Simcoe County Case Files

The Barrie Police Service and the Ontario Provincial Police are turning to video vignettes to generate information on unsolved murders and missing person’s cases.

On May 31, 2017, at a news conference, OPP Superintendent Jim Smyth and Barrie Police Chief Kimberley Greenwood unveiled Simcoe County Case Files – a new initiative to reinvigorate the investigations with a goal of providing resolutions to the families and friends who have survived tragic losses with local ties.

Three investigations involving a total of four victims who met with foul play in or near the City of Barrie were profiled in episodic form videos posted to a dedicated Simcoe County Case Files Facebook page. The new initiative generated over 200,000 views on social media, and on November 2, 2017, a fourth investigation was added.

Investigators urge viewers with information to call the dedicated Simcoe County Case Files Hotline toll-free at 1-844-677-5030, by email at [email protected] or to remain anonymous contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

The Simcoe County Case Files video series can be viewed on the Ontario Provincial Police website or via the Simcoe County Case Files Facebook page.

Cases being profiled through Simcoe County Case File are:

40-year-old April DOBSON

40-year-old April DOBSON was outdoors, sitting on a porch at a friend’s residence in Barrie when she was tragically shot to death on October 14th of 2005.

21-year-old, Grant AYERST & 36-year-old Norman WHALLEY

On September 11, 1991, 21-year-old, Grant AYERST, of Barrie and 36-year-old Norman WHALLEY, of British Columbia, were last seen leaving a Toronto hotel. Their remains have yet to be recovered.

(Update) Thursday, May 3, 2018: Ongoing Investigation Results in Second Arrest

(BARRIE, ON) – At a news conference on Wednesday, April 18, 2018, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Criminal Investigation Services Commander Detective-Superintendent Ken LEPPERT and Barrie Police Service (BPS) Chief Kimberley GREENWOOD credited enhanced public discussions with helping to provide resolution to the 1991 disappearance and deaths of two men.

At that time, police jointly announced that 49-year-old Michael Guido Gerald CLAES of Elmvale, Ontario had been arrested and charged with two counts of First Degree Murder in regards to the deaths of 21-year-old Grant AYERST and 36-year-old Norman WHALLEY.

On Wednesday, May 2, 2018, a second arrest was made in Keswick, Ontario in regards to this ongoing investigation. As a result, 52-year-old David Glenn BOND is currently facing 2 charges of Accessory After the Fact to Murder, contrary to Section 240 of the Criminal Code of Canada. He has been remanded in custody and appeared at the Ontario Court of Justice located in Barrie earlier today for a Bail Hearing.

The dedicated Simcoe County Case Files Facebook page remains active and the episodic videos that focus on the murders of Grant AYERST and Norman WHALLEY, 17-year-old Cindy HALLIDAY, 40-year-old April DOBSON and 30-year-old Jaimee Lee Miller also remain available on the OPP Corporate Communications YouTube channel and there are also links to them on the Barrie Police website as well.

The dedicated Simcoe County Case Files Facebook page remains active. Viewers can provide information by calling the dedicated Simcoe County Case Files Hotline toll-free at 1-844-677-5030, by email at [email protected] or – to remain anonymous – call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

(Update) Wednesday, April 18, 2018: Investigation Profiled During Campaign Results In First Degree Murder Charges

(BARRIE, ON) – A creative joint investigation by members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and Barrie Police Service has resulted in two criminal charges being laid more than 26 years after the disappearance of Grant AYERST and Norman WHALLEY.

On September 11, 1991, 21-year-old, Grant AYERST, of Barrie and 36-year-old Norman WHALLEY, of British Columbia, were last seen leaving a Toronto hotel. Their remains have yet to be recovered.

At a news conference today, OPP Detective-Superintendent Ken LEPPERT and Barrie Police Service Chief Kimberley GREENWOOD credited enhanced public discussions with helping to provide resolution to the 1991 disappearance and deaths of Grant AYERST and Norman WHALLEY.

Police have charged Michael Guido Gerald CLAES, 49-years-old, of Elmvale, Ontario with two counts of First Degree Murder. The accused appeared at the Ontario Court of Justice in Barrie on April 16, 2018 and has been remanded in custody.

Although not present at the news conference and respecting their continued desire for privacy, the Ayerst family provided a statement in response to the charges being laid:

“We are extremely grateful for the renewed interest and attention brought to the disappearance of our son Grant through Simcoe County Case Files.

We wish to thank Detective Sergeant Andrew Taylor for his interest, dedication and persistence with this case. We also extend our sincere gratitude to the many people involved in helping to bring some resolution to our family concerning Grant’s disappearance.

Early on in this tragedy, we chose not to let the events surrounding Grant’s disappearance destroy our lives and family. Instead, we chose to keep the good memories alive, hope to move us forward and always anticipated the day we would have some resolution to this tragedy which disrupted our lives over 26 years ago. PATIENCE, KARMA and HOPE have paid off.

While this case is before the courts we have decided to refrain from making any public comments. We thank the media in advance for respecting our wishes. We now put our trust and hope in the judicial system to hold accountable the individual or individuals responsible for Grant’s disappearance”. – The Ayerst Family

30-year-old Jamiee Lee MILLER

30-year-old Jamiee Lee MILLER, a mother of three, went missing on October 12, 2015. Her body was later discovered in the Simcoe County forest, north of Midhurst, on March 16, 2016.

17-year-old Cindy HALLIDAY

Cindy HALLIDAY of Waverley, Ontario was last seen hitchhiking near Midhurst on April 20th, 1992. She had been visiting a friend in the City of Barrie. Her remains were discovered in a wooded area of Springwater Township on June 17th, 1992.