GUILTY Canada - Taylor Van Diest, 18, beaten to death, Armstrong, BC, 31 Oct 2011

[Crosby87]

Since Matthew Foerster grew up in Cherryville he may have had relatives and friends in Armstrong so he was probably very familiar with the landscape there before he went there to attack a female. He may have worked there.

He is now 28 years of age so he was 18, an adult, when he allegedly broke into a home and assaulted a 19-year-old in his hometown, Cherryville BC. The following year, in 2005, when he was 19, he attacked the woman in Kelowna BC.

Six years later, in October of 2011, Matthew, 25, attacked Taylor in Armstrong, a neighboring community.

Now I do wonder if he committed more crimes of a sexual nature but they were never unreported? If this is the case, perhaps more charges will be laid against him.

He is a serial rapist who deserves a life sentence without parole.

Jmo

 

[Crosby87]

Because Taylor was dressed as a zombie, I wonder how Matthew knew she was a female? Was it possible to see her house from the railroad tracks?

 

[Woodland]

It is hard to believe that MF did not commit any sex crimes between 2005 and 2011 - especially if he started at 18 with a home invasion with SA.

Good question on the zombie costume - could he have been following conversations on social media?

 

[Crosby87]

It is hard to believe that MF did not commit any sex crimes between 2005 and 2011 - especially if he started at 18 with a home invasion with SA.

Good question on the zombie costume - could he have been following conversations on social media?

Possibly.

In this MSM report, the Crown said Foerster followed the teen with plans to rape her. This admission by Foerster and the fact he followed Taylor who was wearing a costume immediately after she left her house implies he did know her before he planned to attack her but these details haven’t been released to the public. This does however prove the crime was premeditated.

The only statement released from Foerster’s taped confession is “things got out of hand when he tried to have sex with the girl and she fought back.”

Foerster was sentenced to life in prison and is eligible for parole in 25 years however that might change if he is convicted on 2 additional SA charges that are now pending before the Courts. I hope he isn’t released early for good behavior. The family’s opinion is seriously taken into consideration by the Parole Board of Canada. At this time it is unclear whether Matthew will appeal his sentence.

The Van Diest family is gratified with the verdict the jury reached after deliberating for 10 hours.

Taylor’s mother told reporters “at least no other girl will meet the same fate as Taylor and we're happy that animal is going to be off the streets for a very long time; not long enough for me, but it will suffice for now.”

Taylor's father said “Justice has been served”.

Twin sister thinks they got the best outcome under the circumstances.

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/04/05/matthew-foerster-taylor-van-diest_n_5097671.html

 

[Woodland]

'Things got out of hand when she fought back' - yet according to his defense he was looking for consensual sex. Freaking narcissist.

I wasn't entirely sure if the prior SA charges had been heard or not - thank-you for the clarification they have not. I was hoping this was the case as that should put 'dangerous offender' status on the table.

Another point that bothers me - the sketch(s) that generated many tips. Seems to me they could only come from the women assaulted in 2004 and 2005. Am I correct they were only released after Taylor was killed?

The 2004/5 assaults happened in very small communities as did the murder of Taylor - hopefully someone can tell me the sketches were out there all along. If not .....

 

[dotr]

MF looks much heavier now and was not in DNA system at the time of assault on sex worker so he probably just flew under the radar imo


http://www.vancouversun.com/news/li...er+chilling+2005+cold+case/5757434/story.html


November 23, 2011
"On Wednesday, RCMP said they had matched DNA from an "unknown male" found on the dead teen's body to a sample from an April 2005 sexual assault in nearby Kelowna, B.C.

"This suspect DNA sample is not contained within the known offender DNA data bank," Cpl. Dan Moskaluk said at a news conference Wednesday in Vernon, B.C. "Based on this DNA evidence, we believe that the man who killed Taylor Van Diest is the same man who sexually assaulted a Kelowna woman in April of 2005."

Moskaluk appealed to the public to help them find the attacker, who he said would now be about 25 years old.

RCMP released a sketch of the suspect as he looked in 2005 when he was about 19 or 20 years old.

At that time, he had "large distinct sideburns and noticeably thick eyebrows," dark hair and a stocky build, RCMP said.

The first attack happened at the Garden of Eden Escort Agency in downtown Kelowna in April 2005, Moskaluk said Wednesday."

