From November 25th 2014 to November 24th 2015, OAITH has documented 35 Women who lost their lives as a result of Femicide. Since 1990 there have 692 women who have lost their lives. Our collection of Femicide in Ontario, as its reported on in the media, is only partial.
1. Zahra Abdille, 43. Toronto, November 29, 2014
Zahra Abdille, 43, and her two sons Faris Abdille, 13, and Zain Abdille, 8, were found dead inside of their apartment in Toronto on November 29th, 2014. Zahra’s husband, Yusuf Abdille, 50, was found dead after jumping from a bridge onto the Don Valley Parkway. While police have not confirmed if this was a murder-suicide, reports have stated that 17 months prior to Zahra and her sons’ deaths, the three had fled the abusive home of Yusuf Abdille and lived in a women’s shelter for two weeks. Zahra worked as a nurse with Toronto public health and therefore did not qualify for affordable housing. She returned to her abusive husband as a result. Those who worked at the women’s shelter described Zahra as a bright, proud and ambitious woman who wanted to provide for and protect her two sons.
2. Alem Haile, 51. Ottawa, December 4, 2014
Alem Haile, 51, was found dead inside of her home in an east Ottawa neighbourhood on December 4th, 2014. Alem’s husband, Yassin Mender, 60, was also found dead inside of the home. It was determined that the event was a murder-suicide in which Mender stabbed Alem before taking his own life. The couple’s 16-year-old son found the bodies after barricading himself in his room during the attack where the father also attempted to harm him. Alem leaves behind two other younger children in addition to her 16-year-old son.
3. Candace Baran, 41. Toronto, December 15, 2014
Candace Baran, 41, was found unconscious in her Toronto home on December 15th, 2014. She was taken to hospital and died six days later. Candace’s husband, Dean Nixon, 39, has been charged with second-degree murder. A post-mortem examination determined that Candace was killed due to complications from a head injury. Candace owned her own consulting company on Internet usability and design. Family and friends remember her as a “constant source of cheer” and an artist who loved adventure.
4. Zdenka Sekora, 83. Lefaivre, January 25, 3015
On January 30th, 2015 the body of Zdenka Sekora was found inside her Lefaivre home after being smothered to death by her husband. Robert Edgar, 78, was charged with second-degree murder and has since been found guilty of the crime. Zdenka leaves behind an adult daughter and a young grandson living in Europe. Her daughter and stepson both read emotional victim impact statements during Edgar’s sentencing trial stating their love for Zdenka and horror toward Edgar’s actions.
5. Shariyfa Birkett, 29. Brampton, February 7, 2015
The body of Sharifya Birkett, 29, was discovered in a vehicle in the Brampton industrial area on February 7th, 2015. Her boyfriend, Amit Kalia, 31, has been charged with second-degree murder in connection to her death. Shariyfa had helped Kalia secure bail only a month previous to the murder by acting as a surety for him for the amount of $20,000 for charges including multiple counts of impaired driving, dangerous driving and possession of heroin. Shariyfa is described as being a kind and loving woman by family and friends.
6. Carol Shaw, 49. Windsor, February 23, 2015
Carol Shaw, 49, was killed in an apartment on February 23rd, 2015. Richard Scott Raymond, 26, has since been charged with first-degree murder and aggravated sexual assault. The relationship between Carol and Raymond has not been disclosed, however police have stated that there was an existing relationship between the two prior to the murder. The cause of death has also not been released.
7. Kate Lynn Reid, 51. Kitchener, March 8, 2015
Kate Lynn Reid, 51, was reported missing at the end of January. It was not until the beginning of March that Kate’s roommate, Hugh Rayburn McColl, 61, was charged with second-degree murder and committing an indignity to a body. At the end of March human remains were discovered and were determined to be that of Kate Lynn Reid. Kate leaves behind an 18-year-old daughter and is described by family and friends as an adventurous woman with a passion for travelling the world.
