A Barrie man arrested in connection with a double homicide investigation made a brief court appearance Wednesday.
Robert Twiss, 45, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, indignity to a body and flight from police.
According to investigators, a pickup truck was found stopped on Highway 26 with its four-ways on by the OPP, at around 2 a.m. on Tuesday in Springwater Township.
The officer approached the truck to speak with the driver, who then allegedly sped off. The OPP gave chase, but eventually called off the pursuit due to public safety.
At around 2:45 a.m., Barrie police say they were given the licence plate number of the vehicle and attended the home of the registered owner on Eden Drive. Inside, investigators say they found the bodies of two men and believe they may have been dead for four or five days.
Twiss, who also lives at the residence, was found by the OPP walking on Ridge Road in Shanty Bay and was arrested without incident, at around 5:15 p.m. The pickup truck was located abandoned elsewhere in Barrie.
As police escorted Twiss to the prisoner’s box , he showed no emotion but family members of the victims openly wept in court.
One woman cried out: “I lost my dad!” while another woman screamed, “I hate you” and then ran out of the courtroom.
An autopsy on both victims was scheduled for Wednesday. At this point, investigators haven't released the victim's identities.
Twiss remains in custody and will appear in bail court via video on Feb. 3.
