OPP Conducting Investigation Into Death From 1996
WAWA, ON – The North East Region Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Crime Prevention and Investigation Unit, the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB), the OPP Forensic Identification Services (FIS), and the Office of the Chief Coroner and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service (OCC-OFPS), are conducting an investigation into the death of a child that occurred in 1996.
On January 31, 1996, the Michipicoten Police Service was called to assist Emergency Medical Services with a call related to a 23 month old male who was in medical distress at a residence on Laurier Street in Wawa, Ontario. He was transported to the Lady Dunn Hospital in Wawa where he was pronounced dead. At the time, a coroner’s investigation with the assistance of the Michipicoten Police Service included a post mortem that determined the cause of death was natural causes.
In 2016, the 1996 death was reviewed by the OCC-OFPS and concerns were raised about the 1996 conclusions. As a result of this new information, the OCC-OFPS contacted the OPP and an investigation has been initiated under the direction of CIB Detective Inspector Mark Zulinski.
A judicial warrant has been authorized to exhume the remains of Dustin CARLSON on August 23, 2016. The remains will be transported to the Provincial Forensic Pathology Unit at the Forensic Services and Coroners Complex in Toronto for re-examination.
The investigation is continuing and further information will be released as it becomes available.
