Son of Clarington murder victim supported with fundraiser

A GoFundMe has been launched to support the son and grandson of the women killed in Courtice earlier this month in a suspected double murder.

Mother and daughter, Laurie Crew, 67, and Katrina Zwolinski, 30, were found dead in a home on Mouton Street during a wellness check. Moulton Street  is a short residential neighbourhood of semi-detached homes. The neighbourhood is just north of Highway 401 off of Nash Road.

Durham Police received a call for the check shortly after 1 p.m. on Oct. 1. When officers arrived they found Crew and Zwolinski dead with “obvious signs of trauma.”

Zwolinski’s young son, who has not been named, was also found at the scene. He was not physically hurt.

The boy’s father and Zwolinski’s ex-boyfriend, Michael Belhu, 33, of no fixed address, was arrested on scene. He’s been charged with two counts of second-degree murder. He was held in custody until a bail hearing.

In the wake of the murders of Crew and Zwolinski, family friends have organized a GoFundMe fundraiser to support Zwolinski’s young son. Crew’s close friend Janice Miller led the campaign on behalf of Crew and her three sisters.

Crew and Zwolinski’s “sudden departure has left an unfillable void in their family, and for the many lives they touched throughout the years,” Miller wrote, “We cannot fully grasp the challenges ahead in the wake of this unimaginable tragedy, but we know that the love and legacy of Laurie and Katrina will continue to shine through.”

“This memorial fund was created to honour their memory and offer a space for those who wish to remember them. Any gestures of support are appreciated as their family mourns,” she continued, “Donations will be used to help the family provide Katrina’s son with a bright future and education. The family is the direct beneficiary of all donations.”

The GoFundMe is available here.

Police and observers have described the murders as an incident of intimate partner violence. Ajax, Clarington, Pickering, Whitby and Durham Region have all declared an “epidemic” of such attacks in the last year or so.

As of 2023, demand for support for victims of sexual violence is up 277 per cent in Durham Region since 2019, with victim support requests up 32 per cent over the same period.

In addition to the slayings of Crew and Zwolinski, there have been several other notable incidents of domestic violence in the Region in recent months. Most recently, a Pickering man was arrested at Pearson Airport following four alleged assaults and 200 texts to the victim over two days.

In the spring, a man out on parole after a manslaughter conviction snuck into hi ex-girlfriend’s car. He attacked her when she entered the car and choked her from behind, police allege. However, she was able to escape.

This attack came just a few weeks after the murder of Jennifer Polak, 45 of Ajax. Polak was found with “obvious signs of trauma” in her home and was pronounced dead on scene. Her boyfriend Kyle Severin, 35, is charged with second-degree murder. Polak is survived by two sons, Liam and Brennan.

If you or someone you know is a victim of Intimate Partner Violence call (905) 579-1520.

If you need support but aren’t ready to contact the police, you can reach out to Victim Services of Durham Region for confidential assistance and resources at Durham Victims Services. Many other resources are available from Durham Police.