Manor murder suspect charged with two Nova Scotia killings

By SUZANNE MOORE
Staff Writer

May 17, 2007 07:14 am

— PLATTSBURGH -- The man suspected of killing Darcy R. Manor has been charged with the murders of two gay men in Nova Scotia.
Law-enforcement agencies in both the United States and Canada worked Wednesday to reconstruct the route taken by Glen Douglas Race, 26, of Halifax, Nova Scotia, who was apprehended in Texas near the Mexican border Tuesday morning.
In his possession was the .44-caliber rifle stolen from the secluded camp on Drown Road in Mooers where Manor was found murdered early last Friday.
UNAWARE OF ATTACK
Police believe that rifle was used to shoot the Mooers man, who was working on the water system at Churubusco Lodge when he was killed.
In Halifax, police consider the deaths of Michael Paul Knott, whose body was found May 5, and Trevor Charles Brewster, whose remains were discovered May 9 under a boardwalk of a park well-known as a spot where men cruise for gay sex, as possible hate crimes.
There are no similarities between the two murders in Nova Scotia and that of Manor, State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation Capt. Robert LaFountain said at a news conference Wednesday afternoon, attended by more than 20 members of Manor's family and media from both the United States and Canada.
"As of this time, we have absolutely no indication (Manor) and the suspect knew each other," he added. "Evidence thus far indicates Mr. Manor was completely unaware of the impending assault against him."
SERIAL NUMBER KEY
As State Police traveled to Houston, Texas, Wednesday to retrieve Manor's 1994 pickup truck, which was located Thursday night by Harris County Sheriff's Department, Race remained in custody at an undisclosed location in Texas.
A charge of assaulting a federal officer could be dropped if it would expedite proceedings in Clinton County, said Deputy Chief Patrol Agent Rosendo Hinojosa of U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Swanton Sector.
During a routine patrol, Border Patrol Agent Ramon Vargas Jr. spotted a man on foot carrying a bag in a field in Harlingen, Texas, about 30 miles west of Brownsville and immediately north of the Mexican border.
When Vargas approached the man -- who turned out to be Race -- he saw that he had a rifle in a bag.
Vargas attempted to take the weapon, said Hinojosa, and Race fought, injuring the agent slightly.
A check of the serial number revealed the rifle was connected with the Mooers murder, and Border Patrol contacted New York State Police.
"Race was also in possession of property belonging to the homicide victim," said a press release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
LaFountain wouldn't say Wednesday what Race was carrying that belonged to Manor.
"We have secured a substantial amount of evidence in conjunction with the crime in Mooers," he said of the overall investigation.
State Police eyed Race as a possible suspect last Friday, the same day Manor's body was discovered.
A teletype from Interpol in Ottawa broadcast the search for a black Honda Civic believed stolen by Race from one of the Halifax victims.
The communication, LaFountain said, indicated Race was in Quebec on May 9, the day before Manor's murder.
"What really clued us in was the possibility of a connection in Quebec," he said.
Race remained the sole suspect, LaFountain said.
EXTRADITION PLANNED
The intention is to extradite him to New York state, he continued, which will happen after police and Clinton County District Attorney Andrew Wylie complete preparation of the charges that will be made against him.
At rough guess, LaFountain said extradition could take place as soon as Thursday or Friday.
But no time line had yet been set, he said.
"We are in no hurry at this point, (because) the suspect has been taken into custody."
He anticipated New York would have precedence over Nova Scotia in prosecuting Race because he was arrested in the United States.
BUILDING THE CASE
Meanwhile, law enforcement continued building its case against Race.
Police had sought information on two men seen walking on Drown Road on the day of the murder; LaFountain wouldn't say whether either might have been Race.
"That's being investigated as we speak," he said.
Also, LaFountain said, Clinton County Coroner David Donah and pathologist Dr. Michael Ladwig will return to the crime scene today for another examination of evidence there.
COMPLETING THE PICTURE
Race "traveled extensively" in Canada and the United States before his arrest, LaFountain said. Investigators would be looking at reports of missing people, for while they knew of no other homicides that might have been committed during that time period, he said, "from the events that occurred over the last week, I would not rule that out."
smoore@pressrepublican.com

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