Kenneth Law charged with 14 counts of 2nd-degree murder in multiple Ontario deaths

• Peel Regional Police held a news conference on Tuesday to provide an update on the Law investigation. You can read more about that here. 

Accused poison seller Kenneth Law has been charged with murder in connection with multiple deaths across Ontario, CBC News has learned.

A charge sheet from the Ontario Court of Justice in Newmarket shows Law was charged Monday with 14 counts of second-degree murder, in addition to the 14 counts of counselling or aiding suicide that he was already facing.

The new charges are related to the same alleged victims in multiple Ontario cities, from Toronto to Thunder Bay. CBC News has previously reported on the deaths of two people linked to the investigation — Stephen Mitchell Jr., 21, from Toronto and Ashtyn Prosser, 19, from Windsor, Ont. Both are listed in court documents as alleged victims of Law. 

Stephen Mitchell Sr., the father of Stephen Mitchell Jr., told CBC News he welcomes the charges.

"I can say that I am pleased with the developments today as, in my opinion, they better reflect the nature of the crime that was committed towards my son," he said. 

Law, who is a 58-year-old man from Mississauga, Ont., was first arrested in May after Peel Regional Police investigated two local deaths. Police have previously said Law's alleged victims in Ontario range in age from 16 to 36.

Police allege that beginning in late 2020, Law operated several websites that were used to sell sodium nitrite and other items that can be used for self harm. Investigators have said that Law allegedly sent at least 1,200 packages to people in more than 40 countries.

Sodium nitrite is a common food preservative that's deadly at high levels. York Regional Police said in August they believe about 160 packages were allegedly sent by Law to addresses in Canada. 

In a brief email statement sent Tuesday, Law's lawyer Matthew Gourlay confirmed the new charges.

"I am not able to offer any further comment at this early stage." he said.

No charges laid abroad

Official records and statements along with media reports and interviews with families conducted by CBC News suggest Law's projects may be linked to 117 deaths worldwide. So far, 88 of those deaths are in the U.K. 

Authorities in New Zealand, France, Ireland, Italy, Germany and Switzerland have all confirmed Law shipped packages to addresses in their respective countries. Multiple Canadian police forces outside of Ontario are also reviewing past sudden deaths in light of the allegations against Law. 

WATCH | Former cook alleged to have sold a toxic substance online: 

Kenneth Law charged with 14 counts of 2nd-degree murder

12 months ago

Duration 2:52

The man accused of selling poison to people who later died has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with 14 deaths in Ontario. Kenneth Law had already been charged with 14 counts of counselling or aiding suicide and is suspected of selling the poison in over 40 countries, police allege.

He has not yet faced any charges abroad in connection with his online businesses. However, there is evidence an FBI investigation in the U.S. is progressing.

Police in Pennsylvania previously told CBC News an investigation into the death of a teenager in that state has been handed over to the FBI to probe for any links to Law. Gerald Cohn, whose brother Benjamin died by suicide in February, said he met with FBI agents from Chicago last week, regarding the case. 

Cohn told CBC News Monday that word of the murder charges laid is "great news."

The FBI said earlier this year that "as a matter of a longstanding policy, the FBI neither confirms nor denies the existence of an investigation."