In a shocking incident, a man from Thorburn, N.S., made headlines when he allegedly attacked a woman and fled, armed with an axe, from law enforcement. Subsequently, he was taken into custody and issued charges of second-degree murder.
Calls alerted RCMP officers to a man attempting to intrude a residence on Greenwood Street in Thorburn, around 9 A.M. on Monday morning. Tragically, upon responding to the calls, they found an injured woman in a serious condition inside the man’s residence. The suspect had, by then, disappeared into the neighboring woods, carrying an axe.
Subsequent investigations by the police identified the suspect as John Douglas Cress, a 61-year-old local. An emergency alert was issued across Pictou, Antigonish, and Colchester counties shortly after 10 A.M, as authorities ramped up their search for Cress.
Within a span of an hour and a half, Cress was found, enduring severe injuries himself, secreted amongst the woods behind Greenwood Street. His capture took place just before 11:30 A.M., thus ending the manhunt.
The once-seriously-injured victim was unable to overcome her injuries despite immediate medical attention and later passed away at the hospital.
Following the confirmation of her death, Cress received charges of second-degree murder. He is due to appear before Pictou’s provincial court on Wednesday as legal proceedings unfold.
At present, the case remains under active investigation as authorities piece together the tragic events to uncover the full narrative.
