Edmonton woman fatally stabbed in what police deem 'intimate partner homicide'

Police have charged a man with murder, after officers found a woman fatally stabbed in an Edmonton home earlier this week.

An autopsy determined Thursday that Erin Kern, 30, died from multiple stab wounds. Her death is considered an "intimate partner homicide" because she and the accused, 36-year-old Drew Moore, knew each other, according to police.

"She was taken far too early, violently," said Zoe's Animal Rescue Society, an animal rescue based in the Edmonton area, in a statement Friday posted to Facebook. Kern volunteered at the organization a few years ago.

"We knew her as a sweet, kind woman who loved cats. She fell in love with and adopted her foster from us to complete her little family of three beloved cats. Her girls." 

 Police were called Tuesday morning to a home in the Strathearn neighbourhood, after receiving a report about a man with a weapon and a woman who was possibly dead.

Moore fled the scene, but was arrested shortly after, police said.

Inside the house, responding officers found Kern dead, police said. A 62-year-old man was also at the home when police were called. He had been assaulted but was not hurt.

Moore has been charged with second-degree murder in Kern's death and attempted murder of the older man. 

He is also charged with several breaches, including a release order and a probation order issued last fall that prohibited any contact with Kern. 

Some advocacy groups say intimate partner violence has seen a rise in Edmonton over the past year. 

Wings of Providence Society, which offers long-term support for women with children who have experienced domestic violence, reported 40 per cent more women seeking help, said Candace Smallwood, the agency's director of resources and development.

"We don't have nearly enough spaces to serve the number of people that are looking for safety, which is really, really tough." said Smallwood.

The non-profit has 173 emergency beds available, she said. It also has 42 second-stage units — a form of transitional housing for survivors — in the Edmonton area, but said that "is certainly not enough."

Women often have to overcome multiple barriers to leave abusive relationships, including isolation, financial dependence, safety concerns and cultural factors, Smallwood said.

She is calling for legislative changes to better protect women, including harsher penalties for abusers, improved victim support and more robust protection for women and families in abusive situations.

"There's a lot that needs to change," said Smallwood. 

"Like if somebody is a risk, don't let them out of jail because they're going to continue to do harm," she said.  

Raising awareness about the issue will help more women realize that they are not alone and, hopefully, encourage them to seek help, she said.