A 15-year-old boy who admitted to murdering an elderly woman in Pickering last year has been sentenced to 10 years – the highest possible for a young person found guilty of first-degree murder.
He will spend five years in custody and four years under community supervision, as stated in Oshawa court on Wednesday. The last year was credited for time already served in pretrial detention.
The boy, who was 14 at the time of the crime and cannot be named due to the Youth Criminal Justice Act, expressed remorse in court on Tuesday for the death of Eleanor Doney, age 83.
Doney, a retired kindergarten teacher, was discovered with stab wounds outside a residence on Lynn Heights Drive and Fairport Road in May 2025.
The boy pleaded guilty to first-degree murder back in April.
‘No sentence’ can heal victim’s family: judge
During court proceedings on Wednesday, Justice Lisa Wannamaker mentioned “there is no sentence that will make Ms. Doney’s loved ones feel whole again.”
The judge spoke directly to the boy, expressing hope that hearing from Doney’s family might inspire him toward rehabilitation.
“Perhaps something good can come from this horrible tragedy,” she remarked.
WATCH | Boy was 14 years old at the time of the offence:
Teenage boy charged with 1st-degree murder in stabbing of woman in Pickering, Ont.
A 14-year-old boy has been charged with first-degree murder related to the fatal stabbing of an elderly woman in Pickering, Ont., on Thursday, according to court reports from Friday. Acting Staff Sgt. Joanne Mc Cabe did not disclose what led police to arrest the accused – whose identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act – noting that the investigation remains ongoing.
While delivering her sentence, Wannamaker referred to a medical report indicating that the boy poses a low-to-moderate risk of reoffending if he receives appropriate mental health care.
The report also noted that he has ongoing preoccupations with violence and serial killers, she added.
Wannamaker commented that while he has responded well to treatment during his pretrial detention, he still struggles with delusional and disordered thoughts.
He had previously gone undiagnosed with autism and a learning disability, according to her statement.
‘A tough year’ for both families: victim’s son-in-law
Speaking outside the courtroom on Wednesday, Doney’s son-in-law Peter Kirwin shared his expectation that the court would grant less than one year’s credit for time served “because of how brutal this crime was.”.....
