Guyanese woman found stabbed in Scarborough home
Stabroek News
March 17, 2004

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Homicide detectives are trying to fill in the final hours of a Scarborough, Canada woman's life in the hopes of identifying her killer.

The body of Guyanese Joycelin Paul, 56, was found on the kitchen floor of a home on Parndon Pl. that had been heavily damaged by what police say appears to be a deliberately set fire.

According to the Toronto Star, the woman moved into the neatly kept brick bungalow in the McCowan Rd. and Brimorton Dr. area a week ago with her 21-year-old son.

Paul was a health-care worker who had recently retired from Toronto Western Hospital after nearly 35 years.

She was working part-time at an east-end Versa-Care seniors' long-term care facility on Main St. Paul was from a family of 12 children and she emigrated from Guyana more than 35 years ago.

Dozens of relatives, friends and co-workers gathered at the home of Paul's brother, Fritz Richmond, in the Midland Ave. and Eglinton Ave. E. area.

"She was a wonderful woman," Richmond said. "A lot of people are feeling very hurt and sad right now."

Police said Paul was divorced.

Detective Mark Mendel-son, of Toronto's homicide squad, wouldn't confirm a report that the woman had been decapitated, but said it was "clearly evident" that she had suffered severe trauma.

An autopsy showed Paul died from multiple cutting and stabbing wounds. Mendelson said the body was discovered after police and fire-fighters responded to a 911 call on Saturday reporting a fire at the residence.

He said the call came in shortly after 11 pm and 90 minutes later, after the fire was extinguished, the body was found.

The victim's son was at the house when fire-fighters arrived.

Mendelson said the son was taken into custody in connection with another matter, but he wouldn't say whether the 21-year-old man is considered a suspect in the slaying.

Mendelson made a special appeal for any cab drivers who drove a man to the area sometime between 8 pm and 11 pm on Saturday.

The man is in his early 20s, 6-foot-2, about 300 pounds with small braids, a slight beard and glasses.