Kingston Police investigating death of local woman after domestic assault
Detectives from the Kingston Police Major Crime Unit are carrying out an ongoing investigation after the death of a local woman following an earlier incident of domestic violence.
According to police, although initial domestic violence charges have been laid against the local man accused of the assaults, the investigation continues after Cara Cochrane, 37, passed away in the weeks following the initial incident.
Kingston Police initially began investigating on Monday, Jun. 8, 2020, when they were notified that Cochrane was in hospital in critical condition and unresponsive. Police said that the initial investigation, including speaking with family members, resulted in 35-year-old Brady James Maher being charged in connection with two prior historic domestic violence incidents between 2018 and 2020. Those charges included assault causing bodily harm and assault. Maher was arrested the same day, held for a bail hearing, and remanded into custody.
As the investigation continued, the Major Crime Unit, working in partnership with the Forensic Identification Unit, attended the scene of the incident – Cochrane’s apartment at 358 Queen Mary Road. As a result, on Thursday, Jun. 18, 2020, additional charges of aggravated assault and criminal negligence causing bodily harm were added against Maher in relation to the incident on Monday, Jun. 8, 2020.
On Sunday, Jun. 21, 2020, two weeks after the initial incident, Kingston Police were advised by the Coroner’s Office that Cochrane had died in hospital as a result of the life-threatening injury she’d sustained as a result of the assault on Monday, Jun. 8, 2020. The Major Crime Unit is currently treating this as a homicide investigation. Additional, or upgraded charges are being anticipated, Kingston Police said in a press release on Tuesday, Jun. 23, 2020.
Police said that, although canvassing has been conducted and multiple witness statements have been taken, detectives would still like to speak to anyone who may have information regarding this matter, including knowledge of the domestic relationship between Maher and Cochrane, or the incident that occurred at the apartment building at 358 Queen Mary Road (which would have occurred during the evening of Sunday, Jun. 7 or the morning of Monday, Jun. 8, 2020). Police would also like access to any possible personal, phone, or online conversations with either Cochrane or Maher before or after this time frame.
Anyone with information is asked to call Kingston Police at 613-549-4660. Major Crime Unit Detective Sergeant Chad Parslow can be contacted at [email protected], or 613-549-4600 ext. 6245. Alternatively, Detective Constable Joel Fisher can be contacted at [email protected], or 613-549-4660 ext. 6338. Tips can also be provided anonymously by calling the Kingston Police general number at 613-549-4660 ext. 0 and asking to remain anonymous.