Police in Nova Scotia say a woman who was found dead in a house fire that appeared suspicious has deemed her death a case of intimate partner violence, charging a man with murder.
The Southwest Nova RCMP’s major crime unit said the fire started at around 3 a.m. on Saturday at a home on Anthony Avenue in Centreville. Six people were able to escape the home before first responders arrived and no one was injured, police said.
During the search, police said a 22-year-old woman was found dead inside the home.
“From the initial information and evidence gathered, investigators believed that both the death and the fire were suspicious in nature,” police said.
Nova Scotia’s medical examiner’s office determined the woman’s death was the result of homicide. Police called her death “the result of intimate partner violence.”
“The fatal injuries are not associated to the fire,” Cpl. Carlie McCann, a spokesperson for the RCMP told Global News.
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Hours later, officers put out a search for a 28-year-old man. Justin Joseph Benjamin was located on Highway 8 near Lequille and taken into custody.
Benjamin is facing a second-degree murder charge, arson and disregard to human life.
He remains in custody where he will appear in court on Monday.
“We encourage anyone experiencing, or at risk of, intimate partner violence to reach out. Support is available across Nova Scotia and can be accessed by dialing 211, calling the provincial toll-free line at 1-855-225-0220, or visiting Nova Scotia 211 online,” police said.
This marks the sixth known case of intimate partner violence that have resulted in deaths since October.
In almost three months, six women have been killed in Nova Scotia by a male partner, police said.
The previous five cases of intimate partner violence were murder-suicides and, in one case, a woman’s father was also killed.
Premier Tim Houston spoke about the latest case and said his minister will be meeting with a coalition of advocates and service providers this week to discuss what more needs to be done.
“We know that intimate partner violence is an epidemic in Nova Scotia,” Houston said. “I’m saddened to hear that another family and community is grieving in our province.”
“Government alone can’t solve this, and we will work with community groups, businesses, educators, and individuals—to unite in this fight and work together to end the cycle of violence.”
— With files from Global News’ Rebecca Lau
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