Officers charged in missing woman’s investigation

TORONTO — Two Toronto police officers are facing misconduct charges over allegations they failed to properly investigate the case of a young woman who went missing after a night out in the city’s gay village.

Constables Michael Jones and Alan McCullough are charged under the Police Services Act with not performing a duty and not carrying out an order in the case of Tess Richey, whose body was found four days after a missing persons report was filed.

According to notices of hearing issued to the officers, they were asked to investigate an address on Nov. 26, 2017 — the day after Richey, 22, was reported missing by a family member.

The documents allege that while they were on scene, the officers learned that it was Richey’s last known location, but they did not search the adjoining property, canvass the neighbourhood or notify a supervisory officer of the details.

The documents note Richey’s body was found by a family member at an adjoining property.

Kalen Schlatter, a man Richey is believed to have met the night she went missing, is charged with first-degree murder in her death. Jones and McCullough’s case was put over until the criminal proceedings are complete.

Her death sparked questions about how police handled her disappearance amid concerns about several men who went missing from the gay village.

Chief Mark Saunders said late last year the handling of missing persons cases would be reviewed.