A fourth suspect has been charged in the targeted slayings of Lisa Dudley and Guthrie McKay, the Mission couple shot to death in their living room five years ago.
Thomas Robert Holden was arrested Friday and charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the Sept. 22, 2008 killings.
“It is believed that Tom Holden played a significant role and worked closely with the accused to plan and commit the [murders],” Insp. Kevin Hackett said in a statement.
Three other suspects, Jack Douglass Woodruff, Justin Andrew Mackinnon and Bruce Ian Main, were charged with the same counts in 2011.
Woodruff, the shooter, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison, while Main pleaded to lesser counts of manslaughter and was given eight years.
MacKinnon pleaded not-guilty and his case remains before the courts.
“IHIT remains committed to following all available evidence. Charge approval against one or more persons does not signal the end of our work,” Hacket said. “However, we do not anticipate additional arrests or charges.”
Dudley and McKay were watching TV at the home when Woodruff stepped onto the back deck and opened fire.
The gunman shot six times, striking McKay three times and Dudley twice. The boyfriend died at the scene, while a neighbor found Dudley paralyzed and barely breathing four days later.
She was tied to a chair and bleeding heavily from bullet wounds to her neck and head, and died in an ambulance before reaching the hospital.
Dudley had been managing a marijuana grow-op in the home, according to a statement of facts agreed upon in Woodruff’s trial. Neither Dudley nor McKay had a criminal record.
The case has been a black eye on local Mounties, whom Dudley’s parents blame for their daughter’s long, slow death.
Const. Mike White was called to the area with a report of shots fired, but never stepped outside of his cruiser to investigate or to speak with the individual who called 911.
He was docked one day's pay and received a written reprimand.
With files from The Canadian Press
