Ottawa police have charged a 63-year-old man with first-degree murder in connection with the disappearance of his wife, 64-year-old Olga Konokhova.
Viktor Konokhov of Ottawa was charged by the Ottawa Police Service Homicide Unit and was scheduled to appear in court on Friday. He is Olga Konokhova's husband, the Ottawa Police Service said in a June 26 news release.
Olga Konokhova was reported missing after last being in contact with someone in January 2026. Police said her remains have not been located and the investigation remains ongoing.
Police are classifying the homicide as a femicide. According to the release, it is the city's second femicide and sixth homicide of 2026.
How the case unfolded
Police first appealed to the public for help on June 19, when they described the disappearance as suspicious and confirmed the Homicide Unit was leading the investigation. At that time, investigators said they were limited in what they could share but that any information from the public could prove important.
Olga Konokhova is described as a white woman, 5'6" tall and approximately 160 lbs., with medium-length dark blonde hair.
Police have not said what led to the charge, and no further details about the circumstances of her disappearance have been released.
What police mean by femicide
In its release, the Ottawa Police Service defines femicide as generally "the killing of women and girls because of their gender," often driven by stereotyped gender roles, discrimination towards women and girls, or unequal power relations between women and men.
The service also builds on a definition recommended by its violence-against-women community partners: "the misogynist killing of women and girls because of their gender, overwhelmingly committed by men."
How to help
Investigators are asking anyone with information to contact the Ottawa Police Service Homicide Unit at 613-236-1222, extension 5493.
Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 or online at crimestoppers.ca.
Police are also encouraging residents to register their information and security camera locations at CAMSafe.ca, a program that helps support investigations, and to explore data released by the service through its Community Safety Data portal at data.ottawapolice.ca.
Konokhov's court appearance was scheduled for Friday. The investigation remains active, and police said they cannot provide further information or accommodate media interviews at this time.