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/li...05+cold+case/5757434/story.html#ixzz2yFdCbaXP

 

[Woodland]

The sketch itself led to numerous tips when it was released -

Fitzpatrick said police received 1,250 tips from the public after releasing a composite sketch of a suspect, based on the information from the alleged assault at the escort agency.

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/04/05/taylor-van-diest-foerster-halloween_n_1407011.html

It's unclear to me when the sketch was released - at the time of the 2005 assault or after 31 Oct 2011? I don't see anything saying it was 2005, although LE seems to have had it on file.

 

[Crosby87]

'Things got out of hand when she fought back' - yet according to his defense he was looking for consensual sex. Freaking narcissist.

I wasn't entirely sure if the prior SA charges had been heard or not - thank-you for the clarification they have not. I was hoping this was the case as that should put 'dangerous offender' status on the table.

Another point that bothers me - the sketch(s) that generated many tips. Seems to me they could only come from the women assaulted in 2004 and 2005. Am I correct they were only released after Taylor was killed?

The 2004/5 assaults happened in very small communities as did the murder of Taylor - hopefully someone can tell me the sketches were out there all along. If not .....

A composite sketch of Matthew Foerster was not released to the public until November 23, 2011.

After police obtained Matthew’s DNA from Taylor’s fingernails and matched it to the DNA they obtained in 2005, only then was the sketch released based on the information they obtained from the escort worker. After the sketch was released, Police received 1,250 tips from the public and on April 5, 2012, Matthew was arrested in Collingwood, ON.

It isn’t clear when the 19-year-old victim reported the incident to police that occurred in Foerster’s hometown in 2004 but it looks like it was after the sketch of Matthew was released.

These two additional charges are still before the Courts because Matthew’s trial was for the attack he made on Taylor only. At this time we don't know when Foerster will face these outstanding charges but because his attack on Taylor was so violent, he certainly meets the criteria for a dangerous offender which is outlined in the Criminal Code of Canada.

 

[Crosby87]

Nine days after Taylor's death, RCMP received a letter from a person claiming to be Van Diest's killer, warning that there would be further attacks. At that time, officers said they were trying to determine whether the letter was authentic.

The small B.C. Interior community has been in shock since the tragedy and residents hope that officers find the person responsible before there is another attack, Armstrong Mayor Chris Pieper said earlier this week.

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/li...05+cold+case/5757434/story.html#ixzz2yGJpQcVY

 

[Crosby87]

I wonder if there is enough evidence to convict Matthew Foerster for the crimes he allegedly committed in 2004 and 2005? If the incident in 2004 wasn’t reported to police, there may not be. RCMP have Matthew’s DNA from the alleged sexual assault incident at a Kelowna, BC escort agency but if that's all the evidence LE have, Matthew may argue that what took place between them was consentual and he didn’t assault her.

 

[Woodland]

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/li...05+cold+case/5757434/story.html#ixzz2yFdCbaXP

RCMP released a sketch of the suspect as he looked in 2005 when he was about 19 or 20 years old.

At that time, he had "large distinct sideburns and noticeably thick eyebrows," dark hair and a stocky build, RCMP said.

We'll never know if releasing the sketch in 2005 would have generated the same number of tips given the age and distinct features - and saved a life.

I don't understand this method employed by LE practically on the doorstep of the 'Highway of Tears'. Unfortunately to me, it gives reason for all the unsolved cases.

 

[Woodland]

I wonder if there is enough evidence to convict Matthew Foerster for the crimes he allegedly committed in 2004 and 2005? If the incident in 2004 wasn’t reported to police, there may not be. RCMP have Matthew’s DNA from the alleged sexual assault incident at a Kelowna, BC escort agency but if that's all the evidence LE have, Matthew may argue that what took place between them was consentual and he didn’t assault her.

He will likely argue consent, but doubt he will be believed. Why accuse him, at the time, and not another person?

 

[Crosby87]

RCMP released a sketch of the suspect as he looked in 2005 when he was about 19 or 20 years old.

At that time, he had "large distinct sideburns and noticeably thick eyebrows," dark hair and a stocky build, RCMP said.

We'll never know if releasing the sketch in 2005 would have generated the same number of tips given the age and distinct features - and saved a life.
I don't understand this method employed by LE practically on the doorstep of the 'Highway of Tears'. Unfortunately to me, it gives reason for all the unsolved cases.

If releasing the composite sketch of MF to the public in 2011 is what led to Matthew's arrest 4 months later, then there is a very good chance it would have led to his arrest if it had been released in 2005 imo. Usually a sketch artist will draw 2 pictures to illustrate what the person looked like when they commited the crime and what they would look like say for example 6 years later without heavy sideburns and other distinguishable features. As far as we know, MF didn't leave BC until 2011.

