Update: The Vancouver Police Department announced at 3:30 p.m. today that 41-year-old Pascal Bouthilette is charged with second-degree murder and 47-year-old Sandy Parisian is charged with manslaughter, in connection with this homicide case.

Original article:

Police have arrested two male suspects linked to a home invasion that left an elderly woman clinging to life after the attack.

On January 31, police received a request for a wellness check by a friend of 78-year-old Usha Singh, who lived alone in a residence near Queen Elizabeth Park.

Two men are believed to have gained entry to her home around 6 a.m. on January 31 by pretending to be police before they assaulted her.

Tragically, Singh, who was believed to have lain injured for several hours before she was found by officers and was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries, died on February 2.

The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) stated today (February 3) that the case has now become a homicide investigation.

“This was a tragic and senseless crime that cost an innocent woman her life, and struck fear and anxiety in the community,” VPD spokesperson Sgt. Steve Addison stated in a news release.

Officers, with the assistance of a police dog, arrested a 47-year-old man near Strathcona Park on February 2. He sustained a serious but non-life-threatening injury during the arrest and was taken to hospital for treatment before he was taken into police custody.

He had been wanted on a Canada-wide warrant for unrelated offences. 

In the evening on the same day, police arrested a 41-year-old man near Main Street and Terminal Avenue.

Investigators used several search warrants last night, including in Strathcona Park, and are continuing to gather evidence.

Anyone with information relevant to this case is asked to contact the VPD Major Crime Section at 604-717-2500 or Crime Stoppers a 1-800-222-8477.