OAITH 2019 Femicide List

Every year, the Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Homes (OAITH) publishes a list of those who are killed as a result of femicide. The following is the list that was released this year. This list was compiled between November 26th, 2018, and November 25th, 2019.

Content Warning: Descriptions of violence, violence against women.

Femicide is commonly defined as the intentional murder of women because they are women. Broader definitions can include any killings of women or girls. The following list has attempted to include women or girls who were killed by a male who was either their intimate partner, a family member, known to them or in some cases unknown but still targeted. This list includes women killed in Ontario and is based on media reports and other available sources. This means there may be errors or omissions. This list is partial.

OAITH reviews and analyzes hundreds of media articles every year that report and often sensationalize the violence women endure by men. These men are mainly current or former intimate partners and can also include fathers, sons, nephews. More broadly it can include other men closely known to them, and in some cases, the relationship to the victim is not released, but the gendered nature would indicate a Femicide has occurred.

Our Work on Femicide includes women and in some cases children, who’ve been murdered by men in Ontario. In 1995 OAITH began publishing an Annual Femicide List. Since 1990 we are aware of over 780 who’ve lost their lives to men’s violence. Every year we release our Annual Femicide List based on media reporting of women murdered by men in Ontario.

#30YearsAndStillCounting

We know of more than 780 Femicides over the past 30 years in Ontario. We work to ensure that we remember the lives lost, bring attention to the violence women experience, and take action to move our list to zero. In Partnership with: Our work on Femicide Reporting is done in partnership with Dr. Mavis Morton University of Guelph. Remembering the lives of these women wouldn’t be possible without the support of the students taking SOC 4030 F18 Advanced Topics in Criminology. We greatly appreciate their commitment and care in ensuring these femicides and acts of horrific violence are not forgotten.

