Rebecca Asuncion wants everyone to remember her sister and niece, who were both killed in a tragic double murder-suicide earlier this month in Richmond Hill.
“She has a name. She’s not just a 36-year-old woman and the baby. She died tragically. They should be named,” said Rebecca, Rommelia Asuncion’s older sister.
Rommelia and her five-month-old baby girl, Morgyn Rose Asuncion-Massicotte, were found in the basement apartment of their home on Mackay Drive in Richmond Hill on Feb. 1, shortly after 4 p. m.
Also discovered dead in the apartment was Rommelia’s common-law partner and father of her child, 41-year-old Joshuah Lawrence Massicotte. The coroner informed them that Rommelia and Morgyn suffered fatal deep stab wounds.
York Regional Police have stated that there are no outstanding suspects, and the family believes that Rommelia and Morgyn were killed before Massicotte took his own life. The coroner also suggested it was a case of intimate partner violence.
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“In my heart and mind, I believe that they were murdered first, then he committed suicide afterward. I think my sister fought for her life and her child’s safety,” said Rebecca, tears streaming down her face.
Rommelia worked at Magna International in Concord, Ont., on an assembly line and would text her mother, Divinia America, every morning when she woke up.
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On Jan. 31, Divinia mentioned that Rommelia sent her a video of the baby followed by a text in Tagalog saying “We argued again.” Her mother asked what it was about but then Rommelia stopped replying. Divinia tried calling but couldn’t get through to her daughter.
The next day, Divinia called Rebecca at work feeling anxious. “She was crying. I think something happened to your sister because she always responds to my messages,” Rebecca recalled.
After finishing work, Rebecca picked up their mother and they went to the Mackay Drive home looking for the couple’s landlord.
The landlord suggested they call police to check on Rommelia when he arrived home. It was just after 4 p. m. when police entered the basement apartment after the owner opened the door. “Suddenly paramedics showed up along with forensics teams taping off areas inside; that’s when I thought ‘Oh my God, someone has died,’” said Rebecca as she got into her car overwhelmed with emotion and was asked if she could drive to the police station.
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The family shared that during the pandemic Rommelia moved out since Massicotte didn’t want children while she did want them. After blocking him on social media he began reaching out via email until eventually she moved back in with him.
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Toward late December 2022, Rommelia found out she was pregnant with their first child. “When she showed me the pregnancy test, she was overjoyed saying we waited for so long; finally it happened,” Rebecca shared.
The childbirth wasn’t easy since Massicotte insisted on having a home birth but Morgyn came out healthy and thriving.
Rebecca recalled how concerned their mother felt about one video sent by Rommelia months ago. “She accidentally sent you a video of the baby,” Rebecca reminded Divinia about one time when Massicotte appeared to be pushing a stuffed animal’s ear into their baby’s mouth while holding her.
“Divinia cried upon seeing it asking questions about what was going on but by the time she’d checked again; it had been deleted with Rommelia explaining later that Massicotte ‘had already said he was sorry.’”......………..</paragraph.
The family has set up a Go Fund Me campaign for funeral costs while also working towards reuniting relatives for services in Toronto.
This isn’t their first tragedy; Divinia recounted how in 1996 her oldest son lost his life saving his father from fire in Quezon City Philippines at just 15 years old but sadly perished himself following this heroic act.
This heartbreak continued as Divinia’s husband passed away only one year later leaving them now grappling with losing both Rommelia and Morgyn.
“I’m completely devastated; I’m furious because I treated him well,” expressed Divinia tearfully.
Edit Note: This story has been updated removing links to an online obituary for Joshuah Massicotte which is currently unavailable along with quotes sourced from that obituary. © 2024 , a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
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