14-year-old apologizes for murdering Pickering grandmother

A 15-year-old boy, identified only as A.S. due to a publication ban under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, apologized in an Oshawa courtroom for the brutal and senseless murder of 83-year-old Eleanor Doney in May 2025.

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After months of reflection, my perspective of the matter has been deduced. I’ve come to comprehend, to recognize the seriousness of my actions and see how my actions have caused a great deal of pain.

Standing before the court in a suit, with handcuffs and leg shackles, A.S. read a statement expressing remorse and acknowledging the pain his actions caused. "Sincerely, I’m deeply sorry for all of the horrible deeds I have committed, first of all, and I had no right to commit that wretched act," he stated. He added that he would learn from his actions and strive to become a better person.

A.S. pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in April. The court heard that on May 29, 2025, he approached Doney, a retired kindergarten teacher, as she raked leaves outside her home. He then stabbed her multiple times, chasing her as she attempted to flee. Doney sustained eight stab wounds, with the fatal injury being a stab to the neck that severed her carotid artery.

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Sincerely, I’m deeply sorry for all of the horrible deeds I have committed, first of all, and I had no right to commit that wretched act.

Since his arrest, A.S. has reportedly shown a consistent preoccupation with violence, harm to others, and an ongoing fascination with serial killers. The Crown and defense have jointly recommended the maximum youth sentence for first-degree murder, which is six years in custody followed by four years of community supervision. However, the parties disagree on whether credit should be given for the time A.S. has already spent in pre-sentence custody.

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What I can do is learn from this and acknowledge my wrongdoings and work on restructuring. Moving forward, I will do better and learn from this. I will try and pray to God for a chance at being a righteous man despite my flaws.