Tweed man charged with 1st-degree murder after woman found injured in Belleville dies
Jason Richardson, 50, was initially charged with aggravated assault, other crimes
Police in Belleville, Ont., have upgraded an assault charge against a 50-year-old Tweed man to first-degree murder following the death of a woman who was found badly injured in late May.
On June 3, police said a 72-year-old woman had been found outside an east Belleville home with significant head injuries on the evening of May 31.
When officers located a suspect, they allege he rammed a police vehicle in an attempt to escape. He was taken into custody and police said they found a loaded hunting rifle on his passenger seat.
Police also learned of another woman who was allegedly being harassed by the suspect.
Jason Richardson was originally charged with 10 crimes including aggravated assault, criminal harassment, impaired driving and five weapons charges.
On Thursday, Belleville police said they learned last week that the injured woman had died July 17. They have identified her as Barbara O'Donnell.
The aggravated assault charge against Richardson has now been upgraded to first-degree murder. He has been in custody since his arrest, police said.