Police identify victim of Christmas Day homicide in Hintonburg, charge suspect

Christmas Day homicide Ottawa police continue to investigate the death of a 46-year-old woman on Christmas Day. CTV's Kimberley Johnson reports.

The Ottawa Police Service says the victim who had been killed on Christmas Day in the capital's Hintonburg neighbourhood has been identified.

The victim is identified as 46-year-old Jolene Arreak of Ottawa. Police say that her next of kin has been notified.

The investigation into Arreak’s homicide started when police located her body around 6:10 p.m. in a home on Spadina Avenue, officers say.

Officers note that the incident involved another "surviving victim who was treated in hospital and released." Police did not provide further information about what happened.

The front and the back of the home are still taped off, as of Friday morning. A police car can be seen at the front of the home.

Diane Abounehme lives on the street and says she saw several emergency vehicles.

"I left home around seven in the evening in my car, and I just drove by and I saw, like, kind of a lot of police vehicles. Ambulance, parked around this area, and I thought it was a little odd on Christmas Day evening," she said.

"It's kind of, I guess, jarring or disconcerting to know that this happened in your neighborhood. It's a very quiet area. I walk up and down the street several times a day and it's always just, like, very quiet and neighborly. My heart goes out to the family and the people affected and all the loved ones."

Police said in a news release Thursday morning that they had a male suspect in custody.

The suspect, Manasi Foo, 35, also from Ottawa, has been charged with second degree murder, and attemped murder.

He appeared in court on Boxing Day.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call police at 613-236-1222 extension 5493, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 to remain anonymous.

Christmas Day's incident marks the 20th homicide in 2024. So far this year, there have been 25 homicide victims in the capital, according to the city's police service.

--With files from CTV News Ottawa's Kimberley Johnson