‘Absolutely heartbroken’: Neighbours mourn death of slain St. Catharines couple

A neighbourhood in St. Catharines is still reeling after a couple was found dead in their home earlier this week.

Emergency crews were called to 47 Elma St. shortly after 12 p.m. Monday and found the couple inside without vital signs.

Niagara police identified the couple Wednesday as 75-year-olds Celine-Marie and Harold Owens.

In an update Thursday, officers say they arrested and charged 43-year-old Sean Owens of St. Catharines with two counts of first-degree murder.

Neighbours who knew the couple and their son say it was no secret there were issues at home.

“Sean was not quiet about his problems, like he liked to talk and share and express what he was going through,” said one friend of the Owens family.

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“We knew him and we knew there were problems because the parents were devastated over it,” said another friend of the Owens family.

“They tried their best, the mother especially, Celine was always trying to get him into rehab and get him cleaned up, but it just wasn’t working unfortunately.”

Many neighbours told CHCH News they were devastated when they found out about the deaths of Celine-Marie and Harold Owens.

“We just couldn’t believe it because we were friends growing up here and my son was friends with the boys. It was very hard and still is,” one resident said.

“We were just devastated, tears automatically. I pulled into the street the other day and was like, ‘Where’s Harold?’ You know, I can’t even understand it,” another resident said.

The community is now remembering the couple as caring with a lot of friends in the neighbourhood.

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“We’ve known each other a long time. [Harold] was a dog owner, like I am. His dog Ben and my dog got along well. Harold was a hunter, fisherman, and always went away. He worked part time for Colby’s. We talked a lot about that,” one neighbour said.

Another close neighbour said the couple could often be found sitting outside on two chairs, saying hi to anyone who passed by.

“We are, as a community, just heartbroken. Absolutely heartbroken. It’s the disbelief that this would happen on our street, in our area, nevermind to two of the nicest people you could ever meet,” a neighbour said.

The house and a section of Elma Street Park remained taped off Friday as police continued to investigate.

Sean Owens was scheduled for a bail hearing at a St. Catharines courthouse Friday.

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