Investigators are releasing images of the male charged in a brutal assault of a Whitby female, to ensure there have been no other victims.
One image depicts Anthony DOIRON-FRANCIS wearing a black T-shirt and shorts. He lived in Ottawa until March 2020 and then moved to Whitby. Investigators are also aware of him spending some time in Burlington, Ontario. He is 5’10” tall, weighs about 220 lbs. and has short hair and a goatee. He remains in custody.
The female victim from the July 29, 2020 assault in Whitby remains in hospital in critical condition. The family of the victim has asked for their privacy during this difficult time.
Investigators want to ensure there have been no other victims or similar incidents in the past. If you have any information of assistance, please contact Detective Gill Lock of the DRPS Major Crimes Unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5418.
Anonymous information can be sent to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.durhamregionalcrimestoppers.ca and tipsters may be eligible for a $2,000 cash reward.
UPDATE #3 ISSUED AUGUST 14, 2020
Female Located with Life-Threatening Injuries
A 21-year-old Whitby male has been arrested for assaulting a woman while she was going for a walk last month.
On Wednesday, July 29, 2020 at approximately 10:25 a.m., officers located a female near a creek southeast of the intersection of Taunton Road East and Anderson Street. She had multiple, serious injuries consistent with an assault. The victim is currently in critical condition in hospital.
Investigators, along with members of the DRPS Auxiliary Unit, began to canvass the area and, on Tuesday, August 4, 2020, police released security video of a Person of Interest in this case. As a results of their tireless work by our members, including our Electronic Crimes Unit, investigators were able to identify the suspect. With the assistance of the Ottawa Police Service, the suspect was arrested on August 13 without incident. The suspect was not known to the victim and police believe this was a random incident.
Anthony DOIRON-FRANCIS, age 21 of Whitby, is charged with Attempted Murder, Aggravated Sexual Assault and Aggravated Assault. He will be held for a bail hearing.
DRPS would like to thank the Centre of Forensic Sciences, Ottawa Police, members of the media and the public for their assistance in this investigation.
Anyone with new information about this active investigation is asked to contact Detective Gill Lock of the Major Crimes Unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5418.
Anonymous information can be sent to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.durhamregionalcrimestoppers.ca and tipsters may be eligible for a $2,000 cash reward.
UPDATE #2 ISSUED AUGUST 4, 2020
Female Located with Life-Threatening Injuries
Investigators have released security video that depicts a Person of Interest walking behind the victim on a sidewalk on the night of the attack in Whitby.
The video depicts the Person of Interest walking westbound on Taunton Road in the vicinity of Anderson Street between 8:50 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28, 2020 following the 50-year-old female victim.
She is being followed by an unknown male who is about 150 feet behind her and keeping pace with her as she proceeds westbound on the sidewalk. The unknown person is described as male, medium build, wearing a white T-shirt with dark sleeves, loose-fitting shorts with a dark horizontal stripe down the side and dark socks/ dark shoes. The video can be viewed here
During this time period, several vehicles are seen driving by in both directions. Investigators want to talk to any of these drivers who may have dash-cam video that may have recorded the Person of Interest in the area at the time.
A command post has been set up at 4240 Anderson Street in Whitby and investigators are urging any witnesses to come see them at this location.
The victim in this case, a 50-year-old Whitby female, remains in hospital in critical condition. Her family has asked for the media to respect their privacy and to stop using the victim’s name and photographs in news stories. The family has also asked that the media stop attempts to contact them during this difficult time.
Anyone who can help identify this Person of Interest is asked to contact Detective Gill Lock of the Major Crimes Unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5418.
Anonymous information can be sent to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.durhamregionalcrimestoppers.ca and tipsters may be eligible for a $2,000 cash reward.
UPDATE #1 ISSUED AUGUST 1, 2020
Female Located with Life-Threatening Injuries
Durham Regional Police continue to investigate this violent assault and the 50-year-old female victim remains in hospital in critical condition.
Officers are canvassing the neighbourhood and making every effort to locate any surveillance footage from nearby houses and businesses. The crime scene has been processed and the evidence collected to date is being analyzed.
At this point in the investigation, no arrests have been made and efforts continue to determine the nature of the assault and the person responsible. Investigators have not ruled out the possibility of this being a random attack by a stranger.
We continue to encourage everyone to remain vigilant with their personal safety, walk or jog with a friend and remain on well-lit main thoroughfares.
Multiple media inquiries have been made about a missing Ontario Shores outreach patient from Oshawa and his connection with this case. At this time, there is no information that connects him to this incident. His whereabouts are unknown and it is believed he may have left the region.
Anyone with new information about this active investigation is asked to contact Detective Gill Lock of the Major Crimes Unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5418.
Anonymous information can be sent to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.durhamregionalcrimestoppers.ca and tipsters may be eligible for a $2,000 cash reward.
ORIGINAL MEDIA RELEASE ISSUED JULY 29, 2020 at 12:30 p.m.
Female Located with Life-Threatening Injuries
A Whitby woman was airlifted to a Toronto trauma centre this morning after being located with life-threatening injuries in Whitby.
On Wednesday, July 29, 2020 at approximately 10:25 a.m., officers located the female near a creek southeast of the intersection of Taunton Road East and Anderson Street. She had multiple, serious injuries consistent with an assault. She was brought to the Oshawa airport and was flown by air ambulance to a Toronto trauma centre for treatment.
Officers were able to identify her as a 50-year-old female, who had been reported missing late last night after going for a walk in the area. Officers searched for her overnight, including Air1 and a K-9 team and additional resources were brought in this morning to search the area. Officers involved in that search located her this morning at 10:25 a.m.
An investigation is underway to determine the nature of this assault. Anyone with new information is asked to call Det. Collins at the Central West Division Criminal Investigations Bureau at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 1827.
Anonymous information can be sent to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.durhamregionalcrimestoppers.ca and tipsters may be eligible for a $2,000 cash reward.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
