CANADA Canada - Sonia Varaschin, 42, Orangeville, 29 Aug 2010 - #3

[Gina20]

Can anyone local to the Orangeville area tell me if the Caledon Tract is a place where bereaved families spread their loved ones' ashes? TYIA.

 

[Deleted member 102539]

Can anyone local to the Orangeville area tell me if the Caledon Tract is a place where bereaved families spread their loved ones' ashes? TYIA.

Google:
Good news, you are allowed to scatter ashes on Crown land in the Ontario area that is unoccupied – including those covered by water. Even better you don't need a permit. Crown land includes provincial parks and conservation reserves, and the Great Lakes.

 

[Gina20]

Google:
Good news, you are allowed to scatter ashes on Crown land in the Ontario area that is unoccupied – including those covered by water. Even better you don't need a permit. Crown land includes provincial parks and conservation reserves, and the Great Lakes.

Thank you. Do you know if Calefon Tract is specifically a popular place for scattering ashes?

 

[Deleted member 102539]

Thank you. Do you know if Calefon Tract is specifically a popular place for scattering ashes?

I don't know about this place, but I would be interested in learning, why you have thoughts about "scattering ashes".

 

[Gina20]

I don't know about this place, but I would be interested in learning, why you have thoughts about "scattering ashes".

I am trying to think of every possible reason Sonia's killer could have had for leaving her where he did. Many other ideas have been discussed, but not this one, to my knowledge. Perhaps someone chose that place at the side of the road for a reason. Or not. Maybe it wasn't random. Maybe it wasn't just convenient, overgrown enough, untravelled enough, close to home or on a route to work. Maybe this place held some special meaning, and the killer would have a legitimate reason known to others for returning here. I guess this goes back to whether or not this was a disorganized murderer or someone who had a plan.

Somebody familiar with this location installed a culvert at Sonia's memorial, but nobody was seen. Has anyone figured out who did that? I believe road crews were working nearby, and the culvert was discovered soon after. Road workers might have a better idea than anyone of visitors to that location.

I'm giving it one last run for Sonia.

 

[Gina20]

Did anyone see this?

OPP trying to ID suspect in Erin assault

"Ontario Provincial Police are hoping to identify a male suspect who reportedly assaulted an Erin resident after being confronted at the resident’s home over the weekend."

It's almost a straight line from Erin to the Caledon Tract on Highway 24. I hope this is not a David Snow copycat.

 

[Deleted member 102539]

Did anyone see this?

OPP trying to ID suspect in Erin assault

"Ontario Provincial Police are hoping to identify a male suspect who reportedly assaulted an Erin resident after being confronted at the resident’s home over the weekend."

It's almost a straight line from Erin to the Caledon Tract on Highway 24. I hope this is not a David Snow copycat.

The suspect seems too young to be the same perp in case Sonia, IMO.

 

[Gina20]

The FBI is now involved in the unsolved murder of a B.C. realtor. Genetic genealogy is mentioned.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/brit...-police-investigating-new-leads-fbi-1.5895942

Still holding onto hope for answers in Sonia's case.

 

[Gina20]

Bloody footprints, a contaminated crime scene, information revealed in court documents after journalists started digging into the case again, more than a decade after the fatal stabbing. Now the FBI is involved. I think there is a case to be watched, now that DNA and genealogy are being used following "technical advancements".

If only someone in the media would take up Sonia's case again, and try to unseal court documents.

EXCLUSIVE: Unsealed police documents reveal previously unknown details about the death of Lindsay Buziak - Capital Daily

It should be noted that the police made the announcement about FBI involvement on the 13th anniversary of this murder, with the customary statement about allegiances changing with the passage of time.

CANADA - Canada - Lindsay Buziak, 24, Victoria, BC, 2 Feb 2008

 

[Gina20]

Just another footnote. Calgary media seem to have lost interest in the murder of Lindsay Buziak as the years have passed, even though Lindsay grew up there, and her father still Iives there, and she made a mysterious statement to her father during a visit to the city shortly before she was murdered. Her father continues to speak to the media, and once admitted that his daughter's murder has consumed him.

Sonia's mother has been keeping Sonia's memory alive, and continues to seek justice. Parents are put in a terrible position when an adult child is murdered. Families pay a toll of personal suffering in these cases.

