Report #22-1539
The LaSalle Police Service Criminal Investigation continues to investigate the homicide of 34-year-old, Amanda Lyons who was found deceased inside her residence by LaSalle Police Officers on the morning of March 19th, 2022.
Through investigation, detectives identified Amanda’s husband, 34-year-old Blair Lyons as being responsible for her homicide. His vehicle, a white 2017 GMC 2500 pickup, was located early Saturday morning abandoned on the Ambassador Bridge. LaSalle Police officers were sent to his residence to check on the wellbeing of the occupants and to investigate the abandoned vehicle further when they discovered the homicide.
Investigators retrieved video evidence that Blair Lyons did jump from the bridge into the Detroit River. LaSalle Fire Service, Windsor Police Service, and RCC Trenton Search and Rescue were immediately dispatched to search the Detroit River and shoreline for Blair but he was not located. Authorities on both sides of the border were notified of the incident in the unlikely event that Mr. Lyons managed to make it to shore. The deck of the Ambassador Bridge is 46 meters or 152 feet above the water at its highest point and the water temperature of the Detroit River on March 19th was 34.9 F or 1.6 C which can reach depths over 12 meters or 40 feet in the channel. A fall from that height coupled with the frigid water temperature would significantly reduce the overall survivability.
Throughout the days that followed the initial occurrence, the Windsor Port Authority conducted shoreline searches and the LaSalle Fire Service continued to search the Detroit River near the area of the bridge with Sonar. An unidentifiable anomaly was detected by sonar underwater and the Ontario Provincial Police Underwater Search and Recovery Unit (U.S.R.U.) was contacted to investigate the anomaly further. Through the use of specialized equipment, they were able to identify the anomaly as debris. The U.S.R.U. continued an extensive three-day search of the area using highly sophisticated sonar equipment while braving the inclement weather and water conditions in an effort to locate Mr. Lyons to no avail.
The LaSalle Police Service strongly believes that taking all of the factors into consideration, Mr. Lyons is deceased and is still in the Detroit River. The depth, size, fast current, and temperature of this body of water make locating a person submerged in the water particularly difficult. Despite this belief, Mr. Lyons has not been located. Authorities in Canada and the US have been notified that a warrant for his arrest has been issued in the unlikely event that he managed to survive the fall and escape the icy waters.
On Saturday, March 26th, The Ontario Provincial Police retrieved the body of a male from Crystal Beach in Colchester. This discovery is NOT related to the ongoing LaSalle Police homicide investigation.
As we near the boating/fishing season the LaSalle Police Service is asking boaters and shoreline residents to be vigilant. If you happen to discover a body in the water, try your best to make note of multiple reference points on land as well as the time and report this immediately to your local police service.
Blair Lyons is described as a 34-year-old white male with short dark brown hair, short dark brown facial hair, brown eyes, and a tattoo on his left shoulder. If Blair Lyons is seen or located please contact the LaSalle Police Service immediately.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the LaSalle Police Service at 519-969-5210, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 519-258-8477 (TIPS) or online at www.catchcrooks.com.
Author: Sr. Cst. Terry Seguin – LaSalle Police Service