Arrest made in ‘random and violent’ slaying of Gladys Little

Hamilton police have arrested a suspect in the Gladys Little homicide.

Larissa Shingebis, 26, was taken into custody Sunday in connection with the slaying of 79-year-old Little, who was killed in her central Hamilton apartment.

Police say they received a tip from a local shelter Sunday morning where Shingebis was staying. Officers found Shingebis at the shelter and arrested her without incident.

Shingebis, who was seen exiting 187 Park St. S., where Little lived, on May 15, will be formally charged with first-degree murder on Monday morning, police say.

Little's body was discovered by her family around 4 p.m. on May 16.

Police said in a media release that Little, Hamilton's fifth homicide victim of 2020, did not know her assailant."

Police released the suspect's name and photo late Saturday night, they said, for public safety reasons, due to the alleged random and violent actions of Shingebis in the murder of Gladys Little."

Shingebis, who is originally from Thunder Bay, has a transient lifestyle," police say.

According to Det. Sgt. Peter Thom, who is leading the investigation, police believe Little's killer entered her apartment through the front door.

Nothing appeared to be have damaged or stolen inside the victim's apartment, including her purse, wallet and electronics.

Little, a retired nurse, did not have visitors over during the pandemic. Thom said after interviewing her family and a close friend, police believe she was not expecting company on the day she died.

The avid gardener and baker still shopped for her own groceries and was known to deliver baked goods to family.

During the pandemic she had been checking in with her relatives every day at 11 a.m. But when she failed to answer her regular check-in call from one of her sons on the Saturday, concerned family went to check on her.

Anyone with information about this case can contact Det. Andrew Coughlan of the Major Crime Unit at 905-546-3874. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-8477 or online at crimestoppershamilton.com.

- With files from Nicole O'ReillyJeremy Kemeny is a Hamilton-based web editor at The Spectator. Reach him via email: jkemeny@thespec.com