A close friend of a murdered Toronto doctor says that her neighbour discussed divorcing her husband – now charged with her murder – in the weeks before her death.

The body of Dr. Elan Fric-Shamji was found near Nashville Road and Stevenson Avenue in Kleinburg last Thursday afternoon. Her neurosurgeon husband, Mohammed Shamji, was arrested the following day and charged with first-degree murder in connection with her death.

“She told me that she did (want a divorce), in a very brief conversation we had,” Dr. Allyson Koffman told CTV News Toronto on Friday.

The conversation took place a couple of weeks ago, according to Koffman. She said she also asked Fric-Shamji if she was safe at the time.

“I only said that because I’m a physician,” Koffman said. “And she said, ‘Yeah, he’s not that stupid.’”

Police have said that they believe Fric-Shamji was killed at her home in the Bathurst Street and Sheppard Avenue area sometime between the evening of Nov. 30 and the morning of Dec. 1. The cause of death was strangulation and blunt-force trauma to the head.

On Friday, a Toronto police dive team spent the day searching part of the Humber River near where Fric-Shamji’s body was found.

Police said they were searching the area in the hopes of finding property that may have belonged to the vicitm.

"This was a dump location where the suitcase was left,” Det. Steve Ryan told CP24 on Friday.

“We want to make sure that there was no other evidence left behind.”

He said investigators were looking for Fric-Shamji’s Coach purse, a set of car keys, and an iPhone.

In a statement issued Friday morning, the victim’s family expressed their “deepest gratitude” for the support they have received so far.

“We deeply appreciate the support that Elana's children and we as a family have received – it has been a kindness for which we are very thankful,” the statement reads.

“We would also like to express thanks to the many friends, neighbours and colleagues who have shared their memories of Elana as a wonderful person, mother, and physician. We miss her greatly and these memories mean a great deal to all of us today and every day.”

Friends and family who spoke to investigators on Monday said Fric-Shamji was in an abusive relationship with her husband, a source close to the investigation previously told CTV News Toronto.