Man charged with murder in Dartmouth woman's 2018 death

Halifax police have charged a 43-year-old man with second-degree murder and interfering with human remains in the death of a Dartmouth, N.S., woman who disappeared in 2018 but whose body has never been found.

Owen Patrick Nelson, of Dartmouth, was arrested at 5:50 a.m. Wednesday at a residence in the 1100 block of Cole Harbour Road in Cole Harbour. Nelson appeared in Dartmouth provincial court Thursday and returns on May 10.

On March 3, 2018, police received a report that Karen Lee MacKenzie had not been seen or heard from since Feb. 25.

MacKenzieand Nelson had dated, and hehad previously been subject to a court order to stay away from her.

Halifax Regional Police superintendent Jim Perrin told reporters Thursday that police still have not yet found MacKenzie's body. He said that remains "troubling" for her loved ones, although he hoped the arrest may "provide some comfort."

"She still has not been located," he said. "And anybody that can assist us in this matter we'd encourage them to contact the police."

Police searched multiple locations in the Halifax region, Hants County and Lunenburg County as part of their investigation.

Perrinalso confirmed Nelson and MacKenzie were known to each other.

Investigators treated MacKenzie's disappearance as suspicious. Nelson was initially arrested in March 2018 andsubsequently charged with interfering with human remains, assault and two counts breach of probation in relation to MacKenzie's disappearance.

According to court records, Nelson was already facing charges that he had assaulted MacKenzie, including choking her.

All of those previous charges have been stayed.

The day MacKenzie was reported missing, Nelson wrotea Facebook post asking if anyone had seen her. The next day he posteda video of a dog with the sound of awoman laughing.

"I miss your laugh babe.I hope that you are finally happy wherever you are,"he wrote.

Police are asking anyone with information about MacKenzie's murder to call police at 902-490-5016. Anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers.