- angiEmedia - https://angiemedia.com -

Canadian Wife Assaults Husband Who Later Dies

adam_cunningham_1 [1]

adam_cunningham_2 [2]

adam_cunningham_3 [3]

adam_cunningham_4 [4]

On March 20, 2009, Ellie Cunningham viciously attacked her husband Adam with a broken wine glass, repeatedly slashing him and leaving him with multiple severe cuts on his arms and legs and a broken ankle. When police arrived and found him on the steps outside of their home in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, it was clear Ellie had badly assaulted him.

Ellie was arrested by police and a domestic violence (DV) investigation ensued. A restraining order was issued on the wife, and Adam moved in with his mother to recover from the assault. He had extensive stitches to hold together his slashed skin and surgery to repair his broken ankle. Unfortunately, he was found dead on his mother’s sofa three weeks later. An autopsy indicated the cause of death to be complications from the surgery to fix the damage from the DV assault.

During the time between the assault and his death, Adam was interviewed by police and wrote about his experiences during the nearly four years of marriage to Ellie. He recounted how Ellie would have outbursts and become verbally abusive.

Video news coverage of Adam’s death, including photos of his injuries and an interview with his sister Nikki, can be found at:

Global BC TV News Coverage of Death of Adam Cunningham [5]

Oddly, his wife published this obituary claiming that she’ll miss him:

(excerpted from newspaper obituary [6])
ADAM CUNNINGHAM

CUNNINGHAM Adam It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden death of Adam. He was the sweetest soul and a loving husband. He was born on January 15, 1971 in Surrey, BC and was picked as God’s favourite flower on April 8th, 2009 in White Rock. A celebration of life honoring him will take place at No. 97, 19551 66th Ave. Surrey, BC on Friday, April 24th, 2009 at 5:30pm. He will be missed terribly by his wife Ellie Cunningham.

Published in the Vancouver Sun and/or The Province on 4/19/2009

Apparently even violent abusers like Ellie Cunningham miss their victims. Should we feel sorry for her? Apparently so, given the possible dropping of all charges against her now that her husband is dead. Ellie Cunningham is due to appear in court next on May 15, 2009. The government is considering dropping the charges against her because the only witness, her husband, is now dead.

What messages are sent by failing to prosecute a violent woman for domestic assault that lead to death?

Severe domestic violence shouldn’t be excused like this, no matter the genders of the perpetrators and victims. Men and children are at risk from violent abusive women, just as women and children are at risk from violent abusive men. Numerous well-designed and well-funded studies have confirmed that women are involved as violent perpetrators in the vast majority of romantic partner relationships suffering from domestic violence. Although in about half of violent relationships both partners are committing violence on each other, more than 70% of one-sided violence against a partner is committed by women. Yet Western societies excuse and thereby encourage violent women assaulting and even killing men.

Canada should prosecute Ellie Cunningham for DV assault. If she’s mentally ill and this caused her violent behavior, then at least institutionalize her until she is no longer a danger to others. But don’t just excuse her and let her walk free.

Special Offers on Life Extension supplements:
Super Sale Extended! Get $15 off $150 | $60 off $425 + free shipping on all Life Extension supplements (until February 5, 2024) [7]

Save 20% on Life Extension’s Top Rated Two- Per- Day Multivitamins with AutoShip & Save! (until February 5, 2024) [8]

Further Reading

Adam Cunningham is Dead, Ellie Cunningham Walks [9]

He’s Dead, She Walks – DV’s Double Standard [10]

Cunningham Family’s Obituary for Adam [11]

Please flood Attorney General Wally Oppal’s office with calls and emails and demand prosecution. [12]

Family Violence in America: The Truth about Domestic Violence and Child Abuse [13]

Filing for DV TRO Against Abusive Spouse [14]

Erin Pizzey, Domestic Violence Pioneer [15]

Domestic Violence – Are You Being Abused? [16]

Female Violence Against Males [17]

Women commit more than 70% of single-partner DV [18]

The Family Terrorist [19]

29 Comments (Open | Close)

29 Comments To "Canadian Wife Assaults Husband Who Later Dies"

#1 Comment By nikki On May 3, 2009 @ 1:13 pm

I am not sure who posted this, but I want to thank you. I am Nikki, Adam’s sister, and I am amazed by the outpouring of support regarding my brother’s untimely death. I only hope that justice will be served in this case.

