Carman Ward

Just days before Christmas, a violent home invasion in a quiet, suburban Ancaster, Ontario neighborhood shattered a family and left a community in shock. Carman Ward, a 60-year-old father, was a man with a black belt in jiu-jitsu who, by all accounts, fought fiercely to protect his two sons on that cold December night. Known to some as "Bud," he lived in a home on Miller Drive with his sons, Joshua and Brandon. His life was brought to a tragic and abrupt end in the place he should have been safest.

On the night of December 21, 2015, the peace was broken at approximately 10:45 p.m. when two frantic 911 calls were made from the Ward residence. At least two masked intruders, dressed in dark clothing, had forced their way into the home. A violent confrontation erupted. During the struggle, Carman Ward was fatally shot. His 22-year-old son, Brandon, was also injured, suffering cuts to his head from a bladed weapon. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment and was later released. The other son was present but was not physically harmed.

The Hamilton Police Service responded to the calls and found Carman Ward without vital signs. Officers were unable to resuscitate him. From the outset, investigators stated they believed the brutal home invasion was not a random act of violence, but a targeted attack. The motive, however, has remained a troubling question for both law enforcement and the community. Police have explored various possibilities, including theories related to drugs found on the property or recent casino winnings Carman had reportedly enjoyed, but nothing has been definitively confirmed as the reason for the deadly assault.

The investigation, led by the Hamilton Police Service Major Crime Unit, has pursued several leads over the years. The suspects were described as two men with slim builds, both wearing dark, uniform-like clothing and gloves. One was estimated to be around six feet tall, while the other was shorter, at about five-foot-six. A crucial detail emerged from the physical struggle that took place inside the home: police believe one of the assailants may have sustained a facial injury during the fight with Carman Ward. Investigators also appealed to the public for information about a light silver or grey extended-cab pickup truck seen on security footage, believing it may have been connected to a possible third accomplice acting as a getaway driver.

In the years since the murder, the case has grown cold, but it has never been closed. Detectives have continued to seek the one piece of information that could break the case open. They have urged anyone in the Miller Drive area at the time who might have video surveillance or who may have seen anything unusual to come forward, no matter how insignificant it might have seemed. The fear that may have kept witnesses silent in 2015 may have faded with time, and police hope that someone’s conscience will lead them to speak up.

As of February 2026, the murder of Carman Ward remains an active, unsolved homicide on the Hamilton Police Service's list of cold cases. His family continues to wait for answers and for justice to be served. The question of why he was targeted and who was responsible for his death still haunts his loved ones and the Ancaster community. Investigators are asking anyone with information about the incident or the individuals involved to contact Detective Catherine Lockley of the Major Crime Unit at 905-546-3825 or to provide an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.