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Man accused in double-murder found dead in jail

Robert Twiss, 45, was facing two first-degree murder charges in the deaths of Matthew Mallinson and his father, Alan
Twiss inset2
Robert Twiss (inset) is pictured in a Facebook photo.

An inmate was found dead on Monday at Central North Correctional Centre in Penetanguishene.

According to media reports, the inmate was identified as Robert Twiss, a 45-year-old Barrie man who was on trial for a brutal double homicide.

Twiss was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Matthew Mallinson, 39, and his 73-year-old father, Alan, who used a walker. He was also charged with causing an indignity to a human body and flight from police.

Barrie police discovered the bodies of both men in their Eden Drive home on Jan. 26, 2016 after the registered owner of a pickup truck involved in an OPP chase was traced to the home, which is located near Edgehill and Leacock drives.

Police said the victims may have been dead for up to five days.

According to court documents, Matthew Mallinson’s limb had been severed and discarded.

An autopsy showed both men had been stabbed to death.

Police said Twiss had been living with the Mallinsons as a boarder.

Twiss was due to have a court appearance on Tuesday.

According to a tweet posted by the OPSEU Local 369 Twitter account on Monday, which represents workers at Central North Correctional Centre, the inmate was found without vital signs, dead of a suspected drug overdose.

“The inmate was found passed away yesterday morning at the Central North Correctional Centre,” said Brent Ross, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services said in an interview with BarrieToday on Tuesday.

“Given that there are multiple ongoing investigations, I can’t provide further detail," Ross added. "The coroner is conducting a death investigation and if that investigation indicates that it’s anything other than natural causes, they’ll call an inquest.

"If it is natural causes, it’s up to the discretion of the coroner whether that inquest would be called.”

Ross declined to comment on the tweet indicating the death was due to a suspected drug overdose.

“It would be highly inappropriate for me to speculate,” he said.

Ross also declined to confirm the identity of the inmate, but did indicate it was a male.

Multiple calls to Twiss’ defence lawyer, Gregory Leslie, were not returned.


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Jessica Owen

About the Author: Jessica Owen

Jessica Owen is an experienced journalist working for Village Media since 2018, primarily covering Collingwood and education.
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