#2 Pingback By Women Get Off Easy for DV Crimes Due to Sexism | angiEmedia On May 3, 2009 @ 3:53 pm

[…] the March 2009 case of Surrey, British Columbia wife Ellie Cunningham whose violent assault against her husband Adam led to his death. Canadian authorities are likely to […]

#3 Comment By Aimee On May 4, 2009 @ 4:19 pm

These is hospital records of her being injured in the fight, and he attacked her. Unfortunate what happened to him, It was an altercation, a fight that happens in many families.
He died of unrelated medical condition. Facts would be clearly stated. This is North America. Facts are the only important matters. Before you make gossip unfounded comments, make sure you know what the details were.

#4 Comment By Bumblebee72 On May 4, 2009 @ 6:06 pm

[20]

Can you share more details? Do you have the hospital records? How about photos of her injuries? How about posting them for the rest of us to view?

Just because she was injured in their altercation doesn’t mean she was innocent. The news reports imply he was far more severely injured as they don’t mention any injuries to her.

#5 Comment By Tika On May 4, 2009 @ 9:16 pm

Let’s not forget there are in fact two sides to every story! It would have been nice if all the facts were presented at one time and not only hear what the one side has to say. I am sure there is alot more to this story than what we have heard so far.

#6 Comment By J Morgan On May 9, 2009 @ 6:37 pm

That funny thing is that no one, not even the judge will ask for proof if this story was the other way around. If a woman so much as says that a man looked at her funny, she can cry in front of a judge and get a restraining order. It is not difficult. If it were a woman who was killed, the media would be all over this. This type of stuff makes me sick..Anyone who thinks otherwise needs their head checked..

#7 Comment By Lisa On May 10, 2009 @ 9:15 pm

I used to work for Ellie..trust me she is a psychopath along with other who have quit on her because of her anger issues.

#8 Comment By anne On May 15, 2009 @ 2:54 pm

i would just like to say, i have seen her couple times verbally abusing her husband. she would be really rude. I don’t know them personally but Adam seemed like the good guy. It felt she had no respect for him.

#9 Pingback By Abducted Ashley Gonis Still Can’t See Her Father | angiEmedia On May 20, 2009 @ 4:26 am

[…] heels of another recent domestic dispute being mishandled by B.C. law enforcement and courts, the death of Surrey, B.C. resident Adam Cunningham after his assault at the hands of his wife Ellie Cunn…. British Columbia residents should be wondering whether their government has any real interest in […]

#10 Pingback By Canada – AngieMedia BLOG – Abducted Ashley Gonis Still Can’t See Her Father « Equal Parenting @ Ration Shed On May 20, 2009 @ 7:18 am

[…] heels of another recent domestic dispute being mishandled by B.C. law enforcement and courts, the death of Surrey, B.C. resident Adam Cunningham after his assault at the hands of his wife Ellie Cunn…. British Columbia residents should be wondering whether their government has any real interest in […]

#11 Comment By Curious On May 26, 2009 @ 10:10 pm

I wonder how this gentlemen did not know this woman had this mentallity prior to marrying her…. why would anyone associate with individuals portraying any kind of “sensless” behaviour, immaturity, profanity, irresponsability, physical, verbal and/or mental abuse… like hello, why do you think some of us never married?

No I am not gay…. just extremely selective about who I associate with, as we all should… wake up

#12 Comment By Bumblebee72 On May 26, 2009 @ 11:06 pm

Maybe she has BPD or something like it. People with problems like that are really good at hiding them. They can be all charming and wonderful until they get your hooks into you, then they show their true colors later.

Here are a couple of articles that mention how Borderline women can “trap” men into relationships with them and then become very destructive later.

[21]

[22]

#13 Comment By Trevor On May 31, 2009 @ 12:27 am

I had so little details before now, but let me tell you what I know.

I know Nikki, though we haven’t talked in years, and I know some of Adam’s closest friends.

Over the years, I worked with Adam on more than one occassion.

I’m pretty sure I knew Adam.

I think I knew him well.

He was not a person to initiate ANY kind of violence. Adam always had a smile, was very intelligent, and diffused situations using humor and wit.

