Thousands raised for family of B.C. teacher as manslaughter case against husband proceeds
Naomi Onotera was many things.
She was a mother, a sister, a daughter and a friend.
In her work as a Surrey school teacher-librarian, she touched the lives of the children she worked with.
“Naomi was so loved by her community,” said family friend Alex Lohcham. “She was an absolute advocate for her children and she really cherished her career as an educator.”
But Onotera’s heart belonged to her little girl.
“Naomi really loved her daughter. Her daughter was her whole world,” an emotional Lohcham said.
Onotera, 40, vanished on Aug. 28.
A missing persons investigation quickly escalated as homicide investigators were brought in.
Then, last week, RCMP were back at Onotera’s home. On Dec. 18, police announced that her husband, 49-year-old Obnes Regis, was facing charges, including manslaughter, in connection to her death.
“I know that her community is deeply hurt by what’s happened,” said Lohcham.
A few days ago, an online fundraiser was launched to help Onotera’s two-year-old daughter, as well as the family as it faces unexpected expenses.
More than $11,000 has already been raised.
“The family is absolutely so thankful and grateful,” Lohcham said. “It’s been really hard around the holidays, but people have also been extremely compassionate and generous to this family.”
She says Onotera’s family is grieving privately, trying to get through their first Christmas without her.
“She’s missed deeply,” said Lohcham.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Leafs star Auston Matthews finishes season with 69 goals
Auston Matthews won't be joining the NHL's 70-goal club this season.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.