Shubangi Amin, 41, May 1, 2019, Brampton, ON. Shubangi is remembered as a loving mother and will be missed by her family, friends and community. She was killed died in a femicide-suicide by her husband, 47. Femicide Type: IPF (Femicide-Suicide) Cause of Death: Trauma (Stabbing)
Maria Araujo, 83, December 21, 2018, Mississauga, ON. Maria was a loving mother, grandmother, friend and neighbour. She is remembered by her community as a kind and generous woman who took great pride in her beautiful garden. She will be missed dearly. Her son’s friend, 47, has been charged with first-degree murder. Femicide Type: Known Cause of Death: Trauma
Firoza Begum, 70, July 28, 2019, Markham, ON. Firoza’s daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter also lost their lives in a familicide committed by her grandson. The family is remembered by those close to them as wonderful people. Her grandson, 23, has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder. Femicide Type: Family Cause of Death: Trauma (Stabbing) 2
Momotaz Begum, 59, July 28, 2019, Markham, ON. Remembered for her outgoing, hardworking, social and helpful personality, Momotaz was always engaging her community with generous acts such as her work at a community centre. Momotaz is cherished by the Bangladeshi community as a figure of strength and admiration. Momotaz was killed alongside her mother, daughter and husband in their family home. Her son, 23, was charged with four counts of first-degree murder. Femicide Type: Family Cause of Death: Trauma (Stabbing)
Mariantonia Biunno, 88, September 3, 2019, Mississauga, ON. Mariantonia was a mother of three, who lived a quiet life. Mariantonia will be missed dearly by her family and those who knew and loved her. Her son, 52, was charged with second-degree murder. Femicide Type: Family Cause of Death: Trauma
Geraldine “Gerry” Butterfield, 63, May 25, 2019, Windsor, ON. Gerarldine will be deeply missed by all who knew her. She was a devoted daughter, sister, mother, and aunt. No charges have been laid. Femicide Type: Unknown Cause of Death: Undisclosed 2
Talia Carey, 30, August 25, 2019, Sheshegwaning, ON. Talia will be remembered by the members of her community as a loving mother, who’s kids were the essence of her life. Her long-time male partner, 37, has been charged with second-degree murder. Femicide Type: IPF Cause of Death: Shooting
Rae Cara Carrington, 51, April 11, 2019, Toronto, ON. Rae, “Amie”, is remembered as a ray of sunshine to those who saw her at work. She was the mother of eight children and will be deeply missed. Rae’s son, 19, has been charged with first-degree murder. Femicide Type: Family Cause of Death: Trauma
Chiou-Shuang (Susan) Cheng, 40, April 3, 2019, Scarborough, ON. Chiou-Shuang, “Susan” will be dearly missed by all who knew her. Her husband, 53, has been charged with first-degree murder. Femicide Type: IPF Cause of Death: Undisclosed 2
Sara “Sylvia” Cimerman, 68, March 11, 2019, Richmond Hill, ON. Sara, “Sylvia”, was a beloved mother and grandmother who will be dearly missed by her family and friends. Her neighbours remember her as a friendly and helpful woman, who loved her two dogs. Sara’s husband, 73, was charged with assaulting her the night before the femicide-suicide. Femicide Type: IPF (Femicide-Suicide) Cause of Death: Trauma
Amber Cobean, 30, February 1st, 2019, Grimsby, ON. Amber was a genuine and caring person and will be missed by her daughter, family and friends. A man, 39, has been charged with second-degree murder. Femicide Type: Unknown Cause of Death: Unknown
Jane Doe, 6, March 20th, 2019, Kasabonika Lake First Nation, ON. She will be missed by her family members and the community. Her uncle, 21, has been charged with second-degree murder. Femicide Type: Family Cause of Death: Undisclosed 2
Jane Doe, 64, July 24, 2019, Windsor, ON. She will be missed by her community and all the people, whose lives she touched. Her son, 33, has been charged with second-degree murder. Femicide Type: Family Cause of Death: Undisclosed
Jane Doe, 50-60, August 9, 2019, Windsor ON. She was a quiet woman that will be greatly missed by those in her community and all the people, whose lives she touched. A male, 24, has been charged with second-degree murder. Femicide Type: Known Cause of Death: Undisclosed
Marion Fenwick, 86, September 14th, 2019, Collingwood, ON. Marion is remembered as a strong woman and will be dearly missed by her family, friends and community. A man, 30, has been charged with robbery using violence and with second-degree murder. Femicide Type: Unknown Cause of Death: Undisclosed 2
Helen Fronczak, 79, March 18, 2019, Etobicoke, ON. Helen is remembered as a generous and loving mother, with a beautiful and generous soul. She will be deeply missed and remembered for her warm personality, as her children reminisce about her adventurous trips skiing and playing on the beach. Helen’s husband, 80, has been charged with second-degree murder. Femicide Type: IPF Cause of Death: Trauma
Bethelhem Geleta, 22, October 26, 2019, Toronto, ON. Bethelhem will be greatly missed by her boyfriend and family. Bethelhem was killed on her 22nd birthday by a 30-year-old male ex-dating partner in a femicide-suicide. He had previously threatened to kill her. Femicide Type: Known (Femicide-Suicide) Cause of Death: Asphyxia
Maria Lisa Gorospe, 53, August 16, 2019, Brampton, ON. Maria Lisa will be greatly missed by her three daughters, neighbours, and coworkers. She worked as a realtor and was a valued member of her community. Those who knew her will remember her as genuine, kind and polite. Lisa was killed alongside her son in their home. Her husband, 51, killed himself after stabbing Lisa and her son. Femicide Type: IPF (Femicide-Suicide) Cause of Death: Trauma (Stabbing) 2
Christian Gorospe, 13, August 16, 2019, Brampton, ON. Christian will be greatly missed by his three sisters, extended family, and friends. His mother Maria Lisa Gorospe was also murdered in the encounter. His father, 51, killed himself after stabbing Lisa and her son. Femicide Type: Family (Familicide-Suicide) Cause of Death: Trauma (Stabbing)
Laura Grant, 57, August 21, 2019, Burlington, ON. Laura’s loss will be deeply felt, and she will be greatly missed. Laura played a role in saving many lives working as a decorated EMS dispatcher in Mississauga. While there, she was able to touch a multitude of lives. She was a caring and passionate individual who took very good care of her crew. Her coworkers and family are deeply saddened and affected by her tragic passing. Her husband, 57, has been charged with first-degree murder. Femicide Type: IPF Cause of Death: Shooting
