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Sarnia man victim of murder in Marthaville

April 15, 2022

Police say it was death was ‘targeted’

Lambton OPP say a 45 year-old Sarnia man was found murdered in the parking lot of the Marthaville Habitat.

A day and a half after a man’s body was found, police have identified him as Andrew Chute.

Around 7:15 Thursday, police were called to the popular hiking spot on Marthaville Road after a body was found.

About six police vehicles lined the closed road most of Thursday with orange pylons and smaller orange markers dotting the road.

Neighbours in the area say OPP came to their door this morning asking if they had heard anything in the conservation area overnight.

Officers could be seen walking along the road, scanning the ditches by the trees and beside the farm field across the road from the habitat.

Friday, the road was still closed to the public with only one police cruiser and a van visible at the site mid morning.

In a news release Friday afternoon, OPP said the OPP has determined Chute’s death to be a homicide.

“Investigators believe this to be a targeted incident at this time, and there is no threat to public safety. The investigation is continuing with the assistance of the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario,” officials said in a news release.

The Marthaville Habitat is owned by the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority and is a popular spot for people to take their dogs for a stroll along the two kilometer trail. The trail is often busy in the early morning.Police told neighbours they will “be there for a few days” investigating.

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