Police investigating femicide; 1 charged with second-degree murder

Ottawa police are investigating the homicide of a woman, who they say was the victim of intimate partner violence.

Jennifer Zabarylo’s body was found in a home in the city’s west end. The 47-year-old’s death is considered a femicide, police said, since the death occurred in the context of intimate partner violence, “which is one of the many forms of misogynist killings.”

This marks the first time police are using the term “femicide” since the force decided to use it for gender-related crimes in 2022.

Michael Zarbarylo, 55, of Ottawa is charged with second-degree murder and is scheduled to appear in court today.

Femicide is defined as the killing of women and girls because of their gender, which officials say, is often driven by stereotyped gender roles and discrimination.

Officers were called to the home located in the small neighbourhood of Corkery, just west of Stittsville, on Lady Slipper Way at 6:40 p.m. on Sunday.

Homicide investigations in Ottawa

This homicide is the 12 incident in the nation’s capital this year, with a total of 17 victims.

The number of homicides in Ottawa has stayed consistent over the last several years, with police investigating either 15 or 16 cases annually over the last three years. This is a decrease from 24 homicide investigations in 2016.

“Over the course of a homicide investigation, from the initial call to the police to someone going through the criminal justice system, there are many Ottawa Police members involved at various stages,” the force’s annual report for 2023 reads. “The aftermath of a homicide requires police resources for forensics, criminal investigation, victim services…The criminal investigation and prosecution require months, if not years, of ongoing resource commitments.”