Homicide unit monitoring suspicious death of 79-year-old woman found in Toronto’s west end

Toronto police's Forensic Identification Services Unit is at the scene of a suspicious death on St. Clair Avenue on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (Beth Macdonell)

Toronto police’s homicide unit is “monitoring” after a woman was found dead on Tuesday morning in the city’s west end.

Police told CP24 they responded to a medical complaint in the area of St. Clair Avenue and Rushton Road, just west of Christie Street, at around 8:20 a.m.

At the scene, an apartment building known as Rakoczi Villa 1 at 747 St. Clair Ave. W., police said firefighters and paramedics found a female who was deceased.

The victim has only been identified by police as a 79-year-old woman.

“This has been deemed suspicious death at this time. The investigation is active and ongoing, and the Homicide unit is monitoring,” a media officer wrote in an email to CP24.

The building where the woman was located is home to several seniors.

Investigators have been there all day and have blocked a stairwell with police tape.

One of the residents, a man who only identified himself to CTV News Toronto’s Beth Macdonell as the woman’s son, said he learned his mom had died after he was contacted by the building’s superintendent.

He said he is in shock as her passing is unexpected, despite the fact his mother had been dealing with several medical conditions.

The son says his mother’s unit is on the sixth floor and that has lived there for about 20 years, adding that she has no enemies that he’s aware of.

Residents, meanwhile, say they’re worried and scared as few seem to have many details as to what happened.

Alex Dukay, who lives in the building, said he saw a police officer in the garbage area, with the superintendent, taking photos.

“I don’t know why they would be taking pictures of the garbage bin,” he said.

Toronto police remain on scene.

With files from CTV News Toronto’s Beth Macdonell