8. Renee Neganiwina, 26. Hamilton, March 25, 2015
Renee Neganiwina, 26, was killed in a fire in her home on March 25th, 2015. She lived in the home with her boyfriend Joseph Snelgrove, 38. He was later charged with second-degree murder in connection with her death. Renee was the eldest of five children and is described by her friends and family as being “full of life,” a good cook and having a knack for hairstyling.
9. Kathryn Horne, 58. Brampton, March 28, 2015
Kathryn Horne, 58, originally from Toronto was found dead in a Brampton home on March 28th, 2015. Richard Pereira, 36, who lived at the home Kathryn was found in, has been charged with second-degree murder. Kathryn was visiting Pereira at the time of the murder and the two have been described as “acquaintances.” The cause of death has not been disclosed however police have stated that there were obvious signs of trauma to Kathryn’s body. Kathryn worked as a Service Quality Assessment Manager for Ernst & Young Financial Services and is described by family and friends as being a lover of bodybuilding and physical fitness.
10. Ming-Chien (Teresa) Hsin, 59. Mississauga, April 10, 2015
The body of Ming-Chien (Teresa) Hsin, 59, was found in her black BMW SUV on April 10, 2015. She had been stabbed to death. The only son of Ming-Chien (Teresa) Hsin, Eric Lu, 25, had originally reported her as missing in April 2015. He has since been charged with first-degree murder along with two other co-accused’s Mark Dookram, 21, and Justine Ordonio, 25. Ming-Chien (Teresa) Hsin was the owner of several Reflexology Wellness Centres and is described as being a prominent member of the Taiwanese community as she served as the president for the Taiwanese Merchants Association.
11. Suraiya Gangaram, 31. Scarborough, May 8, 2015
The body of Suraiya Gangaram, 31, was found by her 14-year-old daughter in their Scarborough home on May 8th, 2015. Suraiya was stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend Lascelles Allen, 51. He has been charged with first-degree murder. Allen had been previously charged with domestic assault against Suraiya in 2014 and was released with a condition that he would not contact Suraiya, however the two had decided to meet up on the day the killing took place. Suraiya leaves behind three children between the ages of 8 to 14.
12. Desiree Gallagher, 23. London, May 14, 2015
In 2013 Justin Primmer, 29, attacked Desiree Gallagher, who was then 21 years of age. She fell seven stories from a balcony and was left with a broken spine, loss of sight and a brain injury. Primmer was convicted of assault causing bodily harm and spent six months in jail. For the following two years Desiree battled through her recovery with her brain injury and loss of sight before she was found without vital signs on May 11th, 2015 and was in a coma for the following four days before being taken off life support on May 14th, 2015.
13. Herma Parkes, 71. Richmond Hill, May 23, 2015
The body of Herma Parkes, 71, was found inside of her apartment on May 23rd, 2015. Her grandson, Cameron Alexander Mossaddad, 23, has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with her death. The cause of death has not been released to the public. Mossaddad attended a hospital that morning with non-life threatening injuries, which eventually lead to the discovery of Herma’s body.
14. Elizabeth Fischer, 82. Erin, May 27, 2015
Elizabeth Fischer, 82, was killed by her husband inside their home on May 28, 2015. A publication ban on this case has resulted in the cause of death not being released to the public. Neighbours stated after the fact that they were surprised by the incident.
15. Linda Scott, 65. Toronto, June 2, 2015
The body of Linda Scott, 65, was found stabbed to death in her apartment that she shared with her son in Toronto on June 2nd, 2015. Her son, Justin Scott, 25, was charged with first-degree murder in connection with her death. Neighbours described Linda as being a nice and quiet woman.
16. Lorrie Lynn Baechler, 40. Kitchener, June 14, 2015
Lorrie Lynn Baechler, 40, was found dead inside a Kitchener house on June 14th, 2015 after reports of gunfire were heard by neighbours. Robert Murphy, 44, was also found dead inside of the home at the time that Lorrie was discovered. After further investigation, police ruled this tragic event as a murder-suicide. Lorrie and Murphy were reportedly in a relationship at one time, however they were not together at the time of her murder. Lorrie worked for Manulife in Waterloo where her co-workers and friends described her as someone that was always willing to listen and help others.
