UCF #104200254 | Updated: 2025-06-30

Man and woman charged in connection with homicide of Brandon Donelan


Brandon Donelan
Brandon Donelan had been reported missing on January 30, 2022.

Brandon Donelan

Update 2025

An error by Fredericton police caused three murder cases to collapse Friday, June 27, 2025 as the Crown stayed charges against five people.

Crown prosecutor Jeremy Erickson sought the stays for charges against Erica Lea Ann Blyth, Joshua John McIsaac, Devon Mark Hill Hood, Matthew David LeBlanc and Travis James Snowsell during an appearance in Burton court.

Staying the charges means none of the five will stand trial on the allegations.

Moments after the charges were stayed, ending the cases, the Fredericton Police Force issued a statement.

"The reason for the stay of proceedings is the result of an 'insurmountable evidentiary issue' linked directly to an error initiated, discovered and subsequently reported to the Crown by the Fredericton Police Force. Our error has further detrimentally impacted on a similar major crime investigation by a partner agency," Chief Gary Forward said in the statement.

The nature of the error was not disclosed.

Pre-update 2023

Minto, New Brunswick — A 40-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man from Newcastle Creek, N.B., have been charged with first degree murder in connection with the homicide of a 27-year-old man, from Minto, N.B.

On March 31, 2022, at approximately 7 p.m., the New Brunswick RCMP Major Crime Unit located a body in a wooded area off a snowmobile trail between Minto and Chipman. The individual was later identified as Brandon Donelan of Minto, who had been reported missing on January 30, 2022.

The investigation had determined the man's death to be the result of a homicide.

On June 21, 2023, at approximately 10:15 a.m., as part of the ongoing investigation, police executed a search warrant at a residence on Wasson Road in Newcastle Creek, near Minto.

40-year-old Erica Blyth was arrested at the scene. A 25-year old man, who was present at the residence, was also arrested in relation to a Canada Wide warrant for parole violation.

On June 22, a charge of first-degree murder was laid against Erica Blyth, in Fredericton Provincial Court.

On June 29, police arrested a 33-year-old man in connection with the investigation, at a correctional facility in Dorchester where he is currently serving a federal sentence on an unrelated matter.

On June 30, the charge of first-degree murder that was previously laid against Erica Blyth was withdrawn, and a new charge of first-degree murder was laid jointly against Erica Blyth and Joshua McIsaac.

Both individuals remain in custody, and will return to court at a later date.

Anyone with information that could help further the investigation is asked to contact the Major Crime Unit at 1-888-506-RCMP (7267). Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

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Roland Pontillo

Roland Pontillo

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