Mar 19, 2008 - 04:31 AM
By Jeff Mitchell and Jennifer Stone
WHITBY -- A
view of an historic homicide from a fresh perspective resulted in the
break police have been seeking since Beverly Smith was found murdered
in her north Oshawa home almost 34 years ago.
Ten Durham
detectives backed up by other officers have worked intensively on the
cold case since May. They revisited every aspect of the file and sought
new leads in an attempt to solve a killing that has long puzzled
observers and left a grieving family searching for answers, said
homicide Detective Leon Lynch Tuesday, shortly after the announcement
of a suspect’s arrest.
“We went back to square one -- we started right from scratch and re-interviewed everybody,” Det. Lynch said.
“We uncovered people we’d never spoken to before and that was helpful.”
Det.
Lynch wouldn’t say exactly what break led police to the suspect or when
he became a person of interest. But he said the case was solved as a
result of revisiting historical information rather than new tips coming
in after police issued an appeal for tips earlier this year.
Police
haven’t hinted at a motive or the exact circumstances in which the
killing occurred, but have indicated through the charge laid --
second-degree murder -- that they believe the killing was not
premeditated.
An elated Det. Lynch, whose recent cases have
included the arrest and conviction of several bikers in the killing of
a Keswick man and the arrest of a suspect of a trucker found dead in
his rig in Pickering, said the arrest in the Smith case is an
enormously satisfying development.
“I think today is up there with any case I’ve been involved with,” he said.
“We’re
happy; we’re excited for the family, that we could get them some
answers. We didn’t promise anything to the family,” Det. Lynch said.
“We just said we’d do our best.”
For Durham Regional Police spokesman Dave Selby, the publicity about the case in early February was a boost.
“The
media push certainly helped with tips. A number of tips came in,” said
Mr. Selby, who would not say if officers had a suspect in mind when
they held the news conference.
Recommend :
Latest News
Beaverton McDonald's manager charged with theftA manager at a Beaverton restaurant has been charged after allegedly pocketing over $6,000 from cash deposits.Durham Regional Police say a shift schedule manager at the ...
Police looking for trio who abducted Pickering womanPICKERING -- Durham police are investigating a report that a Pickering woman was abducted at gunpoint from her driveway late Wednesday evening and later released in Toronto....
Lineups at gas pumps with price spike expectedDURHAM -- Long lines have formed at gas pumps with prices expected to jump more than 12 cents a litre at midnight. Gas
price watchdog, Pickering-Scarborough East ...
Worst fears have come true since skatepark opened: neighboursCOURTICE -- Neighbours of the newly opened Courtice skatepark say their worst fears have been realized. And an attempt to solve the problems may have implications for park ...
Spike in small dog thefts throughout regionDURHAM -- Paige Howsam thought she was doing the right thing when she left her seven-year-old dog Bailey in her car with the air-conditioning running and the windows slightly ...
Drowning in Lake Ontario prompts questionsOSHAWA -- A tragic drowning off the shores of Lakeview Park on Labour Day weekend is prompting some residents to ask how much life guarding is enough. On Saturday, Aug. 30, at...
Police find plants, dried pot in CourticeCOURTICE -- A couple are facing charges after police seized marijuana plants and dried pot at a Courtice residence. Durham cops executing a search warrant at a Sandringham ...
Regional committee wants written guarantee on hospital servicesDURHAM -- Durham's finance committee supported playing hardball with the Ajax-Pickering hospital by recommending the Region withhold $2.3 million earmarked for emergency ...
American guilty of threatening FlahertyLOUISIANA -- A federal jury has found a Shreveport stockbroker guilty of threatening Whitby-Oshawa MP Jim Flaherty. Lloyd D. Tiller Jr., 59, returned to court Thursday morning...
Amid the patriotism, signs of fatigueWHITBY -- They gathered on a grimy highway overpass in the afternoon sun, proud Canadians all, awaiting the hearse carrying the remains of the latest soldier to die in ...