Michael Tristan Kraszewski, a 16-year-old boy remembered for his kind heart and contagious smile, was a Grade 11 student at Sussex Regional High School. Born in St. Catharines, Ontario, on February 10, 2003, Michael loved playing video games and spending time with his friends. His obituary stated he would live on in the hearts of his mother, father, sister, and maternal grandmother. His family, who requested privacy to grieve, started a crowdfunding campaign to help with funeral costs.
On the evening of December 18, 2019, the quiet of Orchard Crescent in Picadilly, New Brunswick, a small community about 85 kilometers northeast of Saint John, was broken. At approximately 9:30 p.m., members of the Sussex detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) responded to a 911 call at Michael’s residence. When officers entered the home, they found Michael deceased inside. He was alone in the house.
Police immediately considered the death suspicious.
Following an autopsy two days later, the RCMP’s Major Crime Unit confirmed the investigation was a homicide. Investigators have not publicly disclosed how Michael was killed. On December 20, police executed a search warrant at the home on Orchard Crescent as part of their investigation.
The RCMP Major Crime Unit asked the public for assistance, specifically seeking information about a vehicle with a loud exhaust that was heard in the neighborhood around 9 p.m., approximately 30 minutes before the 911 call was placed. Investigators appealed to anyone who saw the vehicle or witnessed people coming to or going from Michael's home that evening to contact them.
In February 2020, the investigation saw a development when RCMP officers arrested a man in a parking lot in the nearby town of Sussex in connection with the homicide. However, after being questioned, the man was released from custody without any charges being filed against him. Police stated at the time that the investigation was complex and ongoing. Cpl. Jullie Rogers-Marsh of the RCMP commented, "We continue to ask anyone with information, no matter how small it may seem, to contact our major crime unit, or Crime Stoppers."
Years have passed, but Michael’s murder remains unsolved. His family and community have been left without answers, holding onto the memory of a bright student whose life was cut short. The case remains an active investigation with the New Brunswick RCMP.
As of June 2024, New Brunswick Crime Stoppers confirmed that no charges have ever been filed in the homicide of Michael Tristan Kraszewski. The investigation is still open. Anyone with information about the case, the events of December 18, 2019, or the vehicle with the loud exhaust is urged to contact the RCMP Major Crime Unit at 506-433-7700. To provide information anonymously, tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the secure P3 Tips mobile app, or online at www.crimenb.ca.
