Canadian guitarist Gord Lewis, 65, is found dead in Ontario home after being ‘murdered by his son’

Canadian punk rock guitarist Gord Lewis has been found dead in his Ontario home after he was allegedly murdered by his 41-year-old son.

Gord, 65, the co-founding member of the punk rock band Teenage Head, was found dead at his apartment in Hamilton, Ontario, by police officers on Sunday. 

His son, Jonathon Lewis, 41, has since been arrested and charged with second-degree murder.

Police indicated that Gord had been dead for two or three days before he was found by officers because they were not able to identify him initially because of the ‘level of decomposition’ to the body, reports CBC Hamilton. 

Hamilton Detective Sara Beck said police had attended Gord’s apartment after they had been told that a number of emails had been sent to a series of media outlets with information about a dead person. 

The emails were sent on Sunday to local news outlet CBC Hamilton by Jonathon Lewis stating that his father was dead, according to the site. 

Gord co-founded Teenage Head with his bandmates Frankie Venom, who died in 2008, Steve Mahon and Nick Stipanitz. The band found fame in Canada during the early 1980s. 

Gord’s brother Brian told CBC that the family is ‘devastated and conflicted’ by his death.

‘It’s the loss of a beloved brother and a very complicated situation,’ he said. Brian described Gord as ‘gentle, artistic, musically inspirational, loving and loyal’.  

Police said it appeared that Gord and Jonathon had been living together. 

‘Jonathon was arrested shortly after police arrived at the apartment building, Beck said, adding that he lived at the apartment but it belonged to Gord. 

Beck said the incident was ‘isolated’ and police are not looking for additional suspects, reports the Hamilton Spectator.

Beck said police discovered Lewis’ body inside his home and said he had ‘injuries consistent with foul play’.

‘We are continuing to seek out witnesses and reviewing video in the area,’ Beck added.

Beck said police believe they know the victim’s identity, but they must carry out an autopsy for a ‘positive confirmation’ due to the ‘level of decomposition’. 

Gord’s death was confirmed by the band on Monday, who said they were ‘heartbroken’.

‘We are heartbroken and still trying to process the loss of our friend, bandmate and brother Gord Lewis,’ the band said in a post on Instagram.

‘Our hearts are with his family and all that knew him and loved him. Gord was a force and an inspiration to many. You were taken from us far too soon.’

Teenage Head was formed in 1975 and reached fame in Canada with their songs including ‘Let’s Shake’ and ‘Some Kinda Fun’.