 

[Lexiintoronto]

Bloody footprints, a contaminated crime scene, information revealed in court documents after journalists started digging into the case again, more than a decade after the fatal stabbing. Now the FBI is involved. I think there is a case to be watched, now that DNA and genealogy are being used following "technical advancements".

If only someone in the media would take up Sonia's case again, and try to unseal court documents.

EXCLUSIVE: Unsealed police documents reveal previously unknown details about the death of Lindsay Buziak - Capital Daily

It should be noted that the police made the announcement about FBI involvement on the 13th anniversary of this murder, with the customary statement about allegiances changing with the passage of time.

CANADA - Canada - Lindsay Buziak, 24, Victoria, BC, 2 Feb 2008

Maybe a law student, or a lawyer hoping to make their mark could take on the task pro bono? They could work with a journalist

Journalist Kevin Donovan of the Star successfully represents himself in court in an ongoing effort to have warrants unsealed, related to the double-homicide of Barry and Honey Sherman.

He’s unusual as he’s not a lawyer, but the judge in the case has said he could be based on his excellent work. He mentioned that he took on the task because of the costs of hiring a lawyer. Most media outlets cannot afford it, or justify the costs.

I follow a few journalists on Twitter and from their posts you can tell they’re keeping Sonia in mind. I know the Toronto Sun is a tabloid, but Joe Warmington writes about Sonia’s murder and also engages with people who comment on his Twitter feed. Every bit helps.

 

[Deleted member 102539]

Maybe a law student, or a lawyer hoping to make their mark could take on the task pro bono? They could work with a journalist

Journalist Kevin Donovan of the Star successfully represents himself in court in an ongoing effort to have warrants unsealed, related to the double-homicide of Barry and Honey Sherman.

He’s unusual as he’s not a lawyer, but the judge in the case has said he could be based on his excellent work. He mentioned that he took on the task because of the costs of hiring a lawyer. Most media outlets cannot afford it, or justify the costs.

I follow a few journalists on Twitter and from their posts you can tell they’re keeping Sonia in mind. I know the Toronto Sun is a tabloid, but Joe Warmington writes about Sonia’s murder and also engages with people who comment on his Twitter feed. Every bit helps.

I wonder, why Sonia's and Audrey's case isn't something to investigate for the investigative journalist Ann Br*ckleh*rst ......

 

[Gina20]

There is no doubt in my mind that Lindsay Buziak's father has managed to keep her murder in the public eye, through his almost Herculean efforts to grant interviews whenever requested, to appear on American TV (including Dr. Phil), through his website about her murder, plus annual marches in her memory. She even has a Wikipedia entry. Few families have this kind of energy and determination, let alone one man.

From the beginning, there were rumors of organized crime involvement, due to the company that Lindsay and her friends kept, but the circumstances of her murder seemed very personal and vengeful (overkill). Now, after 13 years, the FBI has become involved, with genetic genealogy and new DNA advancements mentioned.

Sonia's murder has been on the opposite trajectory, with FBI involvement at the outset, then fading away into anniversary articles in the news. I have often wondered if the initial FBI consultation was because of Orangeville's own House Hermit murderer David Snow -- or was there something about Sonia's murder that resembled other murders, indicating a serial murderer? Not forgetting that Russell Williams had murdered two single women in the preceding months, plus committed many dozens of B&Es, plus someone viciously attacked Shelley Loder after Sonia's murder.

Is it possible for the FBI to conduct familial DNA tests in Canadian murder cases, which would then stand up in court, when Canadian police cannot? Is this why Saanich police have involved the FBI so late in an investigation? Is it because they suspect an American connection? So many questions.

If it is possible for American police agencies to conduct familial DNA testing/genetic genealogy that would stand up in the Canadian court system, maybe other cases could be solved this way.

We know next to nothing about Sonia's murder, not even her cause of death. Why are things so different from province to province? Sonia's murder investigation seems to have stalled out. What is the path ahead?

 

[Gina20]

For the record, here's another alleged Plenty of Fish attacker. There seems to be no end of them.

Calgary police say man who died may have been serial rapist, cases go back to 1990s

This one was in his 50s. Age does not slow some people down. It seems unusual to name a deceased suspect.

 

[Gina20]

It's kind of remarkable what is going on with unsolved murders in Canada at the moment.

