Police confirm death of 61-year-old woman being treated as homicide.
On Sept. 30, police cruisers, heavily armed officers, police dogs, and a lot of yellow tape greeted many Gordon Street residents.
At 9:45 that morning, police discovered the body of a 61-year-old woman at 1541 Gordon Street South. The police discovered the body while looking for a man they sought for unrelated charges, who is now considered a possible person of interest in the case.
After reviewing the results of an autopsy performed Wednesday, Oct. 1 in Hamilton, police confirmed that they are treating the death as a homicide.
Police have remained tight-lipped about many specifics of the case, refusing to release the suspected cause of death, any suspects’ identities, or any circumstances surrounding the death and the apprehended man, in order to preserve the integrity of the ongoing investigation.
Police have publicly announced that any risk to public safety as a result of this case has been resolved and residents have no need to be concerned. Constable Michael Gatto, media relations spokesperson, explained that “when dealing with investigations, sometimes the police have to withhold information to keep the integrity of the investigation sound.”
Gatto went on to say that “at this point, [the police] do not believe there is a concern for public safety, based on the information that [they] have.”
That same day, an arrest was made on the city’s south end, but police maintain that the arrest was unrelated to the homicide investigation. The police also made it clear that as of yet, they have no official suspect in the case.
The deceased woman’s identity has recently been disclosed to the public. Her family and friends described Patsy Lewis, the deceased, as a loving, gregarious, and quick-witted woman.
Little is known about Lewis’ personal or home situation at this time, but it has been reported that her biological son, Lawrence Kemp, was living with her around the time of the incident. Police will not comment on whether or not he is a suspect in the case.
In an attempt to respect the family’s request for privacy, police are refusing to disclose any more information about the deceased or any persons of interest until more facts have been established. Police are continuing to monitor the Gordon residence, as a forensic examination is currently underway.
To date, no charge has been laid in the homicide case, and the investigation is ongoing. Police are requesting that anyone with information regarding the case contact them directly or Crimestoppers.