An Ontario man with a lengthy criminal record is now at the centre of two separate homicide investigations, painting a grim picture of alleged violence spanning multiple communities.
Two Cities, Two Fatal Attacks
Michael Waterman, 44, was arrested in Peterborough on Friday and charged with second-degree murder in connection with a fatal beating that occurred on December 6, 2025. Police allege this is not his only involvement in a killing that month.
Less than three weeks after the Peterborough incident, on December 23, a man was found stabbed on a roadway in Oshawa. The victim, Jeremy Russell, 44, later died in hospital. Durham Regional Police have indicated Waterman is expected to be charged with second-degree murder in Russell's death as well, allegedly making him responsible for two homicides in under a month.
A Pattern of Violence and Breaches
Court records and police statements reveal Waterman's history is marred by violence and a consistent failure to abide by court orders. His past charges include robbery with violence, aggravated assault, and numerous counts of breach of probation.
In 2021, he was charged after fleeing police who noticed his expired licence plate, adding charges of flight from a peace officer to his record. This pattern suggests a defendant repeatedly undeterred by the justice system.
The Peterborough Homicide and Co-accused
The first incident unfolded in the early hours of December 6 at the TVM Towers apartment building on Brock Street in Peterborough. Police discovered a 33-year-old man with severe head injuries; he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators later arrested two other individuals in connection with this killing. Peter Pople, 28, of Peterborough, was charged with second-degree murder. Kaya Coughlin, 29, also of Peterborough, faces a manslaughter charge.
Pople himself has a violent past, including a prior charge for a Boxing Day 2018 stabbing in Cobourg. He pleaded guilty in that case to robbery, assault, and other charges, receiving a brief ten-day jail sentence.
Waterman was arrested without incident in Peterborough. The charges against him, Pople, and Coughlin have not been proven in court. Their cases are expected to proceed to trial in the coming years.
The back-to-back incidents have raised questions about sentencing and rehabilitation for repeat offenders with violent tendencies. The victims in both cases, the 33-year-old in Peterborough and Jeremy Russell in Oshawa, were also reportedly known to police, highlighting the tragic cycle of violence within a criminal milieu.
