Dellen Millard charged with first-degree murder in Tim Bosma murder

HAMILTON, Ont. – Dellen Millard was charged with first-degree murder Wednesday in the death of Ancaster, Ont. man Tim Bosma.

Millard, 27, said little as he heard in court that he is charged with first-degree murder.

He was ordered detained until a bail hearing can be arranged.

He will appear again by video June 13.

His lawyer Deepak Paradkar says Millard is innocent and is exercising his right to remain silent.

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Bosma remains found

“We’re going to plead ‘not guilty.’ There is a story behind this, which I can’t get into it. Obviously, it’s more than what it appears to be,” Paradkar said.

On Tuesday, Hamilton police announced they located the charred remains of Bosma, bringing an exhaustive, week-long search to a tragic end.

The remains of Bosma — “burned beyond recognition” — were found in Waterloo Region, police said Tuesday.

“I believe he died shortly after he was abducted,” said Hamilton Det.-Sgt. Matt Kavanagh.

The coroner’s office has been brought into the investigation and has not yet established a cause of death.

Police have not said what the motive was but said Bosma was targeted.

Millard was arrested Friday and was initially charged with forcible confinement and theft over $5,000. His lawyer has previously said he will dispute the charges.

Investigators are looking for at least two other suspects.

At least two other suspects sought

Police were searching two properties Tuesday in the Waterloo-area that are owned by Millard, including an airport hangar and a farm.

Bosma was not previously known to police.

The 32-year-old Ancaster, Ont. man and father of a two-year-old girl vanished May 6 after leaving his home in his black 2007 Dodge Ram pickup truck with two men for a test drive.

Classifieds ad website Kijiji said Bosma’s ad for the pickup truck did not include any personal contact information and did not receive any responses.

“We confirmed to the police that the ad posted by Mr. Bosma on Kijiji did not feature personal contact information, nor did it receive any replies, which determines the incident did not occur as result of his ad posting on Kijiji,” the website said in a statement.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic news in Ancaster. Our hearts go out to Mr. Bosma’s family and the community.”

Police describe the second man as white, in his early to mid 20s, five-foot-nine to five-foot-10 with a small to medium build and dark hair, wearing a red-hooded sweatshirt.

Police are also seeking at least one more person.

Video evidence reveals another vehicle following Bosma’s pickup truck when he left on the test drive, Kavanagh said.

Police have been unable to identify the vehicle’s model from the footage.

Police said only that it is an “SUV-type vehicle.”

“When Mr. Bosma’s vehicle left his residence, there was a second vehicle following,” Kavanagh said.

“We do not know at this time how many people were in that second vehicle.”

Bosma’s truck found in Kleinburg

Earlier, a Toronto man took the same two suspects for a test drive of his Dodge Ram truck, also put up for sale online, police have said.

Bosma’s cellphone was found three days later in an industrial area of Brantford.

The cellphone led investigators to Millard, police said.

Police found Bosma’s truck Sunday parked inside a trailer at Millard’s mother’s home in Kleinburg, Ont.

Police said she has no involvement with the case.

Search warrants are being executed on a total of three different vehicles, Kavanagh said.

Auto squad investigators will also be called in to the airport hangar to examine vehicles in there, he said.

Social media flooded with condolences

A Facebook page in Bosma’s honour was flooded with condolences Tuesday as the tragic news spread.

“The agony in this house is indescribable. There will be no further updates from this page. My prayers are with this wonderful family,” wrote Peter Lowe, a Bosma family friend.

The Millard family has a storied aviation history in the region. When Millard was 14 he became the youngest Canadian to fly solo in both an airplane and a helicopter.

His grandfather, Carl Millard, was at the time the oldest commercial pilot at 85 years old.

Wayne Millard, Dellen’s father, was also a pilot and died in December.

Police have asked that Bosma’s family be allowed to grieve in privacy. Both his wife and his mother had issued emotional pleas for his safe return.

Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath, who is from Hamilton, offered condolences to the Bosma family.

“I’d like to take an opportunity on behalf of Ontarians and members of the legislature to let the family of Tim Bosma know that we are grieving with them,” she said following the police chief’s announcement.

“His wife Sharlene, his daughter, and his mother Mary and all his friends and family are grieving very much today, and I think it’s important that we say we’re grieving along with them.”

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne also expressed their condolences to the victim’s family on Twitter.

— with files from the Canadian Press

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