17. Larissa Charlie-Stillaway, 22. Thunder Bay, June 17, 2015
Larissa Charlie-Stillaway, 22, was the victim of a vicious assault that put her in hospital. Cruz Nicholas Pelletier, 18, was originally charged with aggravated assault however the charge was upgraded to second-degree murder when Larissa died in hospital. Larissa and Pelletier were in a relationship that was described by family as “rocky” and “troubled.” Family and friends describe Larissa as a nice person and a wonderful mother. She leaves behind a two-year-old daughter.
18. Kaitlan Babcock, 27. Kingston, June 18, 2015
Kaitlan Babcock, 27, was stabbed to death by her former boyfriend Craig VanAlstyne, 30, on June 18th, 2015. VanAlstyne was later found dead due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound. VanAlstyne had a long history of criminality, including domestic violence charges with a previous girlfriend. A judge once described him in 2013 as a “career criminal” due to his continuous charges and convictions. Kaitlan was a mother of three young children and was described by friends as a mother willing to do anything to protect and provide for her kids.
19. Suzan Aisha Jacob, 50. London, July 1, 2015
Suzan Aisha Jacob, 50, was stabbed to death at her apartment in London on July 1st, 2015. Juma Kuol, 49, has been charged with second-degree murder. There has been speculation among reports whether or not Suzan and Kuol were romantically involved, however London police eventually went on to say that the two considered each other to be friends only. Suzan leaves behind three children.
20. Gail Fawcett, 54. Ottawa, July 21, 2015
Gail Fawcett, 54, was stabbed to death in the middle of the street in Ottawa on July 21st, 2015. Her common-law husband, Gino Langevin, 45, was charged with first-degree murder in relation to the death. At the time of the murder Langevin had called paramedics to the house he shared with Gail out of fear for his mental health after using too much cocaine. Langevin first attempted to stab the paramedic before turning on Gail who was unable to defend herself and was ultimately killed. Gail leaves behind two adult sons who describe her as a happy and easy-going woman.
21. Lori Constable, 55. Waterdown, August 14, 2015
The body of Lori Constable was discovered in her home in Waterdown on August 14th, 2015 after police were contacted due to family’s concerns from not having heard from Lori or her husband for several days. The body of her husband, Wayne Constable, 55, was also found in the home and their deaths were eventually ruled a murder-suicide. An autopsy revealed the cause of death to be smothering. The couple had been married for two years and there was no history of domestic violence known to police.
22. Galina Alexander, 44. Brampton, August 15, 2015
Galina Alexander, 44, was killed inside her Brampton home on August 15, 2015. Her son, Hassan Salifu, 23, has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with her death. The cause of death has not been released to the public. Galina worked as an independent hairstylist and was originally from Kazakhstan. She and her son had travelled together to Kazakhstan to visit family and friends one month before the murder occurred.
23. Judith Wilson, 62. Oakville, September 21, 2015
The body of Judith Wilson, 62, was found inside her Oakville home on September 21st, 2015. Judith’s son, Ryan Porte, 39, has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with her death. Porte was living with Judith in her home at the time of the murder. An autopsy determined that Judith was killed by manual strangulation. Judith was a retired employee for the City of Oakville working in areas such as parking, bylaw enforcement and licensing. Oakville Mayor Rob Burton described Judith as a dedicated employee who touched the lives of many of her co-workers.
24. Carol Culleton, 66. Barry’s Bay, September 22, 2015
The body of Carol Culleton, 66, was discovered in her cottage on Kamaniskeg Lake on the morning of September 22, 2015. She was the first of three women to be shot to death by Basil Bortuski that day. Bortuski has since been charged with first-degree murder. According to Carol’s family and friends a romantic relationship did not exist between her and Bortuski however he had been recently helping her with work on the cottage she was found in. Carol had retired from her job with Agriculture Canada only days before she was killed.
