Woman murdered in Leaside

[attach]5296[/attach]The discovery of a body in a home in Leaside has shaken the otherwise quiet community.

So far, Toronto Police have said only that they were responding to a missing person call early afternoon on New Year’s Day, when they found a lifeless female body at 211 Airdrie Rd.

They have also said a man has been charged with second-degree murder.

Though no names have been released by police, it has been widely reported that 45-year-old Lisa Lebitka, who lived in the home with her boyfriend and three children from a previous marriage, is the victim, and her boyfriend, Paul Hindle has been arrested and charged in connection.

This afternoon Lebtika’s brother-in-law, Mark Thompson spoke to media outside of the home where she was found murdered.

“This is an extremely tragic time for the families involved,” he said shortly after 2 p.m. and before requesting the media give the family its privacy.

“The children are safe with their father who is in no way implicated,” he added. “The children are, as you can expect, in shock. They’re with their families who love them, and they’re doing the best they can.”

[attach]5293[/attach]Thompson added the children, who are all under 11, are devastated by the murder of their mother.

While many neighbours didn’t want to talk about how the murder has impacted the community, Kris Fulton, owner of Dog Dynamics about a block away, said the crime has shocked the community.

“It’s a big shock, totally unexpected,” she said, adding that crime is uncommon in the community, where she has had her business for over six years.

“We’ve had a burglary here, and a grow op … other than that, very quiet. I don’t even lock my car doors.”

[attach]5294[/attach]Fulton said she has many clients who live on Airdrie Road, and as yet is unsure if the victim was also one. Regardless, she says it’s still unexpected.

“It’s one of those things, you wouldn’t have thought it would happen in your backyard,” she said.

“I just wish it didn’t happen.”