THUNDER BAY - An internal investigation is underway after a man accused of killing two people in southern Ontario was mistakenly released from custody last week.
Kareem Zedan, 22, of Pickering was released from custody from the Thunder Bay District Jail on Wednesday, April 1 in error. Thunder Bay police notified the public of the incident the next day through a media release stating Zedan had escaped from lawful custody.
The Ministry of Solicitor General says they are now looking closer to find how the mistake happened in the first place.
“The ministry is conducting an internal investigation to determine how the error occurred and what actions or process changes may need to take place to prevent it from happening again,” Kristy Denette, a spokesperson with the Ministry of Solicitor General said in an emailed statement.
Zedan was initially arrested in Thunder Bay on March 24 and charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection to the July 2019 deaths of Dorothy Lynn Vanevery, 62, and Larry Reynolds, 63 of southern Ontario. Both victims were found deceased in their home on Park Road South in Brantford.
Zedan was recaptured later in the day on Thursday, April 2, after police located him at an address in the intercity area just after 2 p.m.
The ministry did not provide any details of the nature of the escape.
“It would not be appropriate to provide further details due to the ongoing investigation and the case being before the courts,” Denette said.
Zedan was also charged with one count of identity fraud and escape from lawful custody when he was re-arrested.
His next court date is scheduled to take place on April 24.
