Murder of Eleanor Doney
| Murder of Eleanor Doney | |
|---|---|
| Location | Pickering, Ontario, Canada |
| Date | May 29, 2025 c.3:00 p.m. (EST) |
| Target | Random civilians |
Attack type | Murder, stabbing |
| Weapon | Cuisinart kitchen knife |
| Deaths | 1 |
| Victim | Eleanor Doney |
| Motive | Obsession with violence |
| Accused | A.S. |
| Charges | First-degree murder |
| Verdict | 10 years |
| Judge | Lisa Wannamaker |
On May 29, 2025, 83-year-old Eleanor Doney was stabbed to death outside of her home in an unprovoked attack by a then 14-year-old boy in Pickering, Ontario, Canada. The suspect was charged with first-degree murder and was sentenced to six years in custody and four years under community supervision.[1]
Background
Eleanor Doney was an 83-year-old grandmother and retired kindergarten teacher.[2] Doney had a husband of 63 years.[3]
Murder
CCTV cameras captured the suspect walking on a sidewalk while carrying a suitcase and wearing a black trenchcoat, dress shoes, a face mask and gloves.[4] He talked to Doney while she was cleaning her yard before attacking her.[5] At around 3:05 p.m., the Durham Regional Police Service responded to a call about unknown trouble at a home on Lynn Heights Drive. Upon arrival, they found an elderly woman lying in front of her house with eight stab wounds, including to her neck and face. She was transported to hospital where she succumbed to her injuries.[6] The suspect fled the scene and left the knife in a wooded area. He was later arrested at his home.[3]
Suspect
The suspect, now 15, was charged with five years in custody and four years under supervision. He already had served 13 months in custody.[7] He got into a fight with another inmate at the youth facility he is being held at and said he "hasn't felt this alive" since the murder.[8] Although the suspect could not be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, judge Lisa Wannamaker said the suspects initials are A.S. His family immigrated to Canada from Pakistan in the 1970s to 1980s. He reportedly had a fascination with violence and murder. Leading up to the attack, he had searched online for serial killers, stabbings and how to evade police without detection. He also told students at his school that he contemplated killing his grandmother or a child and hurting animals.[9][10] In court, he said "after months of reflection, my perspective of the matter has been deduced. I've come to comprehend, to recognize the seriousness of my actions and see how my actions have caused a great deal of pain. Sincerely, I'm deeply sorry for all of the horrible deeds I have committed, first of all, and I had no right to commit that wretched act. What I can do is learn from this and acknowledge my wrongdoings and work on restructuring. Moving forward, I will do better and learn from this. I will try and pray to God for a chance at being a righteous man despite my flaws."[11] Just a few days before the murder, he was suspended from school after being caught carrying a knife, which he said was for protection.[12] Investigators found photos he had taken of the intersection near Doney's house nearly two weeks before the attack.[3] Defence Erin Dann said he tried to look like Yoshikage Kira, a serial killer who dresses in a suit and carries a briefcase and the main antagonist of Diamond is Unbreakable, the fourth arc of the anime and manga series JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, and Patrick Bateman, a serial killer from the horror movie American Psycho.[13][14]
Reactions
Locals and the online community were angered by the fact that the attack was preventable and warning signs were missed.[9] Many people argued that the suspect should have been tried as an adult due to the nature of the attack.[15]
References
- ↑ "Teen who fatally stabbed elderly woman in Pickering receives 10-year maximum youth sentence". CBC News. July 15, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Teen who fatally stabbed elderly woman in Pickering in 2025 apologizes in court". CBC News. July 14, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Boy who killed elderly woman in Pickering, Ont., gets maximum sentence". CP24. July 15, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
- ↑ "CCTV video of 14-year-old who randomly murdered retired Ontario teacher". The National Post. June 18, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Boy who killed elderly woman in Pickering, Ont., apologizes during sentencing hearing". CTV News. July 14, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Boy, 14, pleads guilty to 1st-degree murder of Pickering senior". Global News. April 9, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Crown, defence propose maximum youth sentence for 15-year-old who killed beloved Pickering senior". CityNews. July 14, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Teen gets five years in youth facility for stabbing random woman to death 'to escape his old life'". The National Post. July 15, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
- 1 2 "This teen stabbed an 83-year-old grandmother to death. A psychologist says there were warning signs at Durham school". Toronto Star. July 15, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Boy who killed elderly woman in Pickering, Ont., gets maximum 10-year youth sentence". The Canadian Press. July 15, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
- ↑ "'I had no right': 14-year-old who murdered Pickering grandmother apologizes". Global News. July 14, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
- ↑ "'Is justice being served,' family of murdered Pickering senior asks after teen sentenced". Global News. July 15, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Lawyers seek 6 years for Pickering teen who fatally stabbed 83-year-old Eleanor Doney". DurhamRegion.com. July 14, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
- ↑ "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Yoshikage Kira". TV Tropes. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Who deserves more concern in Eleanor Doney's murder case, the victim's family or the young offender?". Councillor Lisa Robinson. July 15, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.