REVscene Automotive Forum - Woman charged in home invasion death of mom

By Paola Loriggio, The Canadian Press, thecanadianpress.com, Updated: November 23, 2010 6:32 PM

Woman charged in home invasion death of mom

MARKHAM, Ont. - A young Ontario woman who appeared to be a victim in a brutal home invasion in which her parents were shot multiple times is now charged with first-degree murder in her mother's death.

Jennifer Pan is alleged to have conspired with three armed men who held the family hostage for half-an-hour on Nov. 8 in their home north of Toronto.

Pan was tied-up but unharmed. Her mother, 53-year-old Bieh Ha Pan, was shot and killed. Her father, 57-year-old Huei Hann Pan, managed to make his way to a neighbour's house after the men left, despite being critically shot.

A bespectacled Pan was seen at her father's side that night, clad in a emergency worker's coat, as he was taken out of the family home on a stretcher.

The next day police called it a "random" home invasion.

On Monday, two weeks after the vicious attack, Jennifer Pan was arrested.

"The victim's daughter, 24-year-old Jennifer Pan has subsequently been charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the shooting death of her mother and the shooting of her father," said York Regional Police Chief Armand La Barge.

The conspiracy charge indicates investigators believe there was "some planning and deliberation in regards to the homicide involving the three other individuals," added Det.-Sgt. Larry Wilson.

The three are still at large and are considered armed and dangerous.

"I'm confident it's only a matter of time before we have these three individuals in custody," La Barge said.

Police would not comment on Jennifer Pan's alleged motive or speak about her relationship with her mother and father.

Huei Hann Pan is recovering from his injuries and has been told his daughter has been charged in the case, police added.

Her father's statements to police aided in the investigation, Wilson said.

"Through... this week and early yesterday afternoon our investigation started to direct ourselves to the daughter," he said.

Pan made a brief court appearance Tuesday and was remanded into custody. Her next scheduled court date is Nov. 30.

The quiet Markham neighbourhood where the Pan family lived was shaken by the attack, and many residents said they feared for their safety.

On Tuesday neighbours said they were both shocked and relieved by the arrest.

"I'm glad that there is some kind of closure to this, because people in the neighbourhood were really concerned that it was a random kind of act," said Aurelia Fernandez, who lives about a block from the Pan residence.

"Now we have some information, which hasn't been there for quite a while."

Fernandez added the news doesn't make her feel any safer.

"I don't think you'll ever be safe in a world like this one."

Another neighbour, Robert Labacz, said he was surprised by the allegations, but always suspected it wasn't a random crime.

While the original descriptions of the three suspects came from the daughter, police released revised information Tuesday after speaking with the father.

Police described the first suspect as male, black, 20 to 25 years old, six feet two inches tall with a muscular build.

The second man is described as male, black 20 to 25 years old, between six feet and 6-2 with a skinnier build than the first suspect.

The third is said to be a white male, 20 to 25 years old, six feet tall with a heavier build and a round face.

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