Windsor police arrest identical twins in man’s killing
Windsor police have now rounded up five suspects — including identical twins arrested Monday — in the kidnapping, torture and murder of a man a week after he was released from jail.
Investigators are still looking for one more “armed and dangerous” suspect. Daniel Shaw, 38, from Windsor, is wanted for murder, kidnapping, and forcible confinement.
Shaw and the other five people already charged are suspects in the murder of Scott Phillips, 26, who died in October after he was abducted, tied up, beaten and stabbed.
“Our detectives have been able to find that they all played a role in the kidnapping and murder of the victim, and that’s why they all face these charges,” said Const. Andrew Drouillard.
“It just shows that investigations are always ongoing, and in this case we’re still appealing to the public for any information. Daniel Shaw is still outstanding. He is considered armed and dangerous, so we’re telling people don’t approach. But if they have any information at all, definitely give us a call.”
Police found Phillips tied up and bleeding in a west-end apartment after receiving a call about an assault on Oct. 19.
Detectives said Tuesday they recently learned from the Centre of Forensic Sciences that there was a DNA hit from evidence collected at the scene of the killing. The information helped police identify two more suspects.
Members of the Windsor Police criminal intelligence unit and provincial repeat offender parole enforcement squad (ROPE) went out and arrested them.
Twins Dennis Christian Bercian and Erick Alexander Bercian, 30, from Windsor, are each charged with murder, forcible confinement and kidnapping.
Police had already nabbed three other suspects in the killing. They arrested Walter Smith, 67, on Oct. 19 and charged him with forcible confinement and murder.
Police arrested Dustin Schuh, 26, and Melissa Luyten, 32, in London, on Nov. 4. They are also charged with forcible confinement, murder, kidnapping and some firearm offences.
Officers were sent to Arthur J. Reaume Manor at 605 Mill St. around 6 a.m. on Oct. 19 for a call about an assault.
They found Phillips in the apartment bleeding badly with his hands tied. He had been severely beaten and he had multiple stab wounds and cuts all over his body. He died Oct. 27.
The major crimes branch started their homicide investigation by speaking to Walter Smith, who had called police. He happened to live in the apartment where the victim was discovered.
Police said they eventually determined that witness had played a role in the attack. They arrested him.
Investigators later identified a number of other suspects.
Police haven’t revealed a motive for the vicious attack but said it was not random. They have also said it likely lasted a long time. It may have begun around 8 p.m. the previous night. Police previously said they believe the victim was lured to the rear parking lot of the Tim Hortons in the 2800 block of Howard Avenue on Oct. 18.
A fight broke out there involving several men and women. Detectives believe the victim was forced into a vehicle and abducted. He was found in the apartment the next morning in critical condition.
Detectives didn’t get a chance to speak to him before he died.
Police said this wasn’t the first time Phillips was attacked. He was found suffering from multiple stab wounds around 2:30 a.m. on Sept. 29 near Glengarry Avenue and Wyandotte Street East. After that attack, he refused to co-operate with police.
Between the Sept. 29 stabbing and the fatal attack, Phillips landed briefly in jail.
“I just got released,” he wrote Oct. 12 on his Facebook page.
Anyone with information about the murder or the location of Daniel Shaw can call Windsor police at 519-255-6700, ext. 4830 or Crime Stoppers at 519-258-8477 (TIPS). You can also leave tips online at catchcrooks.com.