Feb 03, 2008 - 08:19 AM

By Ian Caldwell

OSHAWA -- She was 22-years-old --  the mother of a young baby -- and found murdered in her own home, shot once in the back of the head.  

Her name was Beverly Lynn Smith. The murder occurred in Raglan, north of Oshawa, on December 9, 1974 and it's still unsolved.

A neighbour went to check on Mrs. Smith when her husband who was at work couldn't reach her and the 22-year-old was found on the floor of a kitchen-dining room.

Investigators in 1974 told news media that she died from a single shot to the head from a .22 calibre gun but no weapon was found at the scene.  

They also said there was no indication that the shot came from outside the house, nothing appeared to be missing, the house had not been ransacked and that Mrs. Smith was fully clothed and had not been sexually assaulted.  

In other words, there was no apparent motive.

Investigators also said at the time that Mrs. Smith had visitors before she was murdered but they had been contacted and there was nothing to link them to the murder.

Mrs. Smith's daughter, identified as Rebecca in news reports, was 10-months old and found asleep in a crib.

She's now 34-years-old and Durham Regional Police say that Monday she will take part in an appeal for help solving the murder case.

Mrs. Smith's identical twin sister will also take part.

The murder was the first homicide investigation for the fledgling Durham Regional Police force which was created in January 1974.

It's not the first time that investigators have tried to rekindle the investigation.  The murder was highlighted in 2005 in a TV show about unsolved murders.

At the time, investigators were hoping that the emerging field of forensic science would give them a lead.

"With advances in technology, the case has new direction and we have submitted exhibits from the homicide scene to The Centre of Forensic Sciences for analysis," a news release said on August 17, 2005.

Two homicide detectives were assigned to the case.

"The Detectives will be contacting witnesses and other people identified from prior investigations for further interviews. These persons will be asked to submit a voluntary sample of their DNA for comparison purposes."

Fast forward to June 2007:  "Investigators are confident that science will help to solve this case."

The statement was made as the case was highlighted on the Durham Regional Police web site as an unsolved murder.

"Beverly Smith was a young beautiful 22-year-old woman who was murdered in the prime of her life," the case summary posted on June 5, 2007 said.

"She was married for only four years and was the mother to a 10-month old daughter at the time of her death. She quit her job to stay at home and raise her daughter. "

"It is more than possible that there are people out there who have knowledge of this crime and police are asking them to come forward," it said.

"This investigation will commence as if it happened yesterday."

That was eight months ago.  A police spokesperson would not comment on what Investigators will be sharing on Monday.

A news release indicates there will be an appeal for "information and witnesses" so the question remains:  Who killed Beverly Smith?

Look for updates on newsdurhamregion.com, and full coverage in Oshawa This Week on Wednesday.