing for more than a year after Palmer went missing last fall. He was last seen on Oct. 2 2015 and on May 10 OPP confirmed his remains had been found near Haliburton.
Savage was scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Lindsay on Oct. 27. He was remanded in custody until Nov. 3 the date of his next court appearance said OPP Sergeant and provincial media relations co-ordinator Peter Leon.
“That may be by video from what I understand which means he can appear by video from the facility that he’s in” said Leon. “He would have been transported down to the jail in Lindsay and that’s where he will remain until the matter starts to proceed and is dealt with.”
Savage was arrested at his home in Fenelon Falls without incident said Leon.
Leon confirmed that Palmer and Savage were known to each other. He said he could not comment on the nature of their relationship as it is part of the ongoing investigation.
Leon could not speak to the motive for the crime or what specifically led to the arrest.
“It was as a result of the ongoing investigation that culminated in the arrest being undertaken on Wednesday” he said. The charges against Savage have not been proved in court.
According to Leon the investigation is still ongoing as police are asking the public for help in finding Palmer’s wallet a Samsung flip phone and a St. Louis Blues baseball cap.
“These items belonged to Palmer and were known to be in his possession at the time of his disappearance” said OPP in a media release.
From Bowmanville Palmer was 47 at the time of his death and was last seen on video surveillance stopping at a gas station on Highway 35 in Pontypool.
Police had recovered Palmer’s Honda Accord on Oct. 14 2015 near Spruce Lake Trail north of Haliburton.
Anyone with information is being asked to come forward and contact Detective Const. Matthew Carmichael of the City of Kawartha Lakes OPP at 705-324-6741.
Tips can also be made to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.stopcrimehere.ca. Tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2000.
