An Elgin County man in Ontario fatally shot his girlfriend before turning the gun on himself, according to the Ontario Provincial Police’s announcement three months after the tragic incident. The authorities identified the individuals as Kyle Savage, 34, and Tanya Wiebe, 34, found lifeless inside a house on Roberts Line in Central Elgin, close to Sparta, on Jan. 31.
Post-mortem examinations confirmed that both individuals died from gunshot wounds, with the investigation revealing the female’s death as a homicide, as detailed in a statement by Elgin OPP. Property records indicated that Savage owned the house where the couple was found deceased. While family and friends had already identified Wiebe and Savage, the police had not previously confirmed their identities.
Wiebe, remembered as a devoted hockey mom to her son, Chase, 15, and for her love of outdoor activities with loved ones, was eulogized by her sister, Linda. A hockey tournament was held in her honor where players wore purple jerseys, symbolizing domestic violence, with Wiebe’s initials.
In a distinctive move, the OPP publicly declared the Central Elgin case as a murder-suicide, a decision applauded by the head of the London Abused Women’s Centre (LAWC). The identification under femicide sheds light on the severity of violence against women in the community and emphasizes the importance of discussing such matters publicly.
The OPP’s stance stands out compared to London police, who have not typically disclosed the names of individuals involved in murder-suicides, a practice long criticized by local women’s advocates. The recent efforts in raising awareness about such issues are seen as crucial in addressing and preventing violence against women.
By shedding light on Wiebe’s case as femicide, awareness is raised on the impacts of gender-based violence. Initiatives like these contribute to shifting blame away from victims and towards addressing the societal issue at hand, aiming to prevent similar tragedies in the future.