Police have charged the a Canadian Forces officer with murder in the death of his 28-year-old wife, Melissa Richmond, and search warrants are being carried out at his Winchester, Ont., home, police say.


Howard Richmond, 50, drove to the police station Friday at 11:00 a.m. ET as he was supposed to be heading to his wife's wake in Pembroke.


He was arrested and detained for questioning before police laid the charge early Friday afternoon.


Howard Richmond posted this photo on his Facebook page with his late wife, Melissa, The couple, who are 22 years apart, were in a Medieval re-enactment group together.Howard Richmond posted this photo on his Facebook page with his late wife, Melissa, The couple, who are 22 years apart, were in a Medieval re-enactment group together. (Facebook)

Richmond, a warrant officer with the Canadian Forces, is expected to appear in court Saturday morning via video on the murder charge.


He has completed six tours of duty for the Canadian Forces — three in Afghanistan, two in Bosnia and one in Cyprus.


Richmond told CBC News Thursday he received treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and his wife of eight years was a "rock" through that.


Wife's body found July 28


The body of Melissa Richmond was recovered five days ago from a deep ditch near a storm drain along Bank Street in south Ottawa.


Her husband had reported her missing on July 24, claiming she took a late-night drive and never returned.


Prior to his arrest, Richomond had been interviewed by police as a "grieving spouse." Now he has been charged and police searched his home Friday afternoon.


Melissa Richmond is Ottawa's seventh homicide victim of 2013.