Murder arrest made

RCMP have arrested Jesse Norman Sweder, 27, of Fort St. John. He has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the December 11, 2004 shooting death of Peter Letendre on Norwood Street in Prince George.
The charge and arrest follows four years of investigation by a combined team from Prince George detachment and North District Major Crime Unit. The Crown Counsel Special Prosecutor’s Unit, which focuses on organized crime cases, will be handling the case.
Letendre, who was 35 years old when he was killed, was found dead in the snow near Norwood Street and 20th Avenue at around 6 a.m. December 11, 2004. Police had responded to a complaint of shots fired in the area, and found Letendre’s body outside. They did not recover any weapons.
At the time, police said Letendre was known to be an associate of a local organized crime group.
Letendre avoided trial for assault in early November, 2004 when the main witness against him and three other men did not appear in court, and all charges were dropped.
Letendre’s sister, Brandy Lynn Calihoo, said she is happy that an arrest has been made in connection with her brother’s death.
“Four years is a long time to wait and wonder what happened to your loved one,” she said in a letter to the Free Press. “I know that the trial is going to take some time, as well, but I pray to God that justice will be served.”