Police in Ontario have apprehended a man wanted in connection with two separate fatal incidents in Oshawa and Peterborough. Michael Waterman, 44, was taken into custody on Friday afternoon in Peterborough, bringing an end to a multi-jurisdictional search.
Arrest in Peterborough Ends Manhunt
Peterborough Police Service officers located Waterman at a residence in the area of Dalhousie and Alymer Streets around 3 p.m. on Friday, December 26, 2025. According to authorities, an officer called out to the suspect, who then exited the home and surrendered without incident.
Waterman was immediately arrested on an outstanding warrant for second-degree murder related to a homicide in Peterborough on December 6. He was also wanted on a separate warrant for second-degree murder issued by Durham Regional Police for a fatal stabbing in Oshawa.
Details of the Oshawa Homicide
The Oshawa incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, December 23. Durham Regional Police responded to a call in the area of Park Road South and John Street around 4:15 a.m. after a man was found on the roadway with stab wounds.
The victim, identified as 44-year-old Jeremy Russell, was transported to a Toronto-area trauma centre in life-threatening condition, where he later died. His death marks the ninth homicide in Durham Region this year.
On Wednesday, December 24, police charged 33-year-old Nicholas Robbins of Oshawa with second-degree murder in Russell's death and named Waterman as a second suspect wanted for the same charge. Police confirmed that all three men involved—Russell, Robbins, and Waterman—were known to each other.
The Earlier Peterborough Murder Case
Waterman had been wanted by Peterborough Police since early December. The investigation stems from an incident on Friday, December 6, when officers were called to an apartment building at 212 Brock Street around 6 a.m.
There, they found a 33-year-old man with severe head injuries inside an apartment. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
In connection with this case, police had previously arrested two other individuals. On December 18, officers executed a warrant at a residence in Belleville and arrested 28-year-old Peter Pople of Peterborough, charging him with second-degree murder. Also on December 18, a third suspect, 29-year-old Kaya Coughlin of Peterborough, was located and arrested at the Trinity Community Centre at Reid and Simcoe Streets. Coughlin faces a charge of manslaughter.
Separate Toronto Arson Attack
In an unrelated but serious incident in Toronto, a man faces multiple charges after a tent was deliberately set on fire with a person inside. Toronto Police responded to a call in the Charles and Yonge Streets area near Bloor and Yonge at 6:11 a.m. on Friday, December 26.
Police allege the accused intentionally set a tent and mattress on fire and threw items on the tent to accelerate the flames. The victim was pulled from the burning tent and taken to hospital in life-threatening condition with critical injuries.
Loewen Wolfe, 36, of Toronto, was arrested and charged with several offences including mischief endangering life, arson damaging property, arson disregarding human life, arson causing bodily harm, and failure to comply with probation.
Authorities are asking anyone with information about this incident to contact Toronto Police at 416-808-5100 or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
