CANADA April Dobson, 40, Barrie, Ontario, 14 October 2005

[dotr]

https://www.simcoe.com/news-story/7549137-cold-case-who-would-want-barrie-s-april-dobson-dead-/
Sep 17, 2017 by Rick Vanderlinde

The circumstances surrounding the 40-year-old mother’s violent death still have police wondering why anyone would want her dead.

With no motive and no physical evidence connecting a killer to the scene, detectives hope someone will come forward with a crucial missing piece of information that will lead them to a probable suspect.
April Dobson’s evening started like any other Oct. 14, 2005. As usual, she went to work as a delivery driver for Swiss Chalet on Molson Park Drive near Highway 400. Sometime during the evening, a co-worker told her she was having trouble with her car so April offered to stop by her home and take a look when she finished her shift.

“It was the first time April had ever been to the residence,” Const. Sarah Bamford said. “It was April’s kindness that drew her to that location.”

But it was a kindness she ended up paying for with her life.

Dobson pulled up to her co-worker’s house at 300 Browning Trail in Barrie’s Letitia Heights at about 11 p.m. that night. By 11:30 p.m., she her friend’s car running.

With the work behind them, Dobson’s friend offered some turkey leftovers as a midnight snack. It was a mild October evening, so the women, which now included a second friend, enjoyed a meal and a glass of wine on the front porch.

Dobson sat with her back to the street as the three women chatted.

“Suddenly a single gunshot rang out and April collapsed to the ground,” Bamford said. "They tried to save her, but she died of a single gunshot to the head.”

Moments later, a witness noticed a young man running east along the Browning Trail. He jumped on a mountain bike and darted down a nearby catwalk, which led south to Bronte Crescent.

Police believe the suspect was familiar with the neighbourhood and must have known how to get around in the dark. He may even have lived nearby.

Witnesses described him as a white male between 16 and 20. He was clean cut. He had a lanky build and was wearing beige, sandy-coloured cargo pants and a light-coloured, long-sleeve sweatshirt. The mountain bike had wide tires, straight handlebars and no accessories.

 

[dotr]

April 18, 2018
https://barrie.ctvnews.ca/barrie-police-opp-to-announce-resolution-to-unsolved-case-1.3888749

Barrie police and the OPP will announce a resolution to one of their unsolved cases tomorrow.

Both agencies will hold a joint news conference on Wednesday where they will offer an update to one of the four “Simcoe County Case Files” they launched last year.

The social media campaign focused on the unsolved murders of Cindy Halliday and April Dobson, as well as the disappearances of Grant Ayerst and Norman Whalley.

The news conference will take place at 11 a.m. at Barrie police headquarters

The OPP and Barrie police launched "Simcoe County Case Files" on May 31, 2017 in Barrie, Ont. in the hopes of solving cold cases. (Simcoe County Case Files/ Facebook)

 

[dotr]

April 22 2019
Barrie police seek new tips in April Dobson murder case
"Witnesses described seeing a teenager running from the area just moments after the shooting. Police say the teen stopped at a nearby house, grabbed a mountain bike and rode down a dark catwalk and disappeared.

Over the years, he has remained as a person of interest for police. Investigators have not specified if he is a suspect or witness, and have yet to find him."

"Barrie Police are offering a $50,000 reward to help solve the mystery surrounding Dobson’s death"
"Investigators say they will be reconnecting with witnesses in the coming weeks."

"Barrie Police Chief Kimberley Greenwood says they believe someone holds the key to unlocking the case and giving Dobson’s family closure. “Our Service has never viewed this investigation as a ‘Cold Case,’ and through the reconnection with key witnesses, I am confident that our homicide unit will one day soon provide the Dobson family the resolution they have been seeking since the murder of their cherished mother, daughter and friend to many.”

Investigators say they believe the person responsible for Dobson’s murder was familiar with the area and likely frequented it. They have said over the years they don’t believe the shooting was a random act.

"Police are appealing to the public for help and say no tip is too small or insignificant and can also be made anonymously through Crime Stoppers."

 

[LadyL]

really strange

 

[PastTense]

Barrie homicide detectives are retracing their steps in the 2005 unsolved murder of April Dobson by re-interviewing as many original witnesses as they can find. Lead investigator, Det.-Const. Troy Higgins told simcoe.com it’s the first time witnesses will be interviewed again in the perplexing case. “There have been some additional interviews over the years after the case went cold but there has never been anything done with the people we interviewed all those years ago,” he said. “We want to see if there is anything they are more comfortable telling us now or if they have thought of something new.”

ONTARIO COLD CASE: Good deed for co-worker ends in murder

 

[dotr]

ONTARIO COLD CASE: Good deed for co-worker ends in murder

Did they ever investigate what was wrong with the car in the first place? Is it possible that the perp sabotaged it in the first place? imo, speculation.
rbbm.
“Suddenly a single gunshot rang out and April collapsed to the ground,” Bamford said. "They tried to save her, but she died of a single gunshot to the head.”

Moments later, a witness noticed a young man running east along the Browning Trail. He jumped on a mountain bike and darted down a nearby catwalk, which led south to Bronte Crescent.

Police believe the suspect was familiar with the neighbourhood and must have known how to get around in the dark. He may even have lived nearby.

Witnesses described him as a white male between 16 and 18. He was clean cut. He had a lanky build and was wearing beige, sandy-coloured cargo pants and a light-coloured, long-sleeve sweatshirt. The mountain bike had wide tires, straight handlebars and no accessories".