25. Anastasia Kuzyk, 36. Wilno, September 22, 2015
Anastasia Kuzyk, 36, was shot to death in her Wilno-area home by her ex-boyfriend Basil Borutski, 57, on September 22nd, 2015. He has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with her death. Borutski had been previously charged with a domestic violence related offence against Anastasia and upon release refused to sign a probation order to stay away from her – something many have called a “red flag.” Anastasia was a real estate agent and a lover of nature and all animals.
26. Natalie Warmardam, 48. Wilno, September 22, 2015
Natalie Warmardam was killed in her Wilno area farmhouse on September 22, 2015 after her ex-boyfriend Basil Bortuski shot her during a violent rampage. Bortuski had previous convictions related to domestic violence offences against Natalie and was on probation for similar offences against another woman at the time of the murder. He has since been charged with first-degree murder. Natalie was a nurse in a local hospice and is survived by two children aged 18 and 20.
27. Rita Prendergast, 57. Blackstock, September 24, 2015
Rita Prendergast, 57, was found in critical condition after being stabbed in her Blackstock home on September 24th, 2015. She was rushed to hospital where she later died. Her son, Thomas Prendergast, 25, has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with her death. Neighbours were shocked to hear of the event occurring, stating that Rita a kind woman and a good mom who lived for her son.
http://www.durhamregion.com/…/5930787-update-scugog-neighb…/
28. Unknown , 36. Vaughn, October 14, 2015
A 36-year-old woman was found dead inside of her Vaughn home on October 14th, 2015. Her 43-year-old husband has been charged with second-degree murder after being found sobbing on his driveway while police discovered his wife’s dead body. The names of the victim and the accused have not been released to the public, nor has the cause of death. Neighbours told reporters that the victim had recently started a new business baking and that the couple had an 8-year old daughter together.
29. Vaishali Patel, 41. Mississauga, October 25, 2015
Vaishali Patel, 41, died in a Mississauga hospital on October 25th, 2015. She was rushed there after being found in critical condition after a domestic incident. Vaishali’s son, Kunal Bhavan, 20, has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with her death. The exact cause of death has not been disclosed however sources say that it does not appear that a weapon was used. Vaishali leaves behind a husband and a daughter. A friend of the family described them as a nice and normal family.
30. Unknown , 51. Bradford, November 21, 2015
A 51-year-old woman was found dead inside of her Bradford home on November 21st, 2015. Her husband, Jose Fernandez, a 55-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with her death. No other details have been released.
31. Kathleen Mary Wood, 84, Guelph, November 24th
Kathleen Mary Wood was found dead inside her home at the Guelph Adult Lifestyle Village by the Arboretum on November 24th. Kathleen has lived there for the past 18 years with her Husband, Alistair Bruce Wood. On November 25th, Alistair Bruce Wood was charged with first degree murder. Very few details beyond this have been released.
In addition to the Women listed above, an additional four women have lost their lives. The criminal cases for the murder of these women have had a publication ban placed on them. Listed below is some basic information on these women. The list will be updated as more information is released.
32. 28-Year-Old Woman, November 2014
A 28-year-old woman, was found in critical condition and later died in hospital. The exact cause of death and the relationship between the woman and those charged were not released to the public due to a publication ban.
33. 31-Year-Old Woman, December 2014
A 31-year-old woman, was found inside her home in December 2014.The exact relationship between the woman and the accused has not been disclosed in order to protect the integrity of the investigation.
34. 28-Year-Old Woman, January 2015
A 28-year-old woman, was found dead inside of her home in January 2015. Due to a publication ban placed on the case as it goes through trial, the cause of death and the relationship between and the Man accused of her murder has not been disclosed to the public.
35. 24-Year-Old Woman, February 2015
A 24-year-old woman was found dead in her home. The cause of death and relationship between the woman and the Man accused of her murder have not been disclosed to the public.
