During a news conference Tuesday morning, Halifax Regional Police Chief Don MacLean also said investigators believe human remains recently found are those of the missing teen.
"We are working closely with the medical examiner’s office to make a full identification," said MacLean.
Two men -- 26-year-old Treyton Alexander Marsman and a 20-year-old man -- were arrested around 2 p.m. Monday.
Treyton Marsman has been charged with:
- Second-degree murder
- Indignity to human remains
- Obstruction of justice
The 20-year-old, whose name cannot be shared because he was a youth at the time of the murder, has been charged with:
- Accessory after the fact to murder
- Obstructing justice
Both men were scheduled to appear in court Tuesday to face the charges.
Police did confirm that Devon Marsman and Treyton Marsman are related, but wouldn’t say how, however Devon Marsman's mother told CTV News the two were cousins.
Family members of Devon Marsman, including his mother, Theresa Gray, attended court and were emotional as the two accused stood in front of the judge.
"These charges do not mark the end of this investigation. We believe there were others involved in Devon's homicide and two people have been charged," said MacLean.
"Devon's loved ones and our community as a whole deserve answers."
Police also say they expect to lay additional charges in the case.
"We do plan on making arrests and laying charges in the future. We would like to compel people that are in the community that do know more about this to come forward to assist us with the investigation."
The Timeline of Devon Marsman's Disappearance
Marsman was last seen in the Spryfield area of Halifax on Feb. 24, 2022. Gray said he was with another 16-year-old and his older cousin at the time of his last sighting.
He was reported missing to police on March 4, 2022.
Marsman was 16 at the time.
Halifax police initially said they had no reason to suspect foul play in his disappearance. However, police determined Marsman's disappearance was suspicious in late June 2022. That information was not released to the public until October 2022.
Earlier this year, the Nova Scotia government increased its reward for information on Marsman’s disappearance to $250,000. His case was first added to the Rewards for Major Unsolved Crimes Program in November 2022.
Police Seek Information
Police are asking anyone with information about Marsman's homicide to contact them at 902-490-5020.
A Community Mourns
Devon was 16 when he was last seen in the Spryfield area of the municipality in February 2022.
During a news conference Tuesday, Halifax Regional Police said investigators had arrested Treyton Alexander Marsman, 26, and a 20-year-old man who was a youth at the time of the murder.
Marsman is charged with second-degree murder, indignity to human remains and obstructing justice. He appeared in Halifax Provincial Court Tuesday for arraignment, and is scheduled to return to court Oct. 16. He is under conditions not to have contact with a list of 10 people.
Meanwhile, the 20-year-old man is charged with accessory after the fact to murder and obstructing justice and was set to appear in Halifax Youth Court Tuesday.
Halifax Regional Police Chief Don MacLean confirmed there was a “familial relationship” between the accused charged with murder and the victim, but would not specify that relationship.
He acknowledged it was “frustrating” for the community because investigators couldn’t reveal too much information about the case, but stressed that police didn’t want to jeopardize the court process.
“It is difficult when any member of a community goes missing, but when that missing person is a child, it’s even more traumatic. Our investigators have worked tirelessly on this case,” said MacLean, who called the investigation “lengthy and complex.”
“Our efforts to find out what happened to Devon have never wavered.”
Police said the remains are with the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service for identification. Acting Deputy Chief of Operations Andrew Matthews said they were discovered “during the course of the investigation” but did not want to “get into timelines” to protect the integrity of the investigation.
“The investigation at this point have led our investigators to believe that the remains belong to (Devon),” said Matthews.
Police add that the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are anticipated.
Devon’s mother, Theresa Gray, had previously told Global News she had tried calling and texting him in vain for days after his disappearance in 2022. She then criss-crossed Nova Scotia for months, posting flyers and searching desperately for him.
“He’s a great kid. Always been a good kid,” she said in December 2022. “There have been times he’s been out and stayed out a few nights with friends, but nothing crazy. Never been in trouble.”
Friends and family also organized searches, including one in May 2022 in the Roach’s Pond area of Spryfield, where Gray believed he may have been. Supporters held marches to call for progress in the investigation, and raised a $10,000 reward for information into his disappearance.
By October 2022, Halifax Regional Police determined the teen’s disappearance was suspicious, and said investigators believed there were people who had information they had “not shared” with police.
Devon’s case was added to Nova Scotia’s Rewards for Major Unsolved Crimes Program, which offers a reward up to $150,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for his disappearance
Throughout the investigation, Devon’s mother searched tirelessly for answers. She said she wouldn’t be speaking publicly Tuesday, but last February she told Global News that she was far from giving up.
“I will continue to do what I’m doing until there’s either an arrest or they find my son. But until then, I won’t stop at all.”
