London, Ontario 2026 Homicide Victim List is available here

A 73-year-old London woman has died in hospital following a violent break-in at her south-end home, and police are now investigating her death as a homicide.

The incident happened around 6:10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, near Wellington Road and Base Line Road East. Police say the woman was awakened by a loud noise and discovered a man entering her home. She was assaulted and stabbed before managing to call 911.

Officers responded to the residence and encountered the suspect, who threw broken glass at police. One officer suffered minor injuries. Police entered the home and arrested the man.

The woman was initially taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, while the suspect was also taken to hospital with minor injuries. Police said the two were not known to each other.

The accused, 40-year-old London resident Nelson Enrique Cornejo, was initially charged with aggravated assault, break and enter with intent, assaulting a peace officer with a weapon, and obstructing a peace officer.

The woman later died in hospital. Following her death, the London Police Service Major Crime Section, working with the Chief Coroner’s Office, determined that the death was a homicide. Cornejo has since been additionally charged with second-degree murder.

Cornejo remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in London court on Aug. 31, 2026.

Police are asking anyone with information about the accused or any interactions with him to contact the London Police Service at 519-661-5670 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Anonymous tips can also be submitted online through London Middlesex Crime Stoppers.