Toronto man accused of killing his 82-year-old dad, facing murder charge

A 36-year-old Toronto man is facing a first-degree murder charge in connection with the killing of his 82-year-old father.

In a news release Wednesday, Toronto police said officers were dispatched to a home on Glencairn Avenue near Avenue Road in North York on Saturday for a wellbeing call.

When officers reached the scene, they found the body of 82-year-old Henry Joseph, and soon determined his death to be suspicious.

Police say officers tracked down the victim’s son, Andrew Joseph, the next day and arrested him. He was then charged with improper/indecent interference with a dead body.

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Police said Wednesday Andrew will now face a first-degree murder charge in connection to the death of his father.

The news was hard to hear for some who live in the area.

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Gisella Augusta has lived across the street from Joseph Henry for 14 years since she moved in and wiped away tears as the tragic news sank in. “I’m really sad, I’m actually distraught,” she said.

Augusta said Henry still worked part-time and was an engineer by training.

According to his Linkedin profile, Henry Joseph had a company called “Joseph Urban Consultants” for the past 45 years. He graduated from the Ivey Business School in 1969 with an MBA after completing a civil engineering degree at McGill University.

“I checked in on him all the time,” Augusta said because, she explained, Henry had lived there alone for years. She knew his son had moved in with his father the past few years but Augusta said she had never seen him.

“He loved his children,” she said. “I know his son moved back. He was in school for a bit, worked and was in the army. As far as I knew, everything was normal. Their relationship was fine.”

Jessie Porter said she used to walk her dog with Henry.

“He was very friendly,” she said. “He always sat on the porch and said hello to us. He had a German Shepherd for many years and we walked our dogs in the neighbourhood and we always exchanged greetings. He was a lovely, warm man.”

Porter called it “terrible” that Henry was killed.

Police are asking anyone with information about Andrew Henry’s whereabouts prior to Saturday to call 416-808-7400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).