Joel Roy is still at large, having escaped from Sudbury District Jail during the evening of June 17, Greater Sudbury Police said in an updated statement issued at 10:30 p.m. on June 18.
“Joel Roy remains at large and GSPS continues to follow up on tips from the public that have come in over the last 24 hours,” it reads.
“We are asking the public to continue to call in their tips to GSPS or Crime Stoppers.”
The solicitor general's office told Sudbury.com this morning they are cooperating with GSPS as they work to “recapture inmate Joel Roy,” and that they have launched an internal investigation. They stated they are unable to comment due to this investigation.
Roy was in custody in relation to three homicides, none of which have yet gone to trial.
He was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder in December for a shooting at the Travelodge Hotel in December. Two men, 27-year-old Javon Bryce and 38-year-old Matthew Saroka were killed in that shooting.
Roy also faced weapons charges and possession for the purpose of trafficking charges as it is believed that he was trafficking illicit drugs out of the hotel at the time of the incident.
In April, Greater Sudbury police arrested and charged four people for the murder of a 31-year-old Emad Ali, one of whom was Roy.** Police said they found the body of Emad Ali in a wooded area off Dryden Road in Wahnapitae. Investigators believe Ali was killed last November and his body was dumped in the wooded area. He was last seen in Toronto on Oct. 7.
Roy was charged with murder, indignity to a body and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
Details on how Roy was able to escape the jail haven’t been made public.
The 33-year-old Roy is described as being 5-6 tall and around 150 pounds with a medium build.
He has light brown, shoulder-length hair that may be tied back in a ponytail and green eyes with a scar on his right cheek, and tattoos on his chest and right forearm.
“Do not approach him, if you see him,” police said in a news release Saturday night.
“If you have information related to his whereabouts, please contact police immediately at 705-675-9171.”
None of the allegations against Roy have been tested in court and the accused is considered innocent unless proven guilty.
**CORRECTION: This story originally stated that Roy was charged in connection with the death of Glenn Ward, 53, discovered in the woods near Espanola. This story has been updated with the correct information.
