The Nova Scotia RCMP has charged a 31-year-old Bible Hill man with murder in connection with the death of a woman that police say was a case of intimate partner violence.
Colchester County District RCMP responded to a report of a sudden death at a home on Wild Chance Drive in Bible Hill shortly after midnight on Sept. 17, 2023.
Police identified the victim as a 32-year-old woman from Bible Hill and her death was believed to be suspicious.
A man, who was 29-years old at the time and knew the victim, was arrested and later released without charges.
“On March 17, 2025, the same man, 31-year-old Richard Craig Barrett, was charged with Murder (first degree) and investigators can confirm the homicide was an incident of intimate partner violence,” reads a news release from the RCMP Wednesday.
Cpl. Sandy Matharu of the Northeast Nova Major Crime Unit says over the course of the “complex” investigation, officers collected a significant amount of forensic evidence and spoke with many witnesses.
“We appreciated the patience of the victim’s loved ones as investigators conducted a thorough examination and evaluation of the evidence, enabling us to put together a comprehensive investigation that supports this murder charge,” said Matharu in the release.
Barrett appeared in Truro provincial court on Tuesday and was remanded into custody pending future court appearances.
Support for those experiencing, or at risk, of intimate partner violence is available by calling 211, calling the provincial toll-free line at 1-855-225-0220, or visiting Nova Scotia 211 online.
Reports of intimate partner violence on the rise
Nova Scotia has seen a recent spike in the number of intimate partner violence incidents reported by police.
Since October, seven women and one man have been killed in alleged incidents of domestic violence in Nova Scotia.
The most recent incident involves an 85-year-old man who is accused of killing his 83-year-old wife in Bridgewater, N.S., in early March.
Investigators say the woman’s death has been ruled a homicide and they are treating it as a case of intimate partner violence. The man has been charged with first-degree murder.
In September 2024, The Nova Scotia government adopted a bill declaring domestic violence an epidemic in the province.
For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