We don't know why a composite sketch of Matthew wasn't released after he SA the escort worker. She knew what he looked like and she was able to provide a sample of his DNA. Even six years later she was still able to accurately describe his appearance which as far as we know led to his arrest 4 months later even though he was hiding in an eastern province over 2000 miles away and sold his truck.

 

[Woodland]

I'm thinking she provided the sketch in 2005.

 

[Crosby87]

He will likely argue consent, but doubt he will be believed. Why accuse him, at the time, and not another person?

I hope when these sexual assault charges are brought before the Court, Matthew will plead "guilty as charged" and waive his right to a trial for his victims sake. These two offences happened nearly a decade ago but he wasn't charged until he was arrested in Collingwood, ON.

I read an article today that said Matthew visciously beat the 19 year during the home invasion in 2004.

It also said Taylor's blood was found in Foerster's truck which explains why her DNA was there and evidence was found in a dumpster in Vernon.

Two women, both Armstrong residents, testified that they heard screams near the scene of the incident.

A tearful Delphine Burylo told the jury that she was checking her pumpkins outside her home when she heard two screams.

“The first one sounded more distraught than the second one,” said Burylo, adding that she believed the voice was a female’s and came from the direction of the railway tracks.

Natasha Bellows, a custodian at the nearby elementary school, was visiting Burylo at the time and also heard one scream. She said it was “high-pitched,” as if somebody was trying to “scare you really bad.” Since it was Halloween night, she gave it no further thought, she said.

http://www.theprovince.com/news/Arm...ologist+tells+murder+trial/9664920/story.html

 

[Woodland]

According to this link, MF will appear in court on 5 May 2014 to face the prior SA charges.

http://www.kelownacapnews.com/news/254383521.html

Hoping the sketch will be brought up at some point. If it was produced in 2005, then maybe a change in method will be warranted for future victims.

It also states his father will appear in court on that day for his accessory charges.

 

[Wondergirl]

Wonder if they ever happened to use a white van with large letters on the side that spells " SMOOTH"?



"Published Thursday, August 29, 2013 12:34PM EDT

Cold case investigators have released a composite photo of a unique cargo van that they say was driven by a man who sexually assaulted two sex-trade workers more than a decade ago.

Police are hoping someone recognizes the van – white in colour with the word “Smooth” in large letters on the side – and knows the identity of the suspect in the Sept. 27, 2002, incidents.

“I’m hoping (the photo) will jog the memory of the public,” Det. Ali Ansari told CP24.com. “Somebody might have known this person.”
Ansari said “something” prompted police to take a closer look at the case, but he would not reveal what that “something” was.

Read more: http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/police-ho...lp-solve-sex-assaults-1.1432053#ixzz2y8Tw7BNw
bbm.

 

[Wondergirl]

None of the articles say what Matthew did for a living. Apparently he lived in Cherryville, BC before he was apprehended and arrested at a hotel in Ontario. The RCMP received 1250 tips from the public after they released a composite sketch of a suspect based on the information from the alleged assault at the escort agency in 2005.

On Google maps, Cherryville is north of Armstrong. Cherryville is on the Vernon Slocan (#6) highway. The driving distance from Cherryville to Armstrong is 74 kilometers (46 miles). The driving time is estimated to be 1 hour 5 mins.

Several media reports said investigators found Taylor’s DNA in Matthew’s truck which he sold after he assaulted her.

<snipped>

The accused’s DNA was found in fingernail clippings taken from the victim while she was in hospital, court heard. The victim’s DNA was also found in a Ford F150 truck that was owned by the accused and later sold by him. After Foerster was arrested in April 2012, investigators obtained DNA from both the victim and the accused in the vehicle.

http://www.theprovince.com/news/Mur...used+killed+Armstrong+teen/9660103/story.html

Thanks for the post about her DNA in his truck, I missed that.

 

[Crosby87]

Here is a picture of Taylor dressed as a zombie on Hallowe'en 2011. You can easily tell she's a female.

http://www.news1130.com/files/2011/11/f3621b2f43c8aa862aa9c14e245b-500x375.jpg

 

[Woodland]

Looking forward to a conviction of MF's father - mostly hoping this will require he submit a DNA sample to the National DNA Databank.

Curious if the apple fell far from the tree or not.