77-year-old woman stabbed last week in her apartment was killed by neighbour, Hamilton police say

WARNING: This story containsreferencesto suicide.

A 77-year-old woman was found dead in her bed in a Hamilton apartment last week after she was stabbed by a51-year-old neighbour,who then took his own life, Hamilton police confirmedMonday.

Her death marks the city's seventh homicide this year.

CBC Hamilton is not naming the womanas police have been unable to reach her family. Shehad been living in the apartment for at least six months.

Det. Frank De Vuono identified the 51-year-old as Derek Emmons, whosefamily has beennotified.

Police said Emmons's bodywas found beside the womanon the bed. He had been living in the adjacent apartment for a month.

Police, fireand emergency medical services were called to thethree-storey apartment building at 112 Ottawa St. N. on Thursday at 1 p.m. ET as part of a well-being checkandfound the door barricaded.

De Vuono saidthe doors were tied and furniture was blocking them. Responders found the two people dead after forcing an entry.

De Vuonosaid aknife was recovered from the scene. Police also said the two were not in a romantic relationship and not known to each other.

Both lived in the building's basement level. The detective said the two units areseparated by a hallway unit. At the back of theunitsare doors that connect to a common hallway, which exits out the rear door of the building.

De Vuono said he couldn't speak to a motive, butthe investigation is ongoing. He said digital evidence still needs to be reviewed and they're interviewing witnesses.

How police are looking for a motive

Police also planto review surveillance video inthe area.

"It's really hard to find a motive with no information with regards to a prior relationship or any type of tension between the two," De Vuonosaid.

"But I'm hoping through the review of the digital evidence we'll be able to find something and be able to give the victim's family, if we find them,an idea of why this happened."

Police don't believe there are any other suspects.

Emmonslived in the apartment with a roommate,police said. The roommate died earlier this month, but police said his death is unrelated to the 77-year-old woman's death and isn't being considered suspicious.

Nadia Ishmail owns a boutique across the street from the apartment buildingand told reporters thebuilding where the killing occurred is a quiet one.

"This is not a space or an area where we'd expect anything to be drastic like this," Ishmailsaid.

If you're experiencing suicidal thoughts or having a mental health crisis, there is help out there:

• Trans Lifeline 1-877-330-6366. It offers full anonymity and confidentiality.
• The Canada Suicide Prevention Service: 1-833-456-4566 (phone) | 45645 (Text, 4 p.m. to midnight ET only) |crisisservicescanada.ca.
• Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868. You can also text CONNECT to 686868 and get immediate support from a crisis responder through the Crisis Text Line, powered by Kids Help Phone. Live Chat counselling atwww.kidshelpphone.ca.
• In Quebec (French): Association Qubcoise de prvention du suicide: 1-866-APPELLE (1-866-277-3553)
• Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention:Find a 24-hour crisis centre.
• COAST 905-972-8338 or Toll Free: 1-844-972-8338.