Once again, an unsolved murder has resulted in charges due to advancements in "forensics" and renewed determination by police to close cold cases.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calg...ed-cold-case-murder-assault-calgary-1.5905751

In this case, a 16-year-old youth is alleged to have committed the murder. His DNA was not on file at the time. I continue to wonder what role genetic genealogy plays in solving cold cases. Of course, this person could have committed another crime in the interim that led to his DNA being registered.

 

[Gina20]

Sharing this as a separate entry, because it is worth review:

CFS - Technical Information Sheets - Biology - DNA Databank | Ministry of the Solicitor General

Information pertaining to whether or not a DNA profile has been uploaded to the DNA Data Bank and to which level is documented in the CFS report or letter. Certain DNA profiles are not uploaded to the National/Local level, even if they are reported as “suitable for comparison”. Most commonly, this is because:

• DNA legislation requirements have not been met
• Scientific criteria for upload to either the National or Local levels has not been met
• The DNA profile cannot be excluded as originating from the same source as another more informative DNA profile which has been uploaded in the same case
• A good faith determination has been made that the DNA profile most likely did not originate from the perpetrator(s) and/or been deposited during the commission of a designated offence

‘Not suitable’ indicates that the DNA profile does not meet the minimum scientific threshold for upload.

‘Not applicable’ means that the profile cannot be uploaded due to other restrictions (i.e. DNA profile from complainant).

Unless it is specifically indicated in a report / letter that a DNA profile has been uploaded, it should not be assumed that an upload has occurred.

There is a lot of information in this link, which might explain some things relevant to Sonia's case.

 

[Gina20]

A companion piece to the previous entry.

1. Understand the National DNA Offenders Data Bank | Steps to Justice | Your guide to law in Ontario

 

[dotr]

It's kind of remarkable what is going on with unsolved murders in Canada at the moment.

Once again, an unsolved murder has resulted in charges due to advancements in "forensics" and renewed determination by police to close cold cases.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calg...ed-cold-case-murder-assault-calgary-1.5905751

In this case, a 16-year-old youth is alleged to have committed the murder. His DNA was not on file at the time. I continue to wonder what role genetic genealogy plays in solving cold cases. Of course, this person could have committed another crime in the interim that led to his DNA being registered.

Feb 8 2021
Calgary police credit advances in forensics for leading to arrest in 2007 cold case
''A male DNA profile was identified from forensic evidence collected at the time, but didn’t match anything in the National DNA Data Bank or the Crime Scenes Index.

Investigators took a fresh look at the case in 2019 and worked with forensic specialists who were able to identify a potential suspect last September.


A 28-year-old man, who was 16 at the time Landgraf died, was arrested in Edmonton last week and charged with first-degree murder.

He is to appear in court Feb. 16.

“We never stop in our pursuit of justice for murder victims. As technology advances, we are continuously reviewing unsolved homicides to see how new techniques can be applied to find new leads and bring answers to families of murder victims,” homicide unit Staff Sgt. Colin Chisholm said in a statement Monday.''

 

[Gina20]

Prior to January 1, 2017, the national level of CODIS required that known offender profiles have a set of 13 loci called the "CODIS core". Since then, the requirement has expanded to include seven additional loci. Partial profiles are also allowed in CODIS in separate indexes and are common in crime scene samples that are degraded or are mixtures of multiple individuals. Upload of these profiles to the national level of CODIS requires at least eight of the core loci to be present as well as a profile rarity of 1 in 10 million (calculated using population statistics)....

However, new advancements in the understanding of genetic markers and ancestry have indicated that the CODIS loci may contain phenotypic information....

International police agencies that want to search the U.S. database can submit a request to the FBI for review. If the request is reasonable and the profile being searched would meet inclusionary standards for a U.S. profile, such as number of loci, the request can be searched at the national level or forwarded to any states where reasonable suspicion exists that they may be present in that level of the database.

Combined DNA Index System - Wikipedia

 

[Gina20]

Combined DNA from crime scenes can be DNA from sexual assaults.

It turns out that Calvin Hoover was confirmed as Christine Jessop's killer because of a blood sample retained after his autopsy.

Following an autopsy, a sample of his blood was on file at the Centre of Forensic Sciences laboratory in Toronto, which is what detectives used to conclusively match his DNA to the Jessop crime scene.

From: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/christine-jessop-killer-dna-interview-1.5903381

This is not the only time a retained blood sample has been used to solve a crime. Secrets don't always go to the grave.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1556-4029.14023

This is another tool at the investigators' disposal.