A child is without a guardian after his father allegedly murdered his mother and grandmother. On Tuesday, October 1, neighbors called police to perform wellness check at a home in Courtice, Toronto, Canada. When they arrived, they found a mother and daughter dead. The child who was with them is unharmed.
There were obvious signs of trauma to the bodies of both women, Laurie Crew and Katrina Zwolinski. Police arrested the man on the scene, Michael Belhu. Belhu is the child’s father and the ex-boyfriend of the daughter, Zwolinski.
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Police had visited Crew's home in the past.
This was not the first time authorities had been called to the home Crew shared with her daughter and grandson, the Daily Mail reported. In March, Belhu, 33, was charged with attempting to break down the door of his ex’s home, while she and her 67-year-old mother cowered.
Belhu ignored his summons to appear in court after the incident. Neighbors claimed the ambulance often came with police in their many trips to the home. This time, when police returned to the home, Belhu and his son were the only survivors.
“Laurie had obviously attempted to get help several times, but it just kept on escalating,” a neighbor told The Toronto Star.
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'Honestly, it’s really sad, a sad situation,' a neighbor said.
Meanwhile, other neighbors assumed the volatile relationship was improving, The Toronto Sun reported.
“Honestly, it’s really sad, a sad situation,” said Lucia, another neighbor. “Thought whatever was going on had been dealt with.”
Nearby residents said Crew was heavily involved in raising her grandson and neighbors would see her taking the little boy on walks around the neighborhood.
Crew was active in her grandson's care.
Lisa Town, another neighbor, claimed police arrested a man just weeks earlier. Kerchel Carter, who lives a few doors down from Crew, recalled an incident from a year ago where a man was arrested for trying to see his child.
“The grandmother was taking care of the child,” he added. “It’s pretty sad, if it’s the lady, because she’s a nice person.”
Kaitlin Joy, who attended elementary and high school with Zwolinski, said, “Katrina and I grew up together in elementary and high school,” she recalled. “She loved hunting, fishing, and being outdoors.”
The police department issued a warning about intimate partner violence.
Belhu appeared in court on Wednesday. He faces two counts of second-degree murder. He is in jail awaiting a bail hearing. Sgt. Joanne Bortoluss of the Durham Regional Police Service said, “We believe at this stage for this to be an isolated incident. Beyond that, the connection between them will be part of the ongoing investigation.”
In a news release, the authorities extended their condolences to the family and issued a warning for everyone else. “Our thoughts are with the families this tragedy impacted,” the statement read. “Intimate partner violence (IPV) can take many forms, impacting individuals in various ways. It includes not just physical harm but also emotional abuse, verbal insults, manipulation, financial control, and isolation from friends and family. Recognizing these signs is crucial. If you or someone you know is experiencing any type of IPV, it’s important to seek help. Resources are available, and you are not alone in this struggle,” the release reads.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of domestic abuse, you can find help and support at DVIS.org, the National Domestic Abuse Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or by contacting your local women’s shelter at domesticshelters.org.
