Renee Neganiwina, Hamilton's 2nd homicide victim in 2015, remembered
26-year-old killed in a fire; man who lived with her charged with 2nd degree murder
Thirteen-year-old Christopher Madill has a big family. Or rather, he had.
“I had three brothers, two sisters. Now I have one,” he said.
His 26-year-old sister Renee Neganiwina is Hamilton’s second homicide victim in 2015, killed in a fire that engulfed her home in the city’s industrial core Wednesday night.
Joseph Snelgrove, 38, who police say was in a relationship with Neganiwina, is in policy custody and charged with second-degree murder. Police say the two lived together in the home.
Family members and friends held a candlelight vigil in front of the charred house Saturday night to remember Neganiwina, known as a loving sibling, a bubbly friend and a strong woman.
Madill said he didn’t visit his sister often, but she had always been a caring person to him and everyone else.
“If you ask her to help you, she’d drop whatever she’s doing to help you,” he said.
Music lover
Neganiwina worked odd jobs at places like hair salons, factories and warehouses, but she was always "full of life," said friend Donald Couture, who knew her for 16 years.
She was also a music lover who was particularly into hip-pop, rap and R&B.
“She’s 26 years old and grew up with that. We all grew up with the same music,” Couture said.
Couture was one of the organizers of Saturday’s vigil. A viewing is scheduled for Sunday. Her body will then be sent to Sheshegwaning First Nation on Manitoulin Island to be buried beside her grandfather.
“I figured let’s do a gathering at the last place where she took her breath,” he said.
Suspect turned himself in
The fatal fire started early Wednesday evening. Police were called to a one-and-half-storey house at 561 Kenilworth Ave., near Burlington St., around 6:20 p.m.
Police say they found Neganiwina, the only person in the home at the time, in an upstairs bedroom. She was pulled from the fire and taken to Hamilton General Hospital. She was later pronounced dead.
Around 4 a.m. on Thursday, Snelgrove turned himself in to Toronto police. He was then sent back to Hamilton where he was interviewed by detectives from the local homicide unit.
Police said Snelgrove was known to them, but didn't elaborate.
A cause of the fire has not yet been released.
Police are asking anyone with information to contact Det. Catherine Lockley at 905-546-3825. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-8477 or online.
With files from CBC's Kelly Bennett