According to Ontario police sources, it was a combination of circumstances between a Greater Toronto Area police investigation into drug trafficking and that of the Montreal Police Service (SPVM) that would have allowed him to be immediately considered the prime suspect in the murder of Claudia Iacono.
According to our information, the house of the parents of the 28-year-old defendant in Milton, a suburb of Toronto, was searched at dawn on May 16, the day of the murder of the 39-year-old woman. years in Montreal.
Joel Richard Clarke, who was known to the police because of a criminal record, was required to be at the destination address of the police operation, in particular because of a curfew imposed by the court.
A quick visit to Montreal
However, the latter was noticed by his absence when the police unexpectedly arrived. After some research, they learned that he had gone to Montreal.
The day after the murder, May 17, Joel Richard Clarke returned to the family home, unaware that the police were waiting for him there.
According to our sources, he was carrying a pistol hidden under his clothing at the time of his arrest.
In Quebec, the Director of Law and Enforcement confirmed that the defendant was required to comply with a number of Ontario release conditions based on charges against him in Greater Toronto Area judicial districts.
The SPVM also confirmed that he was known to Canadian police authorities in violent crime cases.
Despite a long-standing criminal record, our law enforcement officials say Joel Richard Clarke’s parents have agreed to post bail of $25,000 to keep him in their home pending further trials into the alleged crimes in the greater Toronto area.
A request for urgent arrest
Despite failing to comply with the conditions imposed by the Ontario court, Joel Richard Clarke was granted a new release earlier this week.
Fearing he might escape, the Montreal Major Crimes Unit reportedly sent an urgent request to his OPP colleagues to arrest him as part of their investigation into Claudia’s murder. Iacono.
Joel Richard Clarke was therefore repatriated to Quebec on Tuesday evening. Less than 24 hours later, he appeared at the Montreal courthouse, where he was charged with first degree murder.
This is a first phase of the investigation. We really want to understand the whole of this file, which has multiple implications. There will be more findings in the coming weeks, Jean-Sébastien Caron, commander of the SPVM for serious crimes, said during a press conference on Wednesday shortly after the performance.
According to our information, the sponsor of the murder of Claudia Iacono is currently unknown. Therefore, the Montreal Police want to continue their investigation to learn the whole truth.
Claudia Iacono was the wife of Anthony Gallo, son of Italian gangster Moreno Gallo, who was killed in Mexico in 2013.