Woman dead, husband charged in femicide at west Ottawa home

An Ottawa man is accused ofsecond-degree murder after his wife was found dead attheirhome in the city's rural west endSunday evening.

Ottawa police were called to thehome on Lady Slipper Way, west of Stittsville,around 6:40 p.m. where they said they found Jennifer Zabarylo, 47, suffering from traumatic injuries. She was pronounced dead at the scene, paramedics told CBC.

Property records confirm the couple co-owned the home.

Policeconsider Zabarylo'sdeath afemicide related to an act of intimate partner violence, sayingthis is the first such incident of 2024 andthe first timeOttawa policehas used the term"femicide" in a newsrelease.

Neighbour shocked

"They were very nice, very friendly people," said Mary Lovas, who lives on the same street. "Every time you'd walk bywe'd chat, say hi."

While Lovas didn't know the woman very well, shesaid the family has two dogs including a puppy, and the husband would come over to her home to let the puppy play with her dog.

Lovas called the homicide shocking.

The Department of National Defence confirmed that Zabarylo was a civilian employee with the Royal Canadian Navy Headquarters. On Monday, aspokesperson said the department was "shocked and deeply saddened to learn of her tragic death."

The Ottawa police homicide unit is investigating.

Michael Zabarylo, 55,is expected to appear in court Monday afternoon.