Tharshika Jeganathan, 27, September 11, 2019, Toronto, ON. Tharshika was a role model and will be remembered as a kind-hearted woman with a bubbly personality, whose smile brightened the room. She was seen as a hardworking, intelligent, caring and thoughtful woman. She will be dearly missed by her family, friends and those who knew her in her community. Tharshika will be remembered for her beautiful soul, who was full of energy and passion. Her ex-husband, 38, has been charged with first-degree murder. Femicide Type: IPF 2 Cause of Death: Trauma (Stabbing)
Maryhelen Johnston, 39, May 13, 2019, London, ON. Maryhelen will be remembered as a loving mother and friend. She will be missed by her three children, family and friends. Her longtime male partner, 41, has been charged with second-degree murder. Femicide Type: IPF Cause of Death: Undisclosed
Jennyfer Lachapelle, 42, March 13, 2019, Toronto, ON. Jennyfer is fondly remembered by her colleagues as a great woman who always had a smile on her face. She volunteered at a local food bank which speaks to the kind-hearted soul she had. Her boyfriend, 38, has been charged with second-degree murder. Femicide Type: IPF Cause of Death: Trauma
Brenda Lautaoja, 68, March 23, 2019, Kirkland Lake, ON. Brenda will be dearly missed by her family members and is remembered as being full of life and involved in her community. Brenda dedicated much of her time to the All Heart Pet Rescue and volunteered to raise funds for the rescue and rehabilitation of animals. Her son, 33, was charged with second-degree murder. Femicide Type: Family Cause of Death: Undisclosed 2
Bao Lian Li, 82, May 13th, 2019, Brampton, ON. Bao lived in her home with her husband, children and grandchildren. She enjoyed gardening and will be missed by her community. Her husband, 81, has been charged with second-degree murder. Femicide Type: IPF Cause of Death: Trauma
Yvonne Mooney, 83, May 12, 2019, Oshawa, ON. Yvonne, “Martin”, was kind, loyal, respectful, and had a ready smile. She was always a consummate host, an avid knitter and generous with her love and time. Her son, 56, who was living with her at the time, has been charged with second-degree murder. Femicide Type: Family Cause of Death: Asphyxiation
Hanh Nguyen, 41, January 24, 2019, Toronto, ON. Hanh, “Hana”, was a mother to a 14-year-old daughter and will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Neighbours remember her as a nice woman. Her husband, 40, has been charged with second-degree murder. Femicide Type: IPF Cause of Death: Trauma (Stabbing) 2
Tan Nguyen, 74, February 12, 2019, Mississauga, ON. Tan will be fondly remembered and missed by all who knew her. Tan was found dead in her family home. Her husband, 76, was charged with second-degree murder. Femicide Type: IPF Cause of Death: Undisclosed
Kathryn Niedoba, 36, July 18, 2018, Toronto, ON. Kathryn, “Katie”, is remembered as a loving daughter, sibling, cousin, niece, and granddaughter. Those who knew her will continue to remember her smile and described her as being “bright and warm as summer sunlight flickering off the water”. Her resilience allowed her to overcome obstacles in her life and provided her with the skills to help others going through difficulties. Kathryn’s boyfriend, 43, has been charged with manslaughter. Femicide Type: IPF Cause of Death: Trauma
Lorraine Ogoti, 30, January 11, 2019, Scarborough, ON. Lorraine is fondly remembered as friendly, warm, and loving. She was the mother of a four-year-old son and her family deeply misses her. Lorraine’s mother recounts Lorraine’s love for her son and her determination to make a better life for him. Lorraine’s boyfriend, 40, killed himself after killing her. Femicide Type: IPF (Femicide-Suicide) Cause of Death: Trauma (Stabbing) 2
Abigail Ootoova, 54, April 7, 2019, Ottawa, ON. Abigail is remembered for her friendly personality, who was always willing to share her wisdom and prayers with others. Abigail was a well-known artist, originally from Nunavut. She will be deeply missed by her family and friends. Her son, 29, has been charged with second-degree murder. Femicide Type: Family Cause of Death: Undisclosed
Riya Rajkumar, 11, February 14th, 2019, Brampton, ON. Riya is remembered as a social butterfly, who was always happy and was excited about everything life had to offer. She will be deeply missed by her mother, family and community. Her father, 41, was charged with first-degree murder. Femicide Type: Family Cause of Death: Undisclosed
Helen Schaller, 58, April 17, 2019, Cambridge, ON. Helen will be remembered as a kind, loving, and selfless mother, wife, and grandmother. Helen spent most of her time rehabilitating and mentoring individuals with wisdom and kindness. A man, 39, was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head in this femicide-suicide. Femicide Type: Unknown Cause of Death: Shooting 2
Terri-Lynn Thompson, 54, October 15, 2019, Belleville, ON. Terri-Lynn is remembered as an amazing person and a loving mother and grandmother. She will be dearly missed and mourned by many. Her husband, 38, has been charged in relation to her death. Femicide Type: IPF Cause of Death: Undisclosed
Verna Traina, 94, August 20, 2019, Niagara on the Lake, ON. Verna will be deeply missed by her husband, four children, eleven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. A man, 74, who resided at the same long-term care home has been charged with manslaughter. Femicide Type: Known Cause of Death: Undisclosed
Lucja (Lucy) Wojtalski, 58, September 18, 2019, Brampton, ON. Lucja, “Lucy”, will be dearly missed by her two sons. Neighbours are devasted and sending their thoughts and prayers to her family. Her husband, 64, has been charged with second-degree murder. Femicide Type: IPF Cause of Death: Trauma 2
Malesa Zaman, 21, July 28, 2019, Markham, ON. Malesa is mourned by her close friends who will remember her as a willing listener with a caring heart, always supporting those around her. Her friends recall how Malesa could always be depended on for guidance and strong moral support. She lived her life with the most passion and positivity, a model of care to be admired by all. Her brother, 23, has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder. Femicide Type: Family Cause of Death: Trauma (Stabbing)

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