A 34-year-old man in Toronto now faces the most serious of accusations: first-degree murder. The charge stems from a devastating house fire that claimed the life of 84-year-old Giovanna Balestrieri last month.
The blaze erupted shortly after 11 p.m. on November 15th, engulfing a home on Avenue Road. Firefighters raced to the scene, battling the flames and ultimately discovering Ms. Balestrieri inside.
She was rushed to hospital with critical injuries, but tragically succumbed to them. Police allege the accused, Curtis Leander McLeod, deliberately set the fire while Ms. Balestrieri was alone in the house. This marks the 36th homicide investigation for Toronto this year.
Meanwhile, investigators in York Region are seeking the public’s help in a bizarre case of discarded belongings. A significant amount of personal property was found dumped inside a storm sewer in Mississauga earlier this week.
The discovery, made near Old Burnhamthorpe Road, prompted an investigation that revealed the items were deliberately dumped around 3 p.m. on Wednesday by an unidentified male. Authorities are now working to determine how the suspect obtained the property.
Police have released an image of the suspect and his vehicle – a black Dodge Ram pickup truck with an extended cab – hoping someone will recognize him. The suspect is described as a white male, between 55 and 60 years old, with a medium build.
In a separate incident, a 22-year-old driver from Brampton is facing a staggering ten charges after a high-speed chase with the Ontario Provincial Police. The driver allegedly attempted to flee an officer on Highway 410.
The pursuit reached a terrifying peak when the driver clocked a speed of 193 km/h in a 100 km/h zone. Police allege the driver was also impaired at the time, turning a dangerous situation into a potentially fatal one.
The driver now faces a combination of Criminal Code and Provincial Offences Act charges. The vehicle was immediately impounded, and the driver’s license has been suspended, a stark reminder of the consequences of reckless behavior behind the wheel.
