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A 52-year-old woman who was found dead inside her Richmond Hill home along with her 22-year-old son last week was trying to stop the young man from harming himself, their family says.
Karen and Jeffrey Costa were both found dead with obvious signs of trauma at a home in the Yonge Street and Highway 7 area on April 7 following what police described as a “domestic incident.”
In a statement released through York Regional Police Monday, Sam Costa, the husband of the woman and father of the young man, said that their deaths were the result of mental health issues that the family had grappled with.
“This unspeakable tragedy that occurred in our family home last week was the result of a loving and protective mother trying to save her son from harming himself,” Costa said in the statement.
He said the family had been “unwavering” in their support for Jeffrey, a popular student at Western University, as he struggled with mental health issues.
He also said that the mother and son shared a special bond.
“As we mourn the loss of Karen and Jeffrey, we do find solace in knowing that they are together in heaven,” Costa said. “As a mother and son, they had a strong and undeniable bond. They were at the core of a very loving family. Together we shared many milestones and happy memories. Our family was, and still is, grounded in respect, love and compassion for one another.”
He called the void left by their tragic deaths “unexplainable.”
He said his family has been involved with fundraising for mental health causes for 20 years, but he never thought they would be so severely impacted themselves.
“I never thought our lives would be so directly affected and altered by this illness. The void of their sudden loss is unexplainable,” he said.
According to an obituary published online, Karen Costa was an athletic woman who liked hockey, golf and curling. She worked as a nurse at the Hospital for Sick Children for 30 years.
Jeffrey Costa was finishing his fourth year at Western, had recently been accepted to graduate school and was planning to pursue a doctorate, the obituary said.
A spokesperson for Western University confirmed Monday that Jeffrey lived in Medway Syndenham Hall for the first two years of his time at Western and served as a “soph” who helped orient new students.
Western said he is the third person from the residence to die in the past six months. He is the second person from the residence to commit suicide over the same period. The spokesperson said the university is continuing to provide grief counselling for students at the residence.
In his statement, Costa thanked police and Western University for their support, as well as friends and family who have reached out to offer support.
“Karen and Jeffrey were so cherished and loved by their family and so many countless friends, co-workers, acquaintances and classmates,” Costa said. “The words of condolences and support we have received have been overwhelming and have brought much comfort to myself and my other two children.”
Costa said the family would not be issuing any further statements and asked for privacy as they grieve.
The family has asked those wishing to make donations in honour of Karen or Jeffrey to make a donation to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).
