Two more arrests in 2019 kidnapping and murder of Kitchener, Ont. man

Jason John Brown (left) and police in Oshawa on March 12, 2019.

Ontario Provincial Police have charged two more people with the kidnapping and murder of a Kitchener, Ont. man, bringing the total number of accused to five.

Jason John Brown was abducted from a cemetery in Harriston on March 12, 2019.

His body was found the next day at the side of Stevenson Road in Oshawa, almost 200 kilometres away.

On Monday, Jan. 13, OPP announced the arrest of Mathew Drumond, a 38-year-old man from London, and Jessica Martin, a 35-year-old woman from North Perth.

Drumond is charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.

Martin is charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, obstructing justice and possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000.

Both are scheduled to appear in a Guelph courtroom on Feb. 3.

Accused in the case

Three others are also accused in Brown’s death.

Travis Willard Wand of Wellington North was charged in June 2024 with first-degree murder, two counts of assault with a weapon, kidnapping and several other offences.

In November 2023, Joshua Alexander Drumond was arrested by the Edmonton Police Service. Steven Jon Walsom-Gerigs of Brantford was arrested around the same.

Both are also charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping.

Reward increased

Wellington County OPP said they continue to investigate the circumstances around Brown’s death, under direction from the OPP’s Criminal Investigation Branch and with assistance from the OPP’s Bike Enforcement Unit.

The province, meanwhile, is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case.

Tips can be made to Wellington County OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Anyone with information, who prefers to remain nameless, can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.