2 from southeastern P.E.I. to enter pleas in Summer Kneebone death on Aug. 1

Two people from southeastern Prince Edward Island were scheduled to appear in Georgetown court virtually on Thursday to enter pleas on charges related to the disappearance and death of 27-year-old Summer Kneebone.

But the court couldn't connect by video with the Provincial Correctional Centre, so the pleas are now expected to be entered on Aug. 1 instead.

Speaking outside the courthouse after the delay was confirmed, Crown prosecutor Christopher White told CBC News he expects more charges to be laid in the case.

Donald Roy Holmes and Samantha Jemima Parlee-Buell are both from Pembroke, just north of Murray Harbour.

They were arrested in New Glasgow, N.S., more than a month after Kneebone was last seen alive on Aug. 7, 2023 in Charlottetown.

A family photo of Summer Kneebone, who disappeared in August 2023.
A family photo of Summer Kneebone, who disappeared in August 2023. (Submitted by family)

At the time, police said they were arrested under Section 182(b) of the Criminal Code of Canada on charges of interfering with a dead body or human remains.

In the wake of Kneebone being reported missing, Charlottetown police asked homeowners and businesses to preserve any surveillance video they had from the evening of Aug. 7.

This is a still released by Charlottetown Police from surveillance video showing Summer Kneebone walking up University Avenue with a companion the evening she was last seen.
This is a still released by Charlottetown Police from surveillance video showing Summer Kneebone walking up University Avenue with a companion on Aug. 7, the evening she was last seen. (Submitted by Charlottetown Police)

Officers followed up on several leads, including one from someone claiming to have seen Kneebone who asked for money to guarantee her safe return.

"There are nefarious actors out there," Charlottetown Det.-Sgt Darren MacDougall said at the time. "It happens, unfortunately."

Social media posts begged for information on the young woman's whereabouts, including a post submitted to the Aboriginal Alert Facebook page that flags when Indigenous people have gone missing.