A 23-year-old man has been charged in a quadruple homicide after police discovered four bodies at his family’s home in Markham, Ont.
York Regional Police said they went to the two-storey brick home for a welfare check just before 3 p.m. Sunday afternoon, after receiving reports that multiple people had possibly been injured there. When they arrived, they said a man met them at the front door. He was taken into custody.
On Monday, police announced that Menhaz Zaman has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder. The victims – and their connection to Mr. Zaman – have yet to be identified by police, who have said only that they include three adult women and one adult man.
Post-mortem examinations are underway and police spokesperson Constable Andy Pattenden said more information would be available after those are complete.
Mr. Zaman appeared in court briefly Monday morning. As he was led into the courtroom in handcuffs, four people arrived to watch his appearance. One of them, a young woman, appeared to wave to him as he was escorted out at the end. He has been remanded into custody.
The home, in the suburb north of Toronto, remained roped off by crime-scene tape Monday afternoon. Its blinds were drawn and a police cruiser was stationed outside.
The scene remained quiet, save for when two officers entered the residence mid-afternoon, setting off the burglar alarm. Curious neighbours trickled toward the property throughout the day, and drivers craned their necks as their cars passed.
Jamie Cheung, who lives nearby and was walking with her husband and child, said she didn’t know the family who lived in the house well, but would see them occasionally around the neighbourhood.
“It’s kind of worrisome,” she said. “They’re really nice. I honestly never see anything from them. We just see them coming in and out, and we’d see them when trick-or-treating sometimes.”
Several neighbours who spoke with The Globe Sunday said they’d heard and saw nothing to suggest a disturbance at the home before police arrived. The homicide unit has asked anyone with information to contact it.
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