DISTRICT (Staff) – A 27-year-old former Cobalt resident has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Christopher “Chris P.” Parsons.

At a press conference Friday, July 11 at the Temiskaming detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) ,Detective Superintendent Dave Truax of the OPP’s Criminal Investigation Services announced that  Mathew James Hayes has been charged with the June 4, 2013 death of the popular well-known Parsons.

Mr. Parsons was found inside his Ferguson Avenue apartment in Haileybury at approximately 7:45 that morning.

Police say Mr. Parsons was beaten to death.

Mr. Hayes is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Haileybury July 11.

More information on this story will be available in the print edition of the July 16 Speaker.