CANADA • Cynara ALI, 16 / Accused: Cindy Ann Sherry Ali (mother) ~ Toronto ON

Teen in serious condition after ‘suspicious incident’ near Markham Rd.
February 19, 2011

A 16-year-old girl is in serious condition in hospital following what police are calling a “suspicious incident” in the area of Markham Rd. and Sheppard Ave. E.

The teen was initially rushed to hospital with vital signs absent, but she was revived, police said.

Police in 42 Division responded to the call at about noon on Saturday at a home on Burrows Hall.

Staff Sgt. Gerry Heaney said police are not releasing the nature of the call and are still investigating.

http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/article/942035--teen-in-serious-condition-after-suspicious-incident-near-markham-rd

********** **********




Teen dies in hospital following Scarborough home invasion
February 21, 2011

A teenage girl has died in hospital following a weekend home invasion where the suspects may have targeted the wrong house.

Toronto Police say the 16-year-old was in her home at 150 Burrows Hall Blvd. on February 19 when two men wearing ski forced their way into the home at gunpoint. They left without taking anything, telling the family, "we must have the wrong house."

"The child suffered from a severe mental and physical disability," Det. Sgt. Frank Skubic said at a press conference on Monday.

At the request of her family, the girl's name and the nature of her disability are not being released.

Police allege the two armed men knocked on the victim's door around 11:30am. The victim’s mother, 40, answered the door and the two men forced their way into the home.

Officers say one man stayed with the girl while the other forced the mother to accompany him while he opened various doors throughout the house.

Police allege the men were looking for a specific item, but haven’t said what the item is. The men left and emergency crews were called to the house.

The girl was rushed to hospital without vital signs. She was taken off of life support on Sunday.

It is now a suspicious death investigation. Skubic said that until a post-mortem examination is conducted, the girl's death cannot be ruled a homicide.

The suspects are described as:

* black
* heavy Jamaican or Caribbean accents
* 5'9"-6'
* wearing dark suits, long woolen overcoats, leather shoes, and dark gloves

Police are investigating. If you can help, call police 416-808-4200, Crime Stoppers anonymously 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637), or Leave A Tip on Facebook.

http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/news/local/article/115160--teen-dies-in-hospital-following-scarborough-home-invasion

********** **********

Police ID girl who died following a home invasion; death considered suspicious
February 24, 2011



TORONTO, Ont. - Toronto police have released the name of a girl who died after a home invasion in Scarborough and are treating her death as suspicious.

Police say 16-year-old Cynara Ali was found without vital signs but with "no apparent injuries" following the violent home invasion. She was rushed to hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Two armed men knocked on the door of the home at 150 Burrows Hall Boulevard, Saturday. When the victim's mother answered the door the men forced their way into the home.

One man, armed with a gun, forced the mother to accompany him while he opened various doors throughout the house, while the second man stayed with her daughter. Police say the men were looking for a specific item.

When the suspects realized they were in the wrong home they fled the scene.

Police say the family will speak to the media next week.

The suspects are described as black, with heavy Jamaican accents, 5"9-6', wearing suits and overcoats.

Anyone with information is asked to contact 42 Division at 416-808-4200, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637), or Leave A Tip on Facebook.

http://www.680news.com/news/local/article/188760--police-id-girl-who-died-following-a-home-invasion-death-considered-suspicious

********** **********
March 5, 2011

Investigation continues
Police investigating the case say they too have many unanswered questions. Officers went door-to-door Saturday on Burrows Hall Boulevard, speaking with neighbours in hopes of uncovering fresh evidence and new leads.

Residents of the Malvern neighbourhood were asked if they had received any packages lately and what those packages contained, said Toronto Police Det. Sgt. Frank Skubic.

He wouldn't say if anyone reported seeing the two suspects in the area the day of the home invasion.

Among people that have been interviewed by police is a man who lives at a home that shares the same street address as the Ali family. Colin Pierre told CTV Toronto that there is no reason he would be targeted and that he has had no problems in the five years that he has been living at that location.

Pierre also said that he did not receive any packages lately.

"Nothing has showed up here, so I don't know what they're looking for or what it could have been," he said.

In the meantime, Cynara's cause of death is still being investigated. Once police have those results, the focus of their investigation could change. Skubic said he plans to meet with pathologists soon to review the evidence.

"Hopefully we'll be able to determine what caused this young lady to pass away," he said.

Ali says he is not sure whether his daughter died of natural causes or whether she was killed.

"I am not sure. That will be left up to the police to decide, to give that information. That, I have no comment on that one," he said.

All he is asking for is closure.

"She (Cindy) is not doing too well. My kids are not doing too well. I am not doing too well. I'm just trying to be brave for my family and trying to get this, to the bottom of this," Ali said. "I know the police, they have their work to do and I want to thank them too because they're doing a wonderful job."

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call police at 416-808-7400. Anonymous tips can be left with Crime Stoppers at 416-222-8477.

Read more

Mother charged in disabled daughter's death
Claims of home invasion leading to teen's death a hoax, police say
March 9, 2012


The mother of Cynara Ali, 16, was charged with manslaughter
after telling police last year her severely disabled daughter stopped breathing after a home invasion.

The mother of a severely disabled teen who claimed her daughter died during a home invasion last year has been charged with manslaughter in connection with the death.

Police now say that Cindy Ann Sherry Ali lied to investigators when she told them a story of a break-in last year at her Malvern home.

Ali had alleged that her 16-year-old daughter, Cynara, had collapsed and was found unconscious after two masked men invaded the house, apparently searching for a package. By the time the masked men left empty-handed, Ali said, her daughter had stopped breathing.

Thirteen months later, police said they have laid seven charges against the disabled girl's mother, including fabricating evidence and failure to provide the necessities of life.

"It was reported at that time that there was an alleged home invasion and two men entered into the home, and we're alleging that that information was false," Toronto police spokesperson Const. Wendy Drummond said.

Investigation 'puzzling'
The cause of the girl's death has still not been made public, though she was prone to seizures.

"It's quite complicated and the information determined through the post-mortem is going to be provided as evidence in court," Drummond said.

At the time of the investigation, Det.-Sgt. Frank Skubic told reporters the case "does seem puzzling" and described it as "a unique investigation."

Neighbours said they were surprised to hear of the charges against Ali.

"It seems like the mother was always taking care of the disabled daughter," one neighbour said. "It seems a little odd."

Ali, who has three other daughters with her husband, remains in custody after a brief court appearance on Friday.


http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2012/03/09/mother-charged.html