The Canadian Press has learned that the investigation into the alleged murders of eight long-term care home residents was launched after police received a tip from a psychiatric hospital in Toronto.
A police source familiar with the investigation says officials from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health alerted the Toronto police that Elizabeth Wettlaufer, a nurse from Woodstock had provided information to hospital staff that caused them ``concern.''
Wettlaufer, 49, was charged Tuesday with eight counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of elderly residents at two nursing homes in Woodstock, Ont., and London, Ont.
Since the alleged crimes occurred outside of Toronto police's jurisdiction, the source says officers informed three other police forces, including the Ontario Provincial Police.
Lawyers for Wettlaufer could not immediately be reached for comment.
CAMH said they did not disclose information about their clients due to patient confidentiality.
CTV spoke to Wettlaufer's parents on Wednesday.
Her mother says the family's lawyer told them not to speak to the media, but Wettlaufer's father described his daughter as smart, kind, and compassionate. He says she always wanted to help others.
Doug Parker says this is a very trying for the family, especially for his wife, and that they're looking to God for guidance.
- With files from CTV News