Residents of an Orillia neighbourhood that has experienced plenty of crime in recent years were relieved to hear an arrest had been made in a homicide that happened in the area in the summer.
Robert Sampson, 55, of Wasaga Beach, was arrested without incident on Tuesday in Stayner. He has been charged with first-degree murder in relation to the July 19 death of Tracey Reid, 45, of Orillia. Early that morning, Reid was found injured outside the Silver Swan Villa on Davey Drive and was later pronounced dead in hospital.
“We’re relieved (about the arrest) and happy for the neighbourhood and, at the same time, sad that somebody lost her life,” said nearby resident Stewart Lehmann. “At least it starts to bring some closure to the family and the neighbourhood.”
Cathy Howell, who lives in the area, said she felt “absolute relief” when she learned an arrest had been made.
“Everybody in this neighbourhood has lived with the possibility that the murderer was among us,” she said.
Howell said the suspect lived in the area until recently.
“It was a big fear for all of us. We’d almost given up. We thought it would become a cold case,” she said. “We’re all really, really happy for Tracey’s family that charges have been laid. That’s half a year that they’ve lived with this.”
Residents had noted an increase in drug use, mischief and other crimes in the neighbourhood in recent years. They tried to get permission from Orillia Power to place surveillance cameras on poles, but they were denied. Reid’s death was the last straw, and residents put up their own cameras on their properties.
Since then, “numerous incidents” have been caught on camera and sent to police, Lehmann said.
“There’s been a considerable improvement and a heightened awareness that there are cameras that are live-monitored,” he said. “People didn’t lie down in fear. A lot of people took action.”
Sampson was scheduled to appear in Barrie court Wednesday for a bail hearing. The result of that hearing is not yet known.
Orillia OPP said there is no danger to the public, but anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
