On a humid August afternoon, Barrie’s streets bristled with tension as the story of two lost lives and a city’s search for justice unfolded in the shadow of an encampment at Anne, John and Victoria Streets.
The city’s focus narrowed to Robert Ladouceur, a 52-year-old known locally as ‘Tattoo Rob’, as he faced a judge on charges that have shaken Barrie’s core. Ladouceur appeared virtually from Penetanguishene’s Central North Correctional Centre, charged with first and second-degree murder as well as indignity to a body, a dramatic turn in what began as a missing person case. His initial arrest covered a raft of weapons and drug-related offences, but it was the homicide charges—announced only the day before his court appearance—that deepened the sense of unease.
Friday’s proceedings were brisk, yet revealing. Ladouceur’s lawyer chose not to have the charges read aloud, signalling a strategy of quiet containment. The court named 29 individuals Ladouceur is now barred from contacting; his response, delivered in a measured tone, was simply, “I don’t even know who they are.” The next court date is set for August 29, and for now, Ladouceur remains in custody. The allegations against him have yet to be tested in court, leaving the city suspended in anticipation.
Police allege Ladouceur is responsible for the deaths of William ‘Blake’ Robinson, 45, and David Cheesequay, 41. No motive has been made public, and police have not confirmed whether the accused or the victims shared any past connection. Both Robinson and Cheesequay had criminal histories—Robinson most recently charged with drug possession and trafficking in late 2024, and Cheesequay previously facing various drug and weapons counts. Their stories, marked by hardship and brushes with the law, add further complexity to a case already thick with uncertainty.
Investigators have kept details close, offering scant clues about what truly happened within the encampment’s boundaries. The encampment itself, now cordoned off by police, has become a symbol of both Barrie’s struggles and its hopes for resolution. For the city, the stakes run deeper than the charges alone; the outcome will echo through its streets long after the courthouse lights dim.
References:
Ont. man accused of murder in Barrie encampment investigation appears in court
