Article – Nearly a year after the tragic hit-and-run death of a community member on Moose Cree First Nation, Ontario Provincial Police are making a renewed push for information that might break the case wide open.
The investigation began on May 7, 2023, when police responded to reports of an injured person on Wavey Creek Road in the early morning hours. Officers arrived to find 39-year-old Shane Wesley, who had been struck by a vehicle that fled the scene. Wesley was rushed to hospital where he later died from his injuries.
“We believe someone in the community has information that could help bring closure to the Wesley family,” said Detective Inspector Mark Zuliani, who leads the OPP’s Criminal Investigation Branch. “Even the smallest detail might be the missing piece we need.”
The case has been particularly challenging for investigators due to limited physical evidence and the remote location of the incident. Moose Cree First Nation, situated near the mouth of the Moose River on the southern shore of James Bay, has approximately 1,400 residents living on the reserve.
Wesley’s mother, Martha, spoke with me in a difficult conversation last week. “My son was a good man who loved his community. He was walking home that night—something he’d done countless times. How can someone just hit him and drive away?”
Court documents show the OPP have collected surveillance footage from several locations on the reserve, though the quality and coverage have presented challenges. According to an affidavit filed to obtain additional search warrants, investigators have identified three vehicles of interest that were in the area around the time of the incident.
The OPP’s forensic team recovered paint fragments and broken vehicle parts at the scene, which have been analyzed at the Centre of Forensic Sciences in Toronto. Results indicate the vehicle involved was likely a dark-colored pickup truck manufactured between 2015 and 2020.
“This wasn’t just an accident—it was a decision to leave someone dying on the roadside,” said Chief Patricia Faries of Moose Cree First Nation. “Our community deserves justice, and Shane’s family deserves answers.”
The investigation has been complicated by what Indigenous rights advocates describe as systemic issues in policing responses to crimes involving Indigenous victims. A 2020 report by the Yellowhead Institute found that investigations involving Indigenous victims often receive fewer resources and less media attention than comparable cases involving non-Indigenous victims.
Wesley’s death prompted a community-led awareness campaign about road safety on the reserve. Local youth organized a memorial walk last September, placing reflective markers along commonly used pedestrian routes.
Adam Wesley, Shane’s brother, told me during a phone interview that the family feels the investigation hasn’t progressed as quickly as it should. “We feel forgotten sometimes. If this happened in Toronto, I believe they would have solved it already.”
The OPP has established a dedicated tipline for this case, offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Crime Stoppers has also partnered with investigators to allow anonymous reporting.
Dr. Emily Rowland, a criminologist at Laurentian University who studies unsolved cases in northern communities, explained that hit-and-run investigations present unique challenges. “Physical evidence degrades, witnesses’ memories fade, and in small communities, there can be complicated social dynamics that make people reluctant to come forward.”
The recent renewal of public appeals comes after police received what they describe as “promising new information” in March. While investigators wouldn’t elaborate on specifics, they confirmed they’re pursuing several new leads.
Moose Cree council member Franklin Solomon emphasized the community’s determination to see justice served. “Everyone knows everyone here. Someone is carrying a terrible secret, and that burden must be affecting them. Coming forward is the right thing to do—for Shane, for his family, and for themselves.”
As the one-year anniversary of Wesley’s death approaches, his family plans to hold a traditional ceremony and community gathering to honor his memory.
Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact the OPP’s dedicated tipline or Crime Stoppers. The investigation remains active, with officers continuing to conduct interviews and follow up on leads in their search for answers in this rural Canadian tragedy that has left both a family and community searching for closure.
