Sprucedale Cres. explosion is a homicide investigation
Woman who died identified as Edresilda Haan, 58
KITCHENER — Waterloo Regional Police say a house explosion on Sprucedale Crescent is being investigated as a homicide.
Edresilda Haan, 58, was found dead Wednesday morning in the backyard of her home at 56 Sprucedale Cres. A blast had levelled the house, ignited multiple fires, badly damaged two neighbouring houses and caused 16 families to be evacuated from their homes. A cause has not yet been determined.
“With the assistance of the coroner’s office, and as a result of the autopsy, and with the information from our major crime investigators, we have determined that Ms. Haan’s death is a result of homicide,” Insp. Mike Haffner told media Thursday afternoon.
Police say they have no suspects in her death and did not specify how she died.
Haffner said police want to speak to the 58-year-old injured man, who was pulled from the blast and remains in critical condition at Hamilton General Hospital.
Police did not identify the man, but he is believed to be Haan’s husband, Udo Haan.
“At this point, we are investigating the circumstances and we await for that individual to come out of hospital so that we can question that individual in relation to the circumstances of this explosion,” said Haffner.
Police are waiting for the Office of the Fire Marshal to complete its investigation before they can process the blast site.
The ground around the Sprucedale Crescent house has been tested and there are no gas leaks, deputy fire Chief Rob Martin said earlier Thursday.
Fire officials and the Office of the Fire Marshal tested the ground around the home for “migrating gas” and results were negative, Martin said. The actual house site has not yet been tested.
Officials were working Thursday to get residents who were evacuated back into their homes — with the exception of those who lived in the badly damaged houses adjacent to the blast.
“Our priority is to return the residents back to their homes and try to provide a sense of normalcy for them,” said Martin.
Heavy machinery arrived at the Sprucedale house later Thursday to assist with removing the debris.
“It is a systematic forensic dismantling of the scene,” Martin said, adding that the fire investigation of the home should be completed by the weekend.
Edresilda Haan and her husband both worked at Sun Life Financial.
In a statement, Sun Life said, “We are deeply saddened to learn from family about the sudden passing of Edra Haan and the critical injuries sustained to her husband, Udo Haan, who remains in hospital. As valued members of the Sun Life team, our heartfelt condolences and thoughts go out to their families, friends and colleagues.”
Edresilda’s brother Al Pinheiro said the family is devastated by the loss of Edresilda, who was a giving and selfless wife
and mother of two adult children.
“She was my parents’ caregiver and was their lifeline. As a sister, she was somebody I looked up to. Someone who put her family ahead of herself,” said Pinheiro.
Her son and daughter are distraught and are with extended family, he said in an interview with The Record on Thursday.
Pinheiro said the family is trying to cope and understand what happened on Sprucedale Crescent, a home the couple shared with two dogs. One dog died in the blaze.
“We appreciate our privacy at this time,” he said. “We are praying for the recovery of Udo, my brother-in-law.”
Anyone with information is being asked to call police at 519-570-9777, ext. 8419.