No, I was not there, but seeing his injuries, I can guarantee you that if his wife were at all injured, it was Adam trying to defend himself.

Adam was a big man, not incredibly tall, but big, and pretty freakin’ strong.

Even if there was a side of Adam that I didn’t know, (which I highly doubt)…if he were the aggressor, he could have easily over powered her under any circumstance, which is clearly not the case.

His wife’s assault clearly caused his death.

Read the story and interchange the names, Adam and Ellie.

Would Adam not have already been in custody facing charges?

#14 Pingback By Abusive Women “Acceptable” By Double Standards | angiEmedia On October 27, 2009 @ 12:45 am

[…] they are held accountable for their crimes such as those in the domestic violence attack against Canadian husband Adam Cunningham by his wife Ellie Cunningham which… from complications of the assault. See the pictures to the left of some of Adam’s injuries […]

#15 Comment By ~P On November 16, 2009 @ 3:06 pm

Does anybody know if Ellie went to jail afterall?

#16 Pingback By CCFC Family Law Protest in San Diego Results in Arrest of Group Leader | angiEmedia On April 16, 2010 @ 4:31 am

[…] other sharp objects are popular choices for women to attack their partners. See the story of the DV attack by wife Ellie Cunningham on husband Adam for photos of such injuries caused by a wife to a man who was trying to defend himself from her […]

#17 Comment By Tobias On May 21, 2010 @ 11:27 am

Only in Canada do murderers walk free. Amazing that this mentally charged woman can initiate an altercation, assault Adam and subsequently cause his death then walk away with no guilt or even a slap on the wrist. Amazing. Ellie Cunningham is a murderer plain and simple.

#18 Comment By false On April 30, 2011 @ 3:55 pm

False, Tobias. In any western, feminized society, murderers walk free (as long as they are women).

#19 Comment By Sasha On April 30, 2011 @ 9:57 pm

[23]
Finally someone is speaking up against the fraud of feminism–WOMEN! [24]

#20 Comment By Bill Jures (Paul) On August 2, 2011 @ 2:22 pm

I hope you get this Nikki I was friends with your parents back in the 60 I came out to see you in early 70. Can you tell your mother that I have been in touch. Please

#21 Comment By Marie On August 6, 2011 @ 4:08 pm

OMG-8207-4026 Pritchard Drive N West Kelowna BC is the current (summer 2011) address of this viscous woman who nastily verbally attacked an elderly neighbor in July who also lives at Barona Beach –a killer never changes it’s spots..

#22 Comment By Marie On August 6, 2011 @ 6:51 pm

[23]
Hi Nikki, I think your sis-in-law lives in west kelowna at barona beach condo–is she hiding out? we just read the story about your poor brother’s plight at the hands of his wife–we think she’s our mean nasty fat neighbour–she has a little dog multi-color and golden cat–? we don’t know what became of the charges?

#23 Comment By Nikki On September 5, 2011 @ 5:03 pm

[25]
Hi Paul, we would love to get in touch with you. Please reply when you have the chance.

#24 Comment By Nikki On September 5, 2011 @ 5:10 pm

[26]
Yes Marie, I believe that your mean nasty fat neighbor is in fact my brother’s wife. She is truly a nasty piece of work and got away with murder. I would recommend that anyone who has a conflict with her should contact the police immediately before she physically attacts them. Please feel free to contact me if you would like more information.

#25 Comment By Marie On September 8, 2011 @ 6:53 pm

Yes, it’s her, she’s scary looking & sounding, especially when she talks weird Farsi, flat bland sounding nasty language; I spoke to the poor lady in White Rock who was ripped off by that B….–hope she gets her $ back; the Surrey Crown emailed me & says charges were stayed, but the case can be re-opened at any time in your brother’s death; I’m awaiting word from the BC Coroner’s office to find out why this travesty of justice happened! I’m disgusted & have been on some blogs regards murderers such as her to get some awareness out there–I encourage you, you family & friends to do some web crawling and blogging to get people on your side for re-opening this case…Every time I see that B…., my skin crawls. I spoke to your Mom Billie & I pass along my sorrow to you & her again–I’m so happy you got my message on this site…bfn

#26 Comment By Ellie Cunningham On September 13, 2011 @ 9:14 pm

Running or Hiding from what Mr. Michael? From the Law or people like you?!! You need to get your facts right. [27]

And for you Marie ….Lay off the drugs,EveryONE knows you.

