Winnipeg man charged with killing his parents, stabbing at hospital
Trevor Robert Farley, 37, charged with 1st-degree murder, 2nd-degree murder, attempted murder
A 37-year-old man has been charged with killing his parents and stabbing a woman who worked at Winnipeg's Seven Oaks General Hospital on Wednesday, Winnipeg police say.
Trevor Robert Farley is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Judy Swain, 73, whose body was found in her home in New Bothwell, Man., second-degree murder in the death of Stuart Farley, 73, whose body was found in his Winnipeg home, and attempted murder in connection with the hospital stabbing.
The two homicide victims were Trevor Farley's parents, police said Monday.
Winnipeg police and RCMP gave an update on their investigation into the three incidents Monday morning, revealing more about how the events unfolded.
RCMP found Swain dead around 12:40 p.m. on Oct. 27 at a home in New Bothwell, a small community about 40 kilometres south of Winnipeg, after they were called to do a well-being check, RCMP Sgt. Paul Manaigre said.
From speaking to neighbours, police quickly established a suspect and determined he was in the area of Leila Avenue and McPhillips Street in Winnipeg, which is the location of Seven Oaks Hospital, Manaigre said.
Woman stabbed suffered 'horrifically severe' injuries
Police were on their way there when they were called about the stabbing at the hospital, where the accused worked as a nurse. Officers arrived just after the stabbing happened, and took a suspect into custody.
The woman stabbed was a longtime health-care worker at Seven Oaks. Winnipeg Police Service spokesperson Const. Rob Carver said her injuries were "horrifically severe."
She was in critical condition and has since been stabilized, but Carver said she has a long recovery ahead of her.
"She's not out of the woods, that's my understanding," he said
Later that evening, RCMP went to Toronto Street south of St. Matthews Avenue to tell Stuart Farley, Swain's ex-husband, about her death.
They found his body inside his home, Manaigre said.
Police believe Stuart Farley was killed first, then Swain.
Manaigre couldn't say how the two were killed but said both homicides were violent.
He also could not comment on a potential motive but said police believe the accused planned out the murder of his mother, which resulted in the first-degree murder charge.
"That criteria was met based on the evidence at the scene. And when you put it all together, a premeditation was apparent," he said.
Trevor Farley is being held in custody.
WATCH | Police and RCMP give update on stabbing and homicides:
Spiritual community in mourning
Members of Winnipeg's pagan community say Stuart Farley was a "complex" and "curious" person who they'll miss.
"I knew the man for 20 years and I spent two days crying," said LéAmber Kensley, a friend of Stuart Farley's. "I just, I couldn't turn off the waterworks."
Kensley said Stuart Farley was a very private person, and that she never met any of his children. She said the relationships between Stuart Farley and his children may have been strained, but they were working on it.
Kensley said what happened was "out of the blue," and will miss Stuart Farley at gatherings.
"I don't think you got to know Stuart until you saw him dance or sing. And his dance was joyful. And that's how I'm going to remember him is dancing and passing that onto others," she said.
Today's news of charges was bittersweet for Kensley and her community, she said.
"I want there to be justice for Stuart," she said. "I know justice and criminal charges aren't always the same thing, but that acknowledgement in public of what has been lost and stolen from us is really important. I think that charges will help a lot of people resolve their grief."
