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A woman whose niece was stabbed to death as her young son hid in a closet made a public plea yesterday for the suspect in the killing to surrender to police.

"You were a friend. You know her. You know her children, you know her parents," Joan Martin said to CTV News. "We're asking you to do the right thing and give yourself up."

Last night, Toronto police were searching for 28-year-old Judith Maria McFarlane, who is reported to have run from the North York neighbourhood with her three children in tow on Saturday.

That evening, armed members of the police tactical squad raided a townhouse and took the children into custody for the Children's Aid Society. But the whereabouts of their mother remained a mystery.

Detective Dan Sheppard of the homicide squad said yesterday he believes Ms. McFarlane is still in Toronto.

She is described as 5-foot-8 with a medium build and dark, reddish hair. She was wearing a black shirt and jeans.

Police said she is wanted for second-degree murder and is considered armed and dangerous.

Suzanne Campbell, 27, was stabbed in the chest Saturday morning as her four-year-old son hid in an upstairs bedroom. She called emergency and told the operator that she had been stabbed. She was taken to Sunnybrook hospital, where she was pronounced dead later that day.

Her husband, who found out about her death yesterday morning, said he was too angry to speak to the news media.

Police said yesterday that Ms. Campbell died of a stab wound to the heart.

The daughter of a neighbour found Ms. Campbell lying in a pool of blood in the doorway of her home.

Nicole, a neighbour who is pregnant with her sixth child, said she was at Ms. Campbell's side as she lay bleeding, trying to apply pressure to the wound as paramedics rushed to the scene. Nicole would not give her last name, saying she fears reprisal.

She said she had no idea Ms. Campbell's child was hiding upstairs until police searched the apartment.

"He was very smart," she said. "It was so quiet; I didn't know anyone was in the house."

The child said, "My momma is dead," Nicole said.

Ms. Campbell's two other children were not at home at the time, police said.

Her three children, who are between the ages of 8 and 4, are staying with relatives.

Ms. Campbell moved to the neighbourhood near Flemington Park only five months ago and neighbours said she kept to herself and rarely ventured out of her home.

Det. Sheppard said that she and the suspect had been friends for a long time and they were known to have frequent fights and then return to their friendly relationship the next week.

He said the fight had been caused by a property dispute.

Adriana Beltrano, who lives just next to the homicide scene, said that the small community on the leafy cul-de-sac of Dorney Court is usually quiet and beautiful.

She said she has lived there for 18 years.

"I'm scared to stay here," she said. "I don't trust the people any more."

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