Suspect had been on suicide watch
College student Andrew Roelink, 22, is charged with first-degree murder in his mother’s death
Murder suspect Andrew Roelink was in hospital on a suicide watch a day before his mother was stabbed to death, the Star has learned.
Roelink, 22, a Seneca College student, was arrested in his family home in King Township on Monday evening, shortly after Hilda Roelink, 58, was pronounced dead in Southlake Regional Health Centre.
Her death was York Region’s first homicide of 2012.
Andrew Roelink has been charged with first-degree murder.
On Saturday, he was detained and taken to the Southlake Regional Health Centre by York Region police on a mental health warrant, a source familiar with the investigation said.
He was picked up at his home on 17th Sideroad near Jane St., in an upscale, semi-rural area north of Toronto, after threatening to end his life, the source said. He was released Sunday and returned to his family home. Police returned to the home Monday after he called 911. There were no threats made at that time against his mother or anyone else, the source said. His father, Russell, who runs a hair salon, was also home at the time, the source said. Southlake said staff members are assisting police with the investigation. “Our deepest sympathies go out to the Roelink family at this time,” the hospital said in a state- ment. “We wish to assure them, as well as the entire community, that the Southlake team is working closely with York Regional Police in their investigation.” Andrew Roelink grew up in the brick home where his mother was fatally stabbed. The four-bedroom replica of an Ontario century cottage sits on an acre lot ringed by mature birch and evergreen trees, and features a backyard swimming pool. Andrew Roelink studied at Fanshawe College in London, Ont., before beginning construction management studies at Seneca College.