Patricia Real was a 46-year-old mother of two who was murdered in the backyard of her Etobicoke, Toronto, home on July 17, 2000.
On the night of July 17, 2000, around 11:10pm, Patricia Real and her boyfriend returned to her home on Hallmark Avenue near Rimilton Avenue. An unknown assailant, who had been following them on a bicycle, appeared in the backyard and shot Patricia twice in the head at close range. Her boyfriend struggled with the gunman, but the killer managed to flee on his bicycle. Patricia was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police believe Patricia was the intended target of the ambush. She was not involved in any criminal activity and was gainfully employed as a mother. The investigation revealed she had been associated with a “criminal element” at some point in her past, but a definitive connection to her death would never be established.
A significant person of interest was her former long-term boyfriend, Ronald Harper. She had broken up with in the January prior to the murder. Harper was spotted on her street the day of the killing, but police confirmed he was at Casino Rama at the time the crime was committed, leading them to believe he may have hired a gunman. Harper committed suicide nearly a year later.
The killer’s bicycle was recovered shortly after the murder. Initial DNA tests were inconclusive, but more recent examinations have developed a DNA profile that is a mixture of a male and female from at least two individuals.
If you have any information regarding Patricia’s case, please contact:
Toronto Homicide: 416-808-7400
Case Reference#: Homicide #35/2000
Email: homicide@torontopolice.on.ca.
Crime Stoppers: 1-800-222-TIPS(8477)
Online at: https://www.canadiancrimestoppers.org/submit-a-tip/submit-a-tip
Crime Stoppers provides anonymous tipping
Source: Toronto Police Service
Someone Saw Something 
Leave a comment