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2nd-degree murder charge laid in South Rawdon fire

2nd-degree murder charge laid in South Rawdon fire

A 27-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of Laura Ross, whose remains were found following a fire in April at a rural property in Nova Scotia's Hants County.

Joshua Eric Crowell of Upper Sackville was arrested on Wednesday in Halifax by an RCMP major crimes unit, police said Thursday.

RCMP was called to a fire on South Rawdon Road in South Rawdon on April 3. The fire was in a shed next to a home and the remains of Ross, 27, were found inside. An autopsy was conducted the following day.

Cpl. Jennifer Clarke, spokesperson for the RCMP, said the investigation determined the fire was set intentionally and the death was ruled a homicide.

Victim knew accused

"Since that time, our members and the Northeast Nova Major Crimes Unit along with other units in the RCMP that have helped ... devoted a significant amount of time and resources to conducting the investigation," Clarke said.

Clarke said Ross and Crowell knew each other, but she wouldn't describe the relationship.

Crowell is scheduled to appear in Shubenacadie provincial court Thursday morning.