Killer who stabbed family was charged with stalking, sexual assault days before attack

The man who stabbed a mother and her two daughters Monday night is the son of the family's next-door neighbour, had a "romantic" interest in one of the victims, and was just days ago charged with stalking and sexual assault against another woman, CBC News has learned.

Joshua Graves, 21, was shot and killed by police after three officers fired on himwhen he allegedly refused to drop the knife he was using in theattack.

The stabbings came just three days after Graves appeared in court on his first criminal offences. He was arrested Thursday, then charged and released from custody on Friday.

Ottawa police have identified the victims as 50-year-old Anne-Marie Ready, who worked as a trade commissioner at Global Affairs, and her 15-year-old daughter Jasmine Ready, who her school board said recently finishedGrade 10 at the French Catholic high school Franco-Cit.

Catherine Ready, the 19-year-old eldest daughter of the family, survived both the stabbing and being hit by police gunfire. She had graduated fromFranco-Cit last year, according toConseil des coles catholiques du Centre-Est.

Graves' relatives told CBChe had previously shown "romantic" interest in one of the daughters, and had been told to stop contacting her.

3 officers fired after he refused to drop knife

Police showed up at1273 Anoka St. at about10:30 p.m.Mondayafter a 911 call from the house in which screaming could be heard.

Patrol officers arrived to find Gravesin the act of stabbing Catherine Ready on the streetjust outside. They ordered him to drop the knife, according to preliminary information released by Ontario's police watchdog, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU).

When Graves didn't obey those orders, three different patrol officers fired on him.

Graves was pronounced dead at thescene. Catherine Ready was taken to hospital for her multiple stab woundsandgunshot wound.

Police found the bodies of both her mother and sister nearby.

Neighbours described the family, especially the sisters,as friendly fixtures on the streetwhom they often saw walking theirdog or mowing the lawn.

By Wednesday afternoon, police tape that had closed off the scene had beentorn downand a specialcleaning crewwaswaiting to enterthe Ready family home.

Right next door at the home of Greg Graves, a woman left trays of food and beveragesat the front door.

'He was my baby boy'

Greg Graves, like many of theother residents on Anoka Street late Monday night, watched as police responded to what he didn't realizewas his own sonon a violent rampage.

He heard the sirens, the police commands to drop the knife, the gunshots.

"He was my baby boy," hetold CBC News by phone Wednesday.

In a statement he prepared for the Ready family, Greg Graves wrote that"Words cannot express how devastated, bewildered and sad I am for the loss of your mother and daughter.

"I believe I know the demons my son was grappling with that resulted in the terrible actions. It is a tragedy for all of us and one we will need to understand and reconcile in the days ahead."

Greg Graves said there is deep pain inhis heart and deep respect for all the lossof life. "May we find peace and forgiveness," hisstatement reads.

Charged last week with first offences

According to courthouse records, Joshua Graves was charged on June 24 with three counts of criminal harassment, assault,and sexual assault for allegedly stalking another woman he went to school with from March to June of this year.

The untried allegations included that he repeatedly followed the woman, tried to communicate with her and attempted to kiss her.

Graves was released the same day he was charged, withthe consent of the Crown.

According to a copy of his release order, his mother Emily Graves was acting as his surety and Joshua Graves was ordered to live with her at another residence and not at his father's house on AnokaStreet.

A history of mental illness

In her own statement, his mother told CBC Newsshe believes her typically non-violent sonwho has a history of mental illness and was beginning to get medical treatment had a break with reality.

"What Joshua did, was not a reflection of the soft-spoken boy who was struggling with mental illness still
trying to find himself in this world," the statement reads.

According to his family, his mental health struggles wentundiagnosed until August of 2021, when he was found to havea major depressive disorder.

His family believes last week's arrest was the catalyst for what happened.

"This was the chain of events that led up to Joshua having a mental breakdown. He must have thought that these charges would be the end of his life and freedom," the family's statement said.

His family does not wishto justify his actions, they added, but are hoping to explain them.

Upon his release following his arrest last week, the 21-year-old was orderednot to contactthe woman he allegedly stalkedalong withother witnesses in thatcaseboth in person and on social media, according to court records.

He was ordered to turn over all digital access codes and device passwords to his motherso she couldmonitor his use of electronic devices,and was also banned from possessing any weapons.

Both the SIU and Ottawa police continue to investigate Monday's attack.