Pastor Charged With Murder of Filipina Wife

The once happy couple, Ana Karissa and husband Philip Grandino, pose at their residence in Canada.

TORONTO, Canada – A young Baptist pastor, Philip Grandine, 25, was arrested and charged by police on May 1, 2012 with the murder of his pregnant Filipina wife who died of drowning in their bathtub last year.

A well-known pastor  at Ennerdale Road Baptist Church, Philip is facing a  first-degree murder charge in connection with the death of his wife, Anna Karissa, 30. She died on Oct. 17, 2011, a week after their third wedding anniversary and was five months pregnant with their first child.

Police said late on Oct. 17 a man phoned 911 at 10:50 p.m. saying his wife was in distress at  their home on Marsh Rd., in the Danforth and Birchmount roads area.

Police found Anna Karissa in the bathtub and rushed her to the hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.. Police initially listed her as a victim of drowning.

Asked why Philip was arrested and charged, police simply said the charge did not stem from any recent results of an autopsy, which had been performed in October. Det. Sgt. David Ecklund of the homicide squad said police have been investigating this case since the death of Karissa. He simply said the arrest was "a culmination of all the evidence we have gathered. There is so much involved in this case. Every little piece of the puzzle is important to our prosecution. What we're alleging is such tragic circumstances.'

The Grandines were, from most accounts, a spiritual couple and had prayed together. Previously, Philip  had served, along with his wife, as assistant pastor of Park Lawn Baptist Church from 2008-10.

Her funeral service was held at Jarvis Street Baptist Church, where she married Philip on Oct. 11, 2008. She was described in her obituary asa "good and faithful servant of God, and was active in several Baptist churches." One mutual friend wrote in a blog before the wedding that "I've known Philip for several years as well, and have seen him grow a lot with Karissa's loving influence. They have been good for each other, Philip has helped Karissa to reach out and share her life with others, while Karissa has helped to soften Philip."

When she died, Karissa was described by one person who posted a message of condolence as "a beautiful person who appeared to touch and put a smile on each and every person's face who experienced her grace, love and sincerity."

She moved to Toronto from the Philippines in 1994, and graduated from the University of Toronto in 2006 with an honors bachelor of science in human biology and archeology. She worked for Berkley Canada as a casualty underwriter.

Philip graduated as an Ontario scholar from Paris District High School in 2004, in Paris, Ont., a small community southwest of Brantford. He later studied at the Toronto Baptist Seminary and Bible College.

Ecklund said the suspect is well known in the church community and police are appealing for those who have more information to contact the homicide squad at 416-808-7400.

The cause of death hasn't changed and it is still ruled a drowning. It is now listed as Toronto's 50th homicide of 2011.