Jail cell incident in Sarnia, Ont., results in homicide, 1st-degree murder charge

CBC

9 January 2025 at 6:42 am·1-min read

An inmate was found unresponsive at the Sarnia Jail early Wednesday morning. A murder charge against another inmate has since been laid. (Getty Images - image credit)

Police have laid a first-degree murder charge against an inmate at the Sarnia Jail.

Another inmate was found "unresponsive" in his cell around 3:45 a.m. Wednesday, according to authorities.

By the time emergency crews responded, they say the man was without vital signs and pronounced dead.

"Investigators have since determined the death to be a homicide and have arrested another inmate who shared the same cell with the deceased," the Sarnia Police Service said in an online statement.

Out front of headquarters at the Sarnia Police Service in the southwestern Ontario border city. (Sarnia Police Service)

The inmate who died has been identified as 51-year-old Douglas Cutbush of Sarnia.

The accused is 33 years old and also from the city.

An autopsy has been scheduled for today.

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