Neighbours ‘anxious’ as manhunt continues in Etobicoke double slaying

Published Aug 26, 2024  •  2 minute read

A recent image provided by Toronto Police of Joseph Ayala, 33, left, who is wanted on two counts of second-degree murder. Two Toronto Police forensic officers walk beside a home at 24 Silvercest Ave. in Etobicoke on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024. Photo by Jack Boland /Toronto Sun

Toronto Police are still on the hunt for an 33-year-old Etobicoke man wanted for murder after a double slaying of two women believed to be his relatives.

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Neighbours on the street were less than forthcoming with information for fear that the suspect, Joseph Ayala, is still on the loose after two women — a 60-year-old and an 82-year-old — were found dead on Friday.

The home where the slaying happened in the Sheldon-Silvercrest Aves. area was still cordoned off Monday with police tape and two officers were guarding the property at the front and in the backyard.

Two forensic officers showed up at about 2:30 p.m. and went straight to the backyard, while homicide officers arrived a half-hour later with one walking along the street and possibly looking for home surveillance cameras.

Two Toronto Police forensics officers collect their gear and head into the backyard of a home at 24 Silvercrest Ave. in Etobicoke on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, where a double homicide occurred on Friday, Aug 23. 2024. Photo by Jack Boland /Toronto Sun

Police told reporters on Friday that they were responding to a “well-being check” at the home.

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Elizabeth, who has lived in the area for years, said she used to show up at the home after school for snacks with a few of the other kids on the street who went to nearby Lanor Junior Middle School.

She said she knew Ayala — or “Joey” — years ago as they were in the same school for two years before high school.

She said his demeanour had recently changed, but would not elaborate other than to say that police had been to the house before.

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Another young woman who lives on the street and was out walking her dog said she felt “uneasy” even though police were at the scene all weekend.

“I feel super anxious,” she said, standing under the shade of trees across the street with her dog.

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“It is an uneasy feeling for sure.”

Some of the neighbours believe there were possible mental-health issues at play.

The woman walking her dog said she didn’t know what was happening Friday afternoon around 1 p.m. as two police cruisers arrived on the street. More officers arrived including the emergency task force, which gained entrance to the home through a side door.

“It was scary, I still have an uneasy feeling until he is found.”

A bouquet of flowers is left at the base of a maple tree at 24 Silvercrest Ave. in Etobicoke on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, where a double homicide occurred on Friday, Aug 23. 2024. Photo by Jack Boland /Toronto Sun

The woman also said the police had been to the home before and thought, “Oh, it’s just another one of those times.”

A middle-aged couple arrived at about 1 p.m. and brought two bouquets of wrapped roses, laying them at the base of the maple tree on the front yard.

The man said that he and his wife lived next door to the murder victims for some time before moving in 2015.

“She was just a kind woman. She was our neighbour and friend for almost 40 years,” said the man. “It’s such a tragedy.”

The man carefully laid the flowers to rest beside the tree and taped a handwritten message to one of the bouquets that said, “Your kindness will be forever appreciated.”

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