The Ottawa community is grappling with profound grief and shock following the tragic death of 51-year-old Renée Descary, who police have confirmed was the victim of a homicide in the Lowertown area on Tuesday afternoon. Emergency services were dispatched to a residence on Heney Street around 4:40 p.m. after receiving reports of an assault involving an edged weapon. Paramedics who arrived at the scene confirmed that an adult woman, now identified as Ms. Descary, was found deceased. Another individual was transported to a hospital and is reported to be in stable condition.
In a somber update released on Wednesday morning, the Ottawa Police Service formally identified Ms. Descary and classified her death as a femicide, a term used to describe the intentional killing of women and girls because of their gender. This designation underscores the particularly heinous nature of the crime and has ignited discussions about violence against women within the community and beyond.
Police have apprehended 24-year-old Oliver Denia, also of Ottawa, in connection with the incident. Mr. Denia has been charged with second-degree murder and is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday morning. Authorities have stated that there is no ongoing threat to public safety, but the incident has nonetheless left residents of the usually peaceful Lowertown neighborhood deeply shaken.
Daniel Lavigueur, a resident of the area since 2008, spoke to the profound impact Ms. Descary’s death has had on her neighbors. He described the victim as a well-known and familiar face within the close-knit co-operative housing community. Mr. Lavigueur expressed the collective distress and disbelief felt by many, stating that in his years living there, this marks the first instance of such a significant crime, especially one involving someone so close to home. He noted a palpable sense of denial and fear among residents as they try to come to terms with the tragedy that has unfolded in their midst.
The police investigation is ongoing, and authorities are likely piecing together the events that led to Ms. Descary’s death. The classification of the crime as a femicide will likely lead to further scrutiny of the motivations behind the attack and may prompt broader conversations about societal factors contributing to violence against women. The Ottawa Police Service has secured a section of townhouses on Heney Street as they continue their work at the scene, gathering evidence and seeking to understand the full circumstances of this devastating crime. The community now faces the difficult task of mourning the loss of Renée Descary and supporting one another as they navigate the aftermath of this shocking event.