Family of billionaire couple Barry and Honey Sherman slams rumours circulating ahead of autopsy results

The family of Apotex founder Barry Sherman and his wife, Honey, are criticizing reports speculating about the cause of the couple's deaths ahead of the release of autopsy findings.

In a statement released Saturday, the family said"our parentsshared an enthusiasm for life and commitment to their family and community totally inconsistent with the rumours regrettably circulated in the media as to the circumstances surrounding their deaths."

"We are shocked and think it's irresponsible that police sources have reportedly advised the media of a theory which neither their family, their friends nor their colleagues believe to be true," the statement continued.

CBCNews has not reported on any unverified details about what led to their deaths. Autopsies were taking place on Saturday.

• Apotex founder Barry Sherman and wife, Honey Sherman, found dead in North York home

The Sherman family statement calledfor a thorough and objective investigation by police and requested thatmedia not report further on any cause of death until the investigation is complete.

Makeshift memorial set up outside home

The comments come one day after thenoted philanthropist couple werefound dead inside their Toronto home.

The snow-covered lot outside at50Old Colony Road became the site of a memorial Saturday, as investigators await the results of autopsiesbeing performed on theirbodies.

Flowers and police tape could be seen outside the residence, from which their bodies were removed on stretchersFriday evening.

Emergency crewswere called to the mansion in theBayviewAvenue and Highway 401 area around 11:45 a.m. ET Friday for reports of a medical emergency, where Toronto police say a male and a female were pronounced dead.

Speaking to reporters outside the home on Friday, Det. Brandon Price said that while the deaths wereconsidered "suspicious" they werenot yet being treated as homicide.

On Saturday, police remainedtight-lipped about the investigation. They have yet to confirm that the Shermanswerethe deceased, despite the family's statement, andApotexconfirming that its founderBarrySherman and his wife had died.

A police source told CBCNews on Friday that it was a non-family member who discovered the bodies.

Trying to 'determine if there is foul play'

Price said policeare stilltrying to "determineif there is foul play involved or not.And at this point we cannot say 100 per cent with certainty if there is or there is not."

Price did confirm there were no signs of forced entry into the home and that police are not searching for any outstanding suspects.

Police said Saturday they hoped to receive the results of the autopsies later in the day, but by Saturday night, no results had been released.

Meanwhile, officers were at the Shermans' property interviewing neighbours.A number of police vehicles wereparked outside the mansion.

On Saturday, Const. David Hopkinson told CBC News police will combine the autopsy results with the findings of their investigation before coming to a conclusion about what happened.

Police have not commented on where the pair were foundin the house, whether a weapon was recovered, whether the bodies showed signs of trauma or when the Shermans were last seen alive.

"We are poring over the evidence," Hopkinson said.

Sherman foundedApotexin 1974 after buying out his uncle's smaller company. The pharmaceutical giant produces and exports generic drugs to more than 115 countries worldwide, according to its website.

Along the way he amassed a vast fortune, recently estimated by Canadian Business magazine at $4.77 billion, making him the15thrichest person in the country.

The North York home where their bodies were found was registered to bothShermans, and had recently been put on the market for approximately $7 million.

TheShermanswere among Canada's most generous philanthropists and also organized funding for charitable causes through theApotexFoundation. The couple made numerous multimillion-dollar donations to hospitals, schools and charities and had buildings named in theirhonour.

Outpouring of grief

If the autopsies indicate that a homicide has occurred, the police's homicide squad will take over the investigation and detectives will talk to family members before they update the public, Hopkinson said Saturday.

If the autopsies indicatethat the deaths were not criminal in nature, police will likely not provide an update to the public on the case, he added.

Meanwhile, news of the deaths has prompted an outpouring of grief from neighbours, friends, family, politiciansand the business community alike.

Honey Sherman was a member of the board of theBaycrestFoundation and the York University Foundation. She also served on the boards of Mount Sinai's Women's Auxiliary, the Simon WiesenthalCenterand the International American Joint Distribution Committee.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Toronto Mayor John Tory described the pair as "extraordinary citizens of the city of Toronto."

"Honey Sherman was a volunteer extraordinaire," he said. "She lit up any room that she came into. She was involved in so many causes in the Jewish community [and] many not. She was at the centre of raising money and giving money.

"Barry Sherman was a more reserved man but a man who, over his business career, created hundreds and hundreds of jobs for people in the city of Toronto," he added.

"Their memories will live on for a long time because of what they did as two human beings that contributed a lot to our community and our country."

Tilak Malwattawas among the many people who went to the Shermans' home on Saturday to pay theirrespects.

With flowers in hand and tears in his eyes,the 28-yearApotexdistribution employee said he felt it was important to come to express his admiration and sympathies for the Shermans.

"He's a wonderful man," Malwatta said of the Apotexfounder. "What he's done for the country, society and community. This is very, very sad. I give my deepest sympathies and condolences for the family."