Cole Nikolaus Sinclair, a 25-year-old Canadian man, has been arrested in connection with the 2023 murder of Evelyn Jeanette Weaver in Bend, Oregon. Sinclair was provisionally arrested on December 17, 2023, by Canadian authorities, following a request from the Bend Police Department, which had named him as a suspect in Weaver’s death.
At the time of his arrest, Sinclair was residing in a treatment facility in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada, after being found not criminally responsible for a series of break-ins tied to an untreated psychotic disorder, according to CBC News.
Since his arrest, Sinclair has been detained in Canada, awaiting the outcome of an extradition hearing. The Bend Police have not released additional details due to legal restrictions surrounding the case.
Weaver’s body was found in her Bend apartment on July 18, 2023, after a friend arrived to check on her and found her unresponsive. Police later found her abandoned vehicle in Klamath Falls, but no further developments were made until Sinclair’s arrest.
Although the case initially raised fears of becoming a cold case, Bend Police have consistently assured the public that the investigation is ongoing. Police spokesperson Sheila Miller emphasized that the homicide investigation remains active, with a dedicated team working on the case.
A court letter filed by Sinclair’s defense attorneys reveals that Sinclair faces multiple charges, including three counts of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder, one count of theft, and one count of unauthorized vehicle use. The letter also indicates that Sinclair intends to oppose extradition to the United States.
