Man charged with second-degree murder in city’s fourth femicide
Posted Jun 3, 2025 08:15:27 AM.
Last Updated Jun 5, 2025 04:14:24 PM.
Ottawa police have laid charges in the city’s fourth femicide of the year.
Officials say they were called around 11:30 a.m. on Monday to a home on Carousel Crescent, in the neighbourhood of Emerald Woods-Sawmill Creek, just off Albion Road in the south end.
There, officers found the body of Tracey Duncan, 54, of Ottawa. Police launched an investigation into what they are saying is a femicide.
“The intentional killing of women and girls, 2 Spirit, trans women and gender non-conforming individuals because of their gender, overwhelmingly committed by men,” the Ottawa police force notes.
As a result, Stephen Doane, 57, of Ottawa was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.
The accused is scheduled to appear in court on June 4.
Police are asking anyone with information on the case such as phone footage or other video, to contact the homicide unit at 613-236-1222 ext. 5493.
13th homicide of the year
Over the last several months over a dozen people have died as a result of violence in the nation’s capital.
The most recent homicide came barely a week ago, when police discovered a murder-suicide had taken place. Officers responded to Barrhaven around 1:00 a.m. on May 27. There, they found the bodies of two older adults.
Virginia Theoret, 82, was killed, and then Kurt Theoret, 84, called 911 and subsequently took his own life, police said in a release.
Officials did not call this homicide a femicide, however, the force has dubbed three other murders as such.
The first two happened within days of each other.
Police were called to Henry Street on April 1. They identified the victim as Renee Descary, 51, and charged Oliver Denia, 24, with second-degree murder.
On April 6, police were called to Bentbrook Crescent in Barrhaven. Inside the home, police found 61-year-old Brenda Rus deceased.
Robert Rus appeared in court facing charges of first-degree murder.
May 26, Ottawa police charged a 35-year-old man with the alleged murder of a missing woman whose body may have ended up in a local landfill.
Police say the Ottawa man faces charges of second-degree murder and indignity to a dead body.
Investigators say 54-year-old Rachelle Desrochers has not been found, but they have reason to believe she was killed and that her body may be in a landfill.
Police are still looking to find the remains of Desrochers.
