'It’s horrific': Community honours Karen Cunningham after Woodstock police call her death suspicious
A memorial has been set up in the area where 30-year-old Karen Cunningham’s body was found as police in Woodstock continue to investigate her death which has been deemed “suspicious” in nature.
A photo of Cunningham and several bouquets of flowers can be seen on a fence near a trail where police say Cunningham’s car was parked.
“I look at that picture of that beautiful girl and my heart breaks for her and the family,” said Cheryl Alexander, who lives near the memorial.
Cunningham was initially reported as missing on Feb. 2.
Cunningham was located deceased the following day after an active investigation by police. The area of Mill Street and Sixth Avenue in Woodstock was closed off to the public for multiple hours for an investigation following a grim discovery of her body inside a black Mazda sedan.
“Every day, we would walk by there, and it was the same car sitting there. [We] didn’t know why,” said Alexander. “[We] knew something. It was really bad because they put yellow tape up and wouldn’t let anyone through our street.”
On Tuesday, police said in a press release that “the investigation is ongoing with police treating Ms. Cunningham’s death as suspicious.”
“To be so close to our home and our street, which we’ve always felt here, now don’t feel safe anymore. It’s horrific. I feel so bad for the family. No family should have to go through this,” said Alexander.
The coroner’s office was called in to assist in the investigation.
Police were seen on Wednesday at a house on Mill Street, just around the corner from where she was found. Police said they were there for an ongoing investigation.
“Police definitely in that house investigating in relation to trace Ms. Cunningham’s movements leading up to the event,” said Shaylyn Jackson with Woodstock police.
In her obituary, Cunningham is being remembered as “a very special person whose kindness and zest for life will be greatly missed. She loved her friends and had the warmest smile that brightened every room she entered.”
CTV News Kitchener reached out to Cunningham’s family but they’re asking for privacy.
A fundraiser has been created to help her family cover funeral costs. It has already surpassed $3,000.
Cunningham’s visitation will take place Friday at the Brock, and Visser Funeral Home, and a funeral service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m.
Police have not shared a cause of death or if any arrests have been made but did say it is an active investigation.
Anyone with information about this investigation is encouraged to contact the Woodstock Police Service at 519-537-2323 or Oxford Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.oxfordcrimestoppers.com.
With files from CTV London's Ashley Hyshka
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
BREAKING McGill University seeks emergency injunction to remove pro-Palestinian encampment from campus
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.