Ganatchio Trail beating victim dies in hospital

The elderly Windsor woman who suffered severe injuries in a shocking beating on Ganatchio Trail last year has died in hospital. Sources have confirmed that Sara Anne Widholm, 76, died at Windsor Regional Hospital on Saturday.

“She was a faithful and beloved member of our church, Riverside Baptist, and we will miss her dearly, but now she is whole and at peace in heaven with her Lord Jesus,” said Pastor Brandon Taylor, leader of the church where Widholm and her husband were members.

Taylor said Widholm died quietly. He has been in contact with her adult children.

In a statement to the public, the pastor wrote: “On behalf of Anne’s family and our church family, thank you for your concern and prayers.”

It has not been disclosed if Widholm ever regained consciousness after the assault that horrified the community last fall.

On the morning of Oct. 8, 2017, Widholm was walking on the Ganatchio Trail and cleaning it of litter, as was her regular habit, when she became the victim of an attack that Windsor police have described as “vicious” and “unprovoked.”

Passersby discovered Widholm battered and unconscious on a part of the trail just east of Riverdale Avenue.

Widholm’s injuries were so severe that the treating surgeon — Dr. Balraj Jhawar — publicly described the damage as the worst he had seen by an assault in his 12 years working in Windsor. Jhawar took the unusual step of speaking out about the incident because he felt what happened to Widholm was “absolutely unacceptable.”

“For all of us who live here in Windsor, we can’t tolerate this. This is not just another assault,” Jhawar said at the time.

The long list of injuries included multiple brain hemorrhages, a lifethreatening blood clot, extensive skull fractures and fractured vertebrae.

Later the same day as the attack, police arrested Windsor resident Habibullah Ahmad in relation to the crime.

Ahmad — who goes by the first name Daniel and is now 22 — was initially charged with aggravated assault, but the charge was upgraded to attempted murder. He was denied bail and has remained in custody.

Four weeks after the attack, Widholm’s husband Alfred died at the age of 83. Community gatherings were organized to show support for the Widholm family. Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, who led a walk on the Ganatchio Trail to honour Widholm, said that news of the incident “absolutely rocked me to the core.” On Monday, the mayor acknowledged Widholm’s death and again expressed his regards.

“She exemplified the can-do Windsor spirit and my most sincere condolences go out to her family for their loss,” Dilkens tweeted.

A memorial service for Sara Anne Widholm was being arranged at press time.

The Widholms settled in Windsor about a decade ago to enjoy their golden years together. The Swedish-Canadian couple were married for 54 years.

They are survived by two adult sons, an adult daughter and seven grandchildren.

The Christian faith was important to the Widholms. Alfred studied theology in college and was a missionary for 20 years.

One of the Widholms’ sons, Erik, who lives in Georgia, wrote to the Star that the family expects justice to be accomplished via the authorities — but they are also praying for the city, and even the accused.

“We are trusting the Crown to do due diligence in this matter and show the community of Windsor and all of Canada that they are looking out for the best interest of their citizens and to be strong and faithful advocates for justice and the protection of the innocent,” Erik wrote.

As of Monday, Windsor police had not made any statement on possible changes to the charge against Ahmad.