Woman, 30, charged in 3 murders in Toronto, Niagara Falls, Hamilton, police say
Accused has been charged with 2nd-degree and 1st-degree murder
A 30-year-old Toronto woman has been arrested and charged with murder in the separate deaths of three people in Toronto, Niagara Falls and Hamilton, according to the Toronto police.
Niagara Regional Police and Hamilton Police Service said in a news release that two of the victims are: Lance Cunningham, 47, in Niagara Falls; and, Mario Bilich, 77, in Hamilton. According to court documents obtained by CBC Toronto, Trinh Thi Vu is the Toronto victim. Police have not yet released her name and age.
Sabrina Kauldhar has been charged with second-degree murder in the Toronto death, second-degree murder in the Niagara Falls death and first-degree murder in the Hamilton death.
Police said investigators were able to link the Hamilton and Niagara Falls deaths after they determined the suspect matched the description in both cases. Investigators later linked the suspect to the Toronto death.
Investigators believe Cunningham and Bilich were "randomly targeted," while the Toronto victim was known to the suspect, police said.
Niagara police said they arrested Kauldhar in a Burlington hotel on Thursday at 5:45 p.m. After her arrest, she was charged with all three murders.
In Toronto on Tuesday, police were called at 2:08 p.m. to the Keele Street and Dundas Street W. area after it was reported that a woman in her 60s was found dead in a home with "visible trauma to her body."
In Niagara Falls on Wednesday, police were called at 2:49 p.m. to John Allan Park after it was reported that there was a disturbance. When officers arrived, they found a man critically injured. Despite attempts to save his life by paramedics and firefighters, Cunningham was pronounced dead at the scene.
In Hamilton on Thursday, police responded to a request at 12:26 p.m. for an ambulance to the parking lot of 209 MacNab St. N., where an unresponsive man was suffering from "significant injuries consistent with a stabbing." Bilich was taken to hospital, where he died.
At a news conference in Niagara Falls on Friday afternoon, Niagara Police Chief Bill Fordy said the accused appeared in provincial court in St. Catharines on Friday to face the three charges. Kauldhar was scheduled to appear Friday as well at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre virtually.
According to Toronto police, she is being held in custody by Niagara police.
Fordy said if convicted, the accused would fit the definition of a serial killer.
He added he was pleased that police were able to make an arrest given that the killings occurred over three days this week. He noted that police have not yet released exactly how the victims were killed.
Attacks on 2 men believed to be random
Fordy said these types of offences have had a "significant impact" on the three communities, and that Cunningham and Bilich have families left behind in Niagara Falls and Hamilton.
"We offer our sincere condolences to the families," Fordy said.
Fordy said police are not aware of any connection between the attacks on Cunningham and Bilich or any motive.
The two men "were both going about their business and we believe that they were random attacks," he said.
Fordy said the accused has interacted with police before the incidents. He added it was not uncommon for her to use public transit and taxis.
He said more than 100 investigators are working on the case, trying to figure out the timeline of events, and have done an extensive canvas of video footage.
Fordy said police are in contact with other police services to see if there are other alleged attacks in Ontario that might be linked to the suspect.
Hamilton victim was retired Catholic school teacher
Hamilton Police Det.-Sgt. Sara Beck told the news conference that Bilich, a retired teacher with the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board, is well-known in Hamilton.
She said Bilich was in a social club before the attack, meeting with friends as part of his weekly routine, and police have video of the accused "present there," following him to the area of his vehicle and then leaving the area shortly after the attack.
Security camera footage from local resident Daniel Myles shows Bilich and Kauldhar walking in the same area, only minutes before police were called to a parking lot for reports of an unresponsive man suffering from stab wounds.
Myles said police were at his home on Thursday asking for video of the attack, which he said happened across the street from him.
"Once I started looking through the footage, I began to realize it was a targeted attack on a totally defenceless, harmless elderly man," Myles said.
The footage shows Kauldhar following Bilich, he said.
Patrick Daly, chair of the school board, said in an email Friday that Bilich was a "long serving faith filled and exemplary Catholic teacher" at Cathedral High School.
"He was held in the highest regard by students, his colleagues, parents and our board. We are shocked and saddened and will remember the repose of his soul, family and all who loved Mario in our prayers," Daly said.
'I want my husband back': wife of Niagara Falls victim
Kim Cunningham, wife of Lance, said they have a 13-year-old daughter together.
"He was my best friend. A wonderful father for our daughter, the fun Dad," Kim said in an email on Friday.
"He loved fishing, hiking with our dogs.... A sports fanatic-lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers fan. Loved all kinds of music. Always trying to help people with advice," she added.
"He did not deserve this. I want my husband back."
Woman who bought clothing worn by suspect identified
Fordy said Friday that detectives were trying to identify another woman who was involved in buying clothing that the accused was wearing when she was arrested.
Niagara police said in a news release the woman was seen on CCTV footage on Oct. 1 at a Giant Tiger at 2025 Guelph Line in Burlington.
On Saturday, Niagara police said in a release they had identified the woman, but did not provide details about her identity.
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With files from Naama Weingarten