41 year-old Stephen Dustin appeared in a Woodstock courtroom this morning, charged with first degree murder. Woodstock police had originally charged a 41 year-old man with second degree murder on Wednesday but the charge was upgraded early Thursday morning.
Dustin is charged in connection to the death of Woodstock resident Pearl Brown. Brown, 84, was found dead in her home on Tuesday evening. Police were called to a duplex at 58 Huron St. in the east end of Woodstock where they found the woman's body.
Woodstock Police Deputy Chief Daryl Longworth says the upgraded charges reflect Dustin’s intent the murder. “The difference between first degree murder and second degree murder is that there was some indication of deliberateness or intention.”
Dustin was taken into custody on Wednesday.
An autopsy was conducted into Brown’s cause of death on the same day Dustin was arrested. Police say the post mortem shows Brown’s death led to the homicide investigation but police officials have yet to state the official cause of death.
Friends and family of the elderly woman shouted and screamed at Dustin on Thursday morning as he was escorted from the police van into the courthouse. He was seen in a standard, white, prisoner’s jumpsuit.
Woodstock Police Chief Rod Freeman isn’t confirming how Dustin and the elderly woman are acquainted. “I can confirm there is a relationship. The suspect is known to the victim and vice versa. However, I’m not going into the dynamics of the relationship at this point. That, too, will become part of our evidence in court.”
Friends of Brown say she used to periodically rent a room to Dustin. Friends say the pair aren’t related and Dustin wasn’t living at the home at the time of the incident.
Neighbour Michele Peters says Brown was known as a sweet lady in the neighbourhood, who always sat on her porch, “I saw her this past Monday.”
“She took people in, who had no place to live or something, you know, that needed a place for a few days or whatever. She was nice that way too.”
Robert Scott lives across the street from where Brown was found. “I’m still trying to get my head around the fact that it happened and it’s so close.”
Defence attorney Kevin McHugh has been tapped to represent Dustin. Court records show Dustin has had numerous run-ins with the law and McHugh has represented the accused in the past in other matters.
Dustin’s next court appearance will be by video on September 17th.
