As authorities intensify their hunt for an unidentified killer, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and LaSalle Police Service have officially taken over the investigation into an arson incident that may be connected to the brutal stabbing death of Windsor resident Nancy Grewal. This development marks a significant escalation in the case, with homicide investigators broadening their search for evidence across multiple jurisdictions.
Expanded Evidence Search and Jurisdictional Shift
In a media release issued on Monday, the two agencies confirmed they have assumed responsibility for the arson case from the Windsor Police Service. Concurrently, investigators have expanded their efforts to gather video footage from various locations in Windsor, LaSalle, and Tecumseh, urging residents and business owners to submit any relevant dashcam, doorbell, or surveillance recordings.
Specifically, police are seeking footage from St. Clair Avenue between Tecumseh Road West and Algonquin Street in Windsor for the timeframe of March 2 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. This request aims to uncover potential leads in the ongoing homicide investigation.
Details of the Tragic Incident
Nancy Grewal, a 45-year-old personal support worker who immigrated to Canada from India in 2018, was fatally stabbed multiple times on March 3 as she departed a client's home on the 2400 block of Todd Lane in LaSalle. Emergency responders, including paramedics and LaSalle police, arrived at the scene around 9:30 p.m. following a distress call, but Grewal was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Grewal was known as an outspoken online critic of the Khalistan Indian separatist movement, though police have not publicly confirmed any direct link between her activism and her homicide. In a social media video posted on November 11, she expressed fears for her safety, recounting an incident where someone poured gasoline on her Windsor home's front door and attempted to set it ablaze.
Arson Investigation and Surveillance Footage
The OPP reported that Windsor police responded to an arson report at Grewal's residence on November 8. Last week, provincial police released surveillance footage depicting a man exiting a vehicle's passenger side, pouring liquid onto the home's front porch, igniting a fire, and then fleeing in the vehicle. This individual remains unidentified, and it is unclear if they were involved in Grewal's killing.
"As the arson and homicide involve the same victim, LPS, under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch, has taken carriage of the arson investigation to determine any potential links between the two incidents," stated the OPP on Monday. Investigators have received multiple tips since releasing the video but continue to appeal for more information to advance the case.
Ongoing Efforts and Community Involvement
The collaborative probe underscores the seriousness with which authorities are treating this case, as they explore possible connections between the arson and murder. Police emphasize that the investigation is active and evolving, with no confirmed motives or suspects yet disclosed.
Community cooperation is deemed crucial, as video evidence could provide vital clues. Residents are encouraged to review their recordings from the specified times and locations, contributing to the broader effort to bring justice for Nancy Grewal and her family.
