Provincial police have ruled the death of William Schernhammer a homicide and have made an arrest in relation to the case.
Schernhammer, 24, of New Tecumseth, was reported missing Jan. 12. Police found his body Jan. 21 in Adjala-Tosorontio, about 40 minutes southwest of Barrie.
On Jan. 21, Gabriel Di Cecco, 25, of Adjala-Tosorontio, was arrested and charged with indignity to a dead body and obstructing a peace officer.
On Thursday, the accused was also charged with first-degree murder.
Meanwhile, friends and family will get an opportunity to say a final goodbye to Schernhammer early next week. An obituary released on the Drury Funeral Centre website several days ago notes a visitation with his family is scheduled at the centre, 519 Victoria St. E. in Alliston, on Tuesday, Feb. 6, from 5 to 8 p.m.
A celebration of life is then planned at Alliston Pentecostal Church, 7810 Hwy. 89, on Feb. 7 — marking what would have been Schernhammer’s 25th birthday — from 2 to 5 p.m. A gathering will commence following the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to either the GoFundMe campaign set up to support Schernhammer’s family or to the Hope Acres Addiction Treatment Centre. The GoFundMe page had collected more than $9,600 through 131 individual donations as of Friday afternoon.
Anyone with information about the investigation is asked to call the dedicated tip line at 1-877-225-6273 or the OPP non-emergency number at 1-888-310-1122. Information can be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or crimestopperssdm.com.