#27 Comment By cdub On October 19, 2011 @ 3:44 am

Nikki,

I think you will be glad to know that good folks like Paul Elam over at A voice for Men and Register Her.com have your brother’s killer listed on their website. Your brother will not be forgotten, and the public will not forget what she did to him. If the courts refuse to punish her, then we will use a public smear campaign to make sure she will never live down what she did to your brother.

Ellie, you are not forgotten, just saw you posted on here. You’re on a website with other killers, they will find you anytime they google your name.

God speed.

#28 Comment By Nikki On November 14, 2011 @ 1:35 am

Thank you

#29 Comment By Marie On November 18, 2011 @ 2:43 pm

What’s behind Ellie Cunninham’s violent behavior? the following history is purely opinionated and represents what the author truly thinks is the truth and some is just plain gossip picked up from the unfortunate people who are sorry to admit that a viscous violent arab immigrant has touched their lives and somewhat destroyed their lives by her completely unacceptable, selfish and irrationally crazy-making behavior!

ACCUSED MURDERING KILLER FROM IRAN-HIDING IN BC – ELLIE CUNNINGHAM aka ELLIE IMINI aka ELLIE AMINI aka ELHAM CUNNINGHAM aka ELHAN CUNNINGHAM aka ELHAM AMINI aka ELHAN AMINI aka ELHAN INIMI aka ELHAM IMINI is hiding out at barona beach resort, 4026 pritchard drive #8207 west kelowna bc canada v4t3e4–more aka’s than ellie’s nice neighbor she’s trying to smear! (it does seem like criminals have a heck of a lot aka’s!!)

1. got to canada on “her back”–iran -> india with unknown man; california -> white rock bc canada with a married american man she stole away from his wife and kids so she could get into our country on his $; white rock (surrey BC) -> West Kelowna BC. (Kelowna suffers historically as a city many criminals, dead-beat dads, transients, migrants, unemployed, homeless, etc hide out in due to mild weather & good welfare/food bank, salvation army, mission help.

2. visa running out so she offers canadian men $5,000.00 to marry her so she can stay in canada. she gets rid of the american by her extreme violent behavior, verbal abuse so bad, the american spent many, many hours and nights at the man across the hallway who continually rescued the poor american from ellie’s viciousness. she finally ran him out of the country with her high pitched screaming nasty voice, no sex and constant nasty attitude towards him. the whole apartment building complained about her nightly screaming matches! the american dropped a bundle buying a business in white rock and borrowed a lot of money–for what–for ellie to kick him out and keep the spoils!

3. immediately within weeks of offering $5,000.00 to marry a canadian to get her citizenship, a nice local man, john adam cunningham stepped up to help out and married her; however, he didn’t have enough $ for her; she soon began her violent abusive screaming again, fueled by lots and lots of booze as the american fueled their fights and constant partying as she spent adam’s $. the neighbors in the condo adam bought constantly complained about her loud abusive screaming which could be heard through the whole building just about every night!

4. big fight, ellie slashed adam to pieces, he trips over stool trying to avoid the broken wine bottle, breaks his ankle, has an operation on it and died! wow, she finally got rid of him! happy now and back in party mode, she refuses to pay her bills, is now in bankruptcy, foreclosure & small claims provincial court still trying to get out of paying people back who lent her money to buy a home, a car, etc. all the creditors left high and dry–she’s now wiped out the american’s bank account & never reimbursed him for all the thousands of $ he spent on her, owes $8,000.00 to an 81 year old white rock lady who lent her money trying to help her out with work & refuses to pay up (not surprising to hear ellie rips off old canadian retired lonely single woman is it?), left the Royal bank high and dry, didn’t pay income tax on her condo rental income (the federal government revenue canada is now investigating her taxation fraud) and left many companies who extended $ help with a bankruptcy case–god know these people are sorry they gave her credit!

