(Apr 30, 2008)

Six Nations police have charged a former boyfriend of Tashina General, and star player for the champion Six Nations Arrows Express lacrosse team, with her death.

Police charged Kent Owen Hill, also known as Kent Squire-Hill, with second-degree murder.

Hill, 20, was arrested in a North Bay motel. He lives on the reserve but until recently attended Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, N.Y.

Six Nations Police Deputy Chief Rocki Smith said Hill and General were friends who also had a romantic relationship at some point.

General's remains were discovered Friday in a shallow grave north of an area on the reserve called Little Buffalo. Police said today she died of strangulation.

Smith said the heavily wooded site was near Hill's residence, on property owned by his father.

General, who was about four months pregnant when she disappeared, was last seen Jan. 22.

Her disappearance sparked an investigation on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border, with aerial searches and police dogs.

Arrows head coach Regy Thorpe told The Spectator last night that the team's "thoughts and prayers are first and foremost with the family of Tashina General at this time."

"This shocking tragedy has rolled through the Arrows family, the General family and the Hill family like a shock wave," Thorpe said.

He described Hill as "a wonderful young man on and off the field. I've known him for years."

Efforts to contact General's family for comment were not successful.

Investigators followed up hundreds of tips and reported sightings of the missing woman, who was 21 years old.

An OPP police dog discovered her remains around noon Friday in a field near Chiefswood Road and Indian Townline.

Tests determined that the body was General's, and that the cause of death was "external neck compression."

Smith said the case is the first murder to occur on Six Nations in about 20 years, and it has been devastating to the community. He said Six Nations Police are getting "tremendous help" from Ontario Provincial Police.

Smith said Hill appeared in Brantford court yesterday.

Six Nations police say they will continue to collect evidence. There are no other suspects or accomplices being sought, according to police.

General's funeral was held at the Lower Cayuga longhouse on Six Nations yesterday at 11 a.m., at about the same time as Hill appeared in court for remand .

jburman@thespec.com

905-526-2469

rfaulkner@thespec.com

905-526-2468