Man charged in case of body found in rug

The mysterious incident of a woman’s body found rolled up inside a carpet in a Junction laneway has led to charges for one man.

Though police have ruled out homicide in connection with the woman’s death, they have yet to say how she died, as they await results of a toxicology report.

On Feb. 1 police were called to a laneway behind Clendenan Avenue near Maria Street after a passerby found the body in the carpet. A few days later, police announced homicide was no longer investigating.

With few details released, many people were at a loss as to how the case could be anything but a homicide. Hundreds of people tweeted in the following days, questioning what had happened.

But on Feb. 16, those people got their answer.

A Toronto resident was arrested and charged with one count of performing an indignity to a dead body.

While noting that homicide was ruled out as a result of the post mortem, Const. Wendy Drummond explained what the charge means.

“I can’t speak specifically to this case, but let’s say if it’s a suicide, an overdose, or even if a person dies of natural causes, (the charge) is what another person does to that body after they die,” she said. “I don’t know if they’ve got toxicology reports back yet, but the charge is not a homicide charge.”

The indignity was explained in a release, in which police allege the woman’s body was moved from an apartment and wrapped in a carpet before being left in the laneway.

Though Drummond said police will not be releasing the woman’s name, she has reportedly been identified as 31-year-old Jennette Hutchison, who lived and worked in the area.

“Jennette Hutchison, our beautiful and shining daughter, sister and friend slipped away suddenly at 31 years of age,” her death notice read. Her funeral was held on Feb. 8 in her hometown of Lakefield, Ont. The family requested donations be made to Youth Unlimited, the Salvation Army or any other charity in Hutchison’s memory.

Facing charges is Aaron Johnston, 23.