Codey Reginald Hennigar charged with murders following fire

Police now say all three people found dead inside a burnt-out home in a small farming community outside of Halifax were homicide victims.

RCMP said Codey Reginald Hennigar, 30,of Wyses Corner, has been charged with two countsof second-degree murder in the deaths of Clifford William Ward, 81, and Mildred Ann Ward, 54, both from Wyses Corner.

RCMP said they have no other suspects in the third death. They must first identify the third person before they can lay any further charges.

"Given the condition of the body, investigators believe it will take some time before the identity will be known," Sgt. AlainLeBlanc said Friday afternoon.

The age and gender of the third person has not been released.

Hennigarappeared in Dartmouth provincial court Friday morning.

The charges were laid after a man was arrested early Thursday morning in the ramming of two police cars in the Milford area, about 55 kilometres northeast of Halifax.

The house on the Old Guysborough Road near Wyses Corner wasengulfed in flames when fire crews arrived at about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Investigators later deemed the fire suspicious.

Hennigarhas two convictions in the past:

• On Feb. 27, 2014, he was convicted of breaching an undertaking and uttering threats.He was given an 18-month probation term.
• On Oct. 29, 2008, he was convicted of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and assault.

He's due back in Dartmouth provincial court on Jan. 30 on the second-degree murder charges.