5. now hiding out in kelowna, she rents a new luxury $1000 small lake shore Barona Beach condo on okanagan lake in the “rich” side of town, driving a mercedes convertible, now a jeep (like poor dead adam used to drive). she’s moved many people into her little condo this year, many residents at the complex think she’s recruiting for bombing and other terrorist things because they speak in the flat farsi language, quietly like they are hiding something and being secretive. this is so not like her usual loud and obnoxious screeching voice–20 condo units in her building and everyone complains about her loud sex-exploits on the patio or with the door wide open, etc. and her loud drinking parties with the tv blasting ruining all the neighbors serenity. many in the know are ticked off with her ‘dissing’ some of our residents at barona beach. her aunt from iran is not allowed into canada, and some other relatives are also not allowed into our country. she sneaked into canada in the “back door” way by paying to marry a canadian, she even promised the man he wouldn’t have to sleep with her, live with her or even share a bed and bedroom with her–take the $5,000.00 with no strings attached was what she told everyone she wanted so she could sneak into canada. since being here, she has caused trouble trouble trouble for many many many people!

6. we already read on the internet about the migrant homeless bum she is now keeping–johnny boy treats her like sh.. telling her she’s too fat and must exercise, forces her to watch all sports on tv, eats her food, drives around in her jeep, sleeps all day, makes fun of her when he chats up his friends on the phone…ha ha ha–she seems to be getting some of her own abuse back–a man taking advantage of her instead of the other way around and a man being mean to her! ha ha ha–people get what they deserve-karma lives! maybe she’s jealous of the real nice people living at the complex, the married ones!! ha ha ha well. she’s nothing like any of them and day by day, as more of the 150 luxury condo owners hear about her, the more the pressure is for her to move on – under the bridge would suit her with all the homeless who suck everyone around them into giving away their money and food to them! possible the new gigolo from ontario will move her to essex, or windsor, ontario where she may have a relative herself in toronto? there’s way more $ in ontario–very little $ in kelowna–go girl–go to where the $ is..

7. time to move on girl – big population in ontario, maybe people there don’t read “www.register-her.com, or angiemedia.com or parentalalienationcanada.blogspot.com” and many other web sites who list murders and husband killers and abusers who don’t ever go to court, and ellie can blend into the woodwork…if she keeps the big mouth shut and gets into programs to brain wash her not to be violent all the time–maybe arabs are like this in iran, we are not, we train canadians to be nice…get yourself into some angermanagement programs or wait until the government re-opens adam’s death and beating and slashing cases and get the government to pay for this counseling; then your can get kicked out of our country, get back to iran where you come from and wow, maybe teak nasty arabs how to be nice like canadians are!! bulliness and all those other things Michael wrote about regards the nature of some murderers and all abusers are not acceptable in canada any longer–go home and leave us canadians alone–you’ve done a real bad job so far trying to sneak into canada and now there are many many people who want to see the back side of you! there is a lot of pressure on the federal government attorney general to reopen adam’s cases because he and his family and friends got a real bad deal from ellie! and everyone involved still want justice. one day the attorney general is going to say, enough pressure from canadians, let’s get these cases into court!!

8. YOU HAVE BEEN LOCKED UP IN JAIL IN CANADA AND CHARGED WITH SEVERAL SERIOUS CRIMINAL VIOLENT CHARGES AND HAVE EVEN HAD A COURT ORDER AGAINST YOU PREVENTING YOU TO HAVE ANY CONTACT WITH ADAM–in canada, it’s always the women who put restraining orders on their abusive men–RARELY AND HARDLY EVER, does a woman get a court order slapped on her–most women in canada are nice and don’t beat up or kill their husbands–obviously the RCMP don’t like you either girl! you may think you got away with murder and viciously beating up a man, but this is not ended for adam Cunningham…soon soon you’ll get yours back but good.

9. pressure on her landlady that ‘evil is present’ and this may help ellie to leave 604-538-4958 Wendy Whiting 2267 Christopherson Rd Surrey v4a3l2 [28].

10. pressure on the canadian government attorney general to find justice for adam and re-open his cases may help ellie leave: “The link below will take you to an email submission form for the AG’s office. Ask them to take action. Or call AG Oppal at 250 387-1866 and express your opinion. [29]

11. email or write letter to the offender herself!

12. Call the RCMP’s National Security Tip Line at 1-800-420-5805 to report information on terrorism, criminal extremism or suspicious activities that could pose a threat to public safety and security. For more information, see the RCMP’s webpage on Terrorism.