Matthew Kavanagh, who is charged with first-degree murder in Bay Roberts, Newfoundland, was arrested on Feb. 8, 2026, after allegedly breaching his court-ordered release conditions, police said. The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC) took the 42-year-old into custody after locating him in Pouch Cove.
Police reported Kavanagh allegedly violated strict conditions of his bail, including a curfew and residence requirements. He was scheduled to appear in provincial court on Feb. 9, 2026; public reports say he was in custody following his arrest.
The charges against Kavanagh stem from an RCMP investigation in September 2024. At that time, the body of a 42-year-old man was found in a burned-out pickup truck on a dirt road near Bay Roberts.
Kavanagh is one of three people charged in the 2024 case; the others are Terry Cole and Stephanie Noftall. All three have been charged with first-degree murder and an offence commonly described in reporting as “indignity to human remains” (sometimes phrased as indecently or improperly interfering with a body). Kavanagh had been living on bail in the Northeast Avalon region since early 2025 and is now back in custody as the legal process continues.
