Boy, 14, charged with first-degree murder after random 'sadistic' stabbing of elderly Ontario woman: police

Yahoo

4 days ago

A teenage boy has been charged with first-degree murder after a woman was fatally stabbed in Pickering, Ont.
Police received a call to a residential area of the Southern Ontario city around 3 p.m. on Thursday, Durham Regional Police said in a news release. A passerby had noticed an elderly woman lying on the ground outside of a home near Lynn Heights Drive and Fairport Road. The victim was brought to a Toronto-area trauma centre where she was pronounced dead.
On Friday, the 14-year-old suspect appeared in court via video from the Durham Regional Police Division 17 for a hearing in Oshawa, CBC News reported. He said he understood the charges against him and confirmed he had the chance to speak with a lawyer.
In an update to media on Friday morning, acting staff Sgt. Joanne McCabe said police are investigating reports of the suspect allegedly looking at homes in the area weeks before the incident. Although the attack appeared to be random, she said the victim and the suspect had a brief conversation before the woman was stabbed.
A neighbour told CBC she saw the suspect walk toward the woman's house, but couldn't see the stabbing from where she was sitting in her bedroom.
'It seems like a lot of people have seen him walking around that day, around that time, just because he stood out quite a bit,' said Pickering resident Gabriela Fredericks.
After watching video footage of the area, police said the woman was outside of her house when a suspect approached her. There was a brief encounter and then the woman was attacked. She was stabbed 'multiple times,' police said.
A shelter in place was in effect while police conducted a search, and the Ontario Provincial Police issued an Alert Ready notice.
The search team included officers from multiple units, including Air1, Drone, K9 and Tactical Support, according to Durham Regional Police.
The suspect was discovered by police at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday evening and taken into custody without incident.
A press conference was held after the arrest on Thursday. Durham Regional Police Service Chief Peter Moreira told media that authorities would not be revealing details about the arrest, CP24 reported. He said the investigation was 'in its infancy' and those details 'may form part of the evidence.' He said the investigation would also uncover if the victim and suspect knew each other in any way.
Moreira said the victim was stabbed 'in a sadistic and cowardly unprovoked attack that was captured on video.'
Pickering Mayor Kevin Ashe posted on X on Thursday, giving his 'thoughts, prayers, and sympathies' to the victim and her family.
Ashe also thanked the Durham police 'for their efforts in bringing this to a quick resolution.' He later confirmed the woman was in her 80s.
The woman, whose identity has not been made public by police, was a retired teacher, according to neighbour Laurie Deoliveira.
'We live in a safe community. It's not a normal thing to happen,' she said.
Deoliveira, along with others from the community, have laid flowers at the woman's home.
Brian Fredericks, who lives across the street from the victim, called her a 'lovely lady' whom he had known for 32 years.
A candlelight vigil was set for Friday evening, although its organizer John Meloche later cancelled the event. He said in a Facebook post that it was due to the family's wishes to have privacy 'during this incredibly difficult time.'
The 14-year-old will not be named, as the Youth Criminal Justice Act in Ontario prohibits the identification of minors in such cases.
He is due back in court on June 20, CBC reported.
With additional reporting by The Canadian Press.
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