Mother of murder-suicide victim relieved London police are changing domestic violence reporting

WARNING: This story contains discussion of intimate partner violence and suicide.

After almost a year of advocacy, the mother of a woman killed by her boyfriend says she's relieved police are vowing to be more transparent when releasing information about intimate partner violence cases and naming offenders in murder-suicides. 

Linda Davidson said she felt a sense of satisfaction when police publicly named her daughter Tiffany Gates's killer and confirmed that he took his own life after he shot the young woman to death. 

"It's been really tough but I did get some relief when they finally did name him, because when they say that the two bodies found were known to each other and both died of gunshot wounds, it doesn't really tell anybody what happened," Davidson said.  

"It was open to speculation that perhaps she could've killed him. That's why I was so adamant about getting exactly what happened out there. It was always said 'Her mother says this was a murder-suicide,' but it was never really black and white." 

Gates, 30, was found dead alongside her boyfriend, Chris Charlton, in his London apartment on Sept. 7, 2023. At the time, police said a firearm was recovered at the scene and there was no threat to the public. 

Davidson was critical of the police response and repeatedly asked that her daughter's death be reported as a murder-suicide to highlight intimate partner violence. 

In January, police said the coroner completed an investigation into the deaths but no further information could be provided, saying privacy legislation applies even when both parties are dead.

"They said it was privacy legislation but he committed suicide — that was his choice. Tiffany was murdered, so I wanted to get it out there because he'd get away with murder if no one knew who the murderer was," said Davidson.

Changes coming to police reporting protocols

Davidson's advocacy has prompted London police Chief Thai Truong to vow a change how it releases information about offenders in murder-suicides. Releasing offenders' names would cast a greater light on the issue of intimate partner violence, and in turn, would protect the public, he said. 

"We're going to name offenders who died by suicide but have murdered their partner prior-to. Instead of doing things the way we've always done, we're going to look at it from the lens of a greater need for public awareness," Truong said.

"We need to prevent intimate partner violence and femicide, but you can't prevent it unless you talk about it."

Truong said historically, the provincially-governed Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) and the Community Safety and Police Act (CSPA), have limited the information police can share about victims and offenders. 

In the case of murder-suicides, legislation prevents police from naming offenders because they died before they could be charged, and their death pose no threat to public safety, Truong said, adding that he understands why this is frustrating for families who want answers. 

London police will also improve how they collect data on intimate partner violence, femicides and murder-suicides to inform best practices for prevention and risk factors. It will look at victim and offender demographics, like their current environments and previous interactions with police

"We haven't looked at cases of femicide in the lens and context of what we can actually do better, so we need to look at what we can learn from those cases individually and collectively and determine if there's any gaps," he said. 

The London Police Service will also allocate funds from its unprecedented $672 million multi-year budget for specialized investigators, trained to handle intimate partner violence occurrences, and who can support frontline officers in these cases. Truong said this "should drastically reduce wait times." 

Davidson, who met with Truong a number of times to discuss her daughter's murder, said she's grateful London police are taking action and she hopes it can prevent future tragedies. 

If you or someone you know is struggling, here's where to get help:

For anyone affected by family or intimate partner violence, there is support available through crisis lines and local support services. ​​If you're in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911.

In London, support is also available through Anova, Atlosha Native Family Healing Services, London Abused Women's Centre, Regional Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Treatment Centre, and Victim Services of Middlesex-London.