The former boyfriend of a Toronto-area woman who was murdered earlier this week has been charged in the death.

Ayan Osman was stabbed to death early Tuesday morning and found dead at an apartment on Dixon Road, police say. Osman, 28, was a mother of two.

Not long after Osman was found with stab wounds, police received a call that a pedestrian had been struck on Highway 401 near Martin Grove Road.

It is believed that the suspect fled the scene of the death and attempted to discard a shirt near the highway. Police have said that the suspect is an ex-boyfriend of the victim.

Joey Shepherd, 26, is facing the following charges:

  • First-degree murder
  • Aggravated assault
  • Assault causing bodily harm

Police said earlier this week that the death was a "domestic" murder.