Man who saved child found dead
Johnathan Bailey once saved a baby that a man was about to stab. Bailey was found Thursday, victim of a homicide
Niagara police are investigating the homicide of a 45-year-old Hamilton man whose body was found in a rural area just outside of Hamilton in West Lincoln Wednesday morning.
Johnathan Bailey’s body was found around 9:30 a.m. in the area of South Chippawa and North Chippawa Roads, in Caistorville, near the border to Binbrook.
Uniformed patrol officers were the first on scene in the rural area, but quickly called in homicide and forensic unit officers, said Niagara police spokesperson Stephanie Sabourin.
There were obvious “traumatic injuries to the body,” she said.
It’s unclear how long Bailey had been there. He had not been reported missing.
“We don’t have any information as to why that particular location,” Sabourin said, adding that police are not investigating at any other locations.
An autopsy was scheduled for Thursday at Hamilton General Hospital.
Police are searching for a black 2005 Ford Escape that is believed to be associated with the homicide. Sabourin said the vehicle is “distinctive” with aluminum rims, a roof rack and a stick family decal on the rear bumper with a father, mother and son. The vehicle has no front licence plate, but back plates are believed to be from Ontario, or possibly Quebec. Bailey was known to police, having spent time in jail.
His criminal behaviour made him some enemies, but he was also honest about his conflicts with the law and was quick to come to the aid of friends, those who knew him said.
“I remember him as a happy person, there to help anybody at the drop of a dime,” said Antonietta Tirabassi-Kenyon. Bailey was like family to her, as they had family members who dated. He has a son.
In September 2009 Bailey was commended by police for rescuing a 17-month-old boy who had been snatched by a man in a grocery store parking lot and who was threatening to stab the baby if the mother didn’t hand over money.
Bailey spoke with The Spectator after the attack and said: “I offered him $20 to hand over the baby and he said no, he wasn’t going to do that. I told him he and I were going to have a problem.”
Bailey grabbed the baby and then, after handing the boy over, chased down and tackled the suspect to the ground.
“That was him ... he definitely didn’t hesitate to jump in,” Tirabassi-Kenyon said.
She last spoke with him in the summer and would often see him drive by and wave hello.
Bailey posted on Facebook Nov. 3 that he had started a new job and was “back on track.” Tirabassi-Kenyon said she didn’t know what that job was, but was proud of him.
“It’s really sad to hear,” she said. “He definitely didn’t deserve to go that way.”
Police expected to remain at the scene, which included closing the road, for most of the day Thursday.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 905-688-4111 ext. 4251. If you see the vehicle call 911 immediately.