Homicide rattles quiet Whitby neighbourhood

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For the 23 years she's lived on McCullough Dr., Donna Baker has always known it to be a peaceful street full of retirees.

So when a young woman appeared on her front steps covered in blood early Saturday morning, the 63-year-old Whitby resident was rattled to the core.

"There was blood all over the left side of her face," she said. "All she said was 'Call the ambulance, call the police. I've been assaulted.'"

The woman came from next door, where Durham Region's first homicide of the year had just taken place.

When police arrived on McCullough Dr., near Hwy. 401 and Brock St. S., around 7:30 a.m., they found a man with obvious signs of trauma.

The 30-year-old victim was rushed to Rouge Valley Ajax Pickering Hospital, but died shortly after.

Police say the man was injured during a fight. They don't believe it was a random attack, but no arrests have been made.

The woman, who Baker said she had never seen before, was taken away by police.

Baker said the victim, who she knew only as Jeff, was renting the basement of the house and worked seasonal service jobs, from snow removal to yard maintenance.

"He was a really nice guy," she said. "He always spoke to us. Well-kempt, practiced good hygiene, always dressed nice."

The house is owned by a nuclear plant worker in his late-20s named Richard, according to Baker. Another tenant named Adam, also in his 20s, lives there as well. The trio moved in two years ago.

"They were the young pups of the street," said Baker. "We were surprised a bunch of young people would move into a neighbourhood like this. The majority of people here are retired."

Neighbours said the home on McCullough Dr. has been notorious on the street for its loud parties.

"We weren't really surprised by what happened," said one neighbour. "There are constantly parties there. Constantly people coming and going. Earlier in the summer, we found two of his guests sleeping on our lawn, drunk."

Two months ago, police were called to the house for a fight that broke out in front of it, according Baker.

"Somebody got punched in the face and fell and hit their head on the road," she said.

On Saturday afternoon, as police continued to investigate the scene, a pickup truck was parked on the driveway and a for-sale sign sat on the lawn.

Baker said Richard had told her he sold the house to a middle-aged couple two weeks ago.

"We've never, ever seen anything like this," she said. "I just can't get it out of my mind. This is such a quiet neighbourhood."

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