Police have laid charges against the man accused of killing a woman in rural Manitoba and a man in Winnipeg before stabbing and critically injuring a co-worker at Seven Oaks Hospital last week.
Trevor Farley, 37, is charged with one count of first-degree murder, one count of second-degree murder, and one count of attempted murder for his alleged roles in the homicides and the stabbing at the hospital Wednesday.
Police have confirmed both homicide victims, 73-year-old Judy Swain, found dead at a home in New Bothwell, Man., and Stuart Farley, 73, found dead at a home on Toronto Street in Winnipeg, are the accused’s parents.
Farley is charged with first-degree murder in connection to his mother’s homicide and second-degree murder in connection to his father’s killing.
At last word Friday the nurse attacked at Seven Oaks Hospital, Candyce Szkwarek, remained in stable but critical condition following surgery.
Police wouldn’t speculate on what motivated in either homicide nor the hospital assault.
“That’s probably one of the bigger pieces of the puzzle — there are three people involved here — that’s something that we obviously want to try and find out,” RCMP Sgt. Paul Manaigre said Monday.
Farley’s arrest at Seven Oaks Hospital Wednesday afternoon came hours after Manitoba RCMP said they first found Swain dead in the Rural Municipality of Hanover, south of Winnipeg. Manaigre did not give details but said there had been a violent assault.
Officers gathered information about a suspect and advised Winnipeg police that he could be heading to the city.
“It was dynamic. It was quick,” Manaigre said.
Winnipeg police then responded to the assault at the hospital.
Winnipeg police Const. Rob Carver said officers arrived just after the stabbing.
“The assault has just taken place and the suspect is being held by people in the hospital as we walk in the door,” Carver said. “He’s taken into custody instantly by our guys as they walk in.”
Carver said the nurse’s injuries were “horrifically severe” and she will be in hospital recovering for a long time.
Hours later, officers went to a home in the city’s West End neighbourhood and found the body of a man in his 70s.
At a press conference Monday police said they believe Stuart Farley was killed first in Winnipeg. They allege the suspect then drove to New Bothwell where Swain was killed and back to Winnipeg where Szkwarek was attacked in the atrium of Seven Oaks Hospital around 2:30 p.m.
“They all occurred very quickly,” Carver said.
Manitoba RCMP are leading the investigation into Swain’s homicide, while Stuart Farley’s killing is being investigated by Winnipeg police.
Neither police service would say exactly how either victim was killed, although Carver said a firearm wasn’t used in Stuart Farley’s death.
Stuart Farley was originally from England and was retired, friends have said. They described him as a great conversationalist who will be missed.
LéAmber Kensley had known Stuart Farley for roughly 20 years through Winnipeg’s pagan community.
She says he taught ritual dance and music in the community.
“He had a little bit of a grumpy face, until he was dancing,” Kensley told Global News
“And then he was just — you could see his spirit, you could see his soul — he was so there.”
Swain ran Tri-Pop Farm on her property. She was known for her chickens, which she sold at farmers markets and was described as caring and down to earth.
Court records show Trevor Farley had no prior arrests or convictions. He filed for bankruptcy last year and documents show his debts totalled nearly $140,000.
The documents also say he was married in 2015 and, as of last year, also lived with three children.
Trevor Farley is a registered nurse. Court records show he was employed at Seven Oaks hospital.
He was taken for a medical assessment after his arrest and was charged on the weekend, police said Monday.
–With files from Joe Scarpelli and Kelly Geraldine Malone with The Canadian Press
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