UNSOLVED: Decades later, Hamilton nurse’s vicious murder haunts those left behind
Published September 17, 2020 at 10:21 pm
Patricia Paraszcuk’s case continues to haunt the loved ones left behind in the wake of her violent murder at her East Hamilton home in 1982.
Patricia Paraszcuk’s case continues to haunt the loved ones left behind in the wake of her violent murder at her East Hamilton home in 1982.
Trisha, as her friends and family called her, was found dead in the basement of her burned-out home at 944 Montclair Ave. on the evening of March 3, 1982. She was working as a nurse at Hamilton’s General Hospital and just 26 years old at the time of her death.
Her body was found with a ligature wrapped around her neck. Initially, police ruled her death a suicide, but just days later, further investigation determined that her death was likely a homicide.
Detectives believe her killer staged the death as a suicide and started the fire to erase any evidence.
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Photo: Police Handout
Patricia was survived by her mother and father, Floria and Ray Roach and her sister Cathy. Her family has been actively involved in pursuing her killer alongside Hamilton Police Service detectives.
Unfortunately, to this day, the investigation has turned up no suspects.
Trisha was in the midst of a divorce at the time of her murder, but police say there hasn’t been enough evidence to establish a firm suspect.
“Patricia was a popular smart young professional nurse who had her whole life ahead of her,” police say.
“Witnesses who were reluctant to come forward or tell the truth at the time are encouraged to do so now.”
According to a Jon Wells’ feature in the Hamilton Spectator from 2010 which looked into the unending search for Trisha’s killer, her mother Floria passed away in 2006. Among her final words to her loved ones and to the detective who was at the time in charge of the case were: ‘Don’t give up on Trisha.’
Every March 3, on the anniversary of her death, the family still publishes a memorial to Trisha in the Spec.
Anyone with information about this homicide is being asked to contact S/Sgt Dave Oleniuk in Major Crime at 905-546-3829.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly described the victim’s remains as ‘badly burned’ when in fact reports at the time suggest they weren’t. This story has been corrected. We are apologize for the confusion.
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