Police have charged a Glace Bay man with murdering two young Cape Breton women in separate cases that span six years.

Thomas Ted Barrett, 37, is charged with two counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of Brett Elizabeth MacKinnon and Laura Catherine Jessome, both 21.

MacKinnon disappeared from her Glace Bay apartment in June 2006. Her skeletal remains were found in November 2008 near a nature trail in the town.

John Wayne Hynes, 33, of Glace Bay is charged with being an accessory after the fact in MacKinnon’s death.

“It’s been torture,” said Francis McKinnon, the victim’s father. “If I get justice for my daughter I would be extremely happy. Maybe there will be some closure, I don’t know.”

Jessome’s body was found inside a hockey bag, floating on the Mira River near Marion Bridge in May 2012.

Morgan MacNeil, 21, also faces a second-degree murder charge in Jessome’s death while Robert Edwin Matheson, 49, and Brian Augustine Deruelle, 37, are charged with being accessories after the fact.

“We have been successful in removing some very dangerous individuals from our community,” said Cape Breton Regional Police Chief Peter MacIsaac at a news conference today in Sydney.

He also said the latest arrest should help the community deal with the “horrific” crimes.

“We hope these results will help bring a small piece of closure to our community, especially the families and friends of these victims, who no doubt continue to grieve these awful tragedies.”

Police say Barrett was already in custody in Halifax when he was charged in the case Thursday.

In a strange twist to the story, Barrett is facing additional charges after an alleged incident at police headquarters.

Police say Barrett attacked an investigator while he was being interrogated, tried to damage video surveillance with a chair and doused a computer with water.

Police say he also threatened to kill the officer and spat on him. The officer was not injured.

Barrett is facing charges of assaulting a police officer, uttering death threats and two counts of property damage in connection with the alleged incident.

He was held in custody overnight and arraigned in Halifax provincial court this morning.

Barrett is due to appear in Sydney provincial court on Monday.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Randy MacDonald