A 38-year-old Collingwood man is now charged with first degree murder in the death of his wife.
On January 26, the Collingwood and Blue Mountains OPP said a grey SUV was travelling northbound on Arrowhead Road near Highway 26 when the vehicle went into a ditch and caught fire. Officers discovered a deceased person inside the vehicle and later identified her as Ashley Schwalm, 40, of Collingwood.
Her husband, Jason Schwalm, was initially charged with second degree murder and indignity to a dead body.
The OPP's Criminal Investigations branch has been investigating the fatality, along with the Office of the Fire Marshall, Ontario Forensic Pathology Services, Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario, and several other units of the OPP.
As a result of the investigation, the charge against Schwalm has been upgraded to first degree murder.
The charge was updated on Friday when the accused appeared in bail court. Schwalm now remains in custody.
Police are still looking for public assistance in this investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the OPP at (705) 445-4321.
