CANADA Veronica Lynn Kaye, 18, Toronto, 7 Nov 1980 *unique button found*

[dotr]

OPP hope video can help solve 1980 cold case of murdered Toronto woman | CBC News
Nov 7 2018

No one has been arrested or charged in the murder of Veronica Lynn Kaye, 18. The young woman, who lived in Etobicoke, was last seen at a photography store in Mississauga. Her body was found in a wooded area in Caledon. With her body, police say they found a 'unique button.' (Ontario Provincial Police)

"Veronica Lynn Kaye, 18, was last seen 38 years ago on Wednesday. More than 11 months later, on Oct. 9, 1981, two men found her body near a walking trail in Caledon. Her remains were in a wooded, isolated area near the intersection of Humber Station Road and Castlederg Sideroad. "


"Police say Kaye, wearing the same clothes in which she was last seen alive, suffered fatal injuries fighting for her life. She was wearing a red ski vest, a maroon blouse, blue jeans and running shoes.

"A unique button was found with Veronica's body that did not come from her clothing. Police want to identify the source of this button," the OPP said in a news release.

Police offer $50,000 reward for info"

 

[dotr]

rbbm
https://www.insauga.com/cold-case-c...a-38-year-old-teen-murder-case-in-mississauga
"She had died of injuries suffered during what police called a violent confrontation."

"Curiously, a unique button was found with Veronica that did not come from her clothing, and police are hoping that the button might be the key to finding out more about who attacked her on that fall day almost 40 years ago.

Mostly, police are wondering if anyone can identify the source of the button.

Veronica’s family is also hoping the button might be the key to finding out who murdered the teen that everyone referred to as “sweet Veronica.”

 

[carbuff]

Huh. That figure 8 design appears to be a snake.

 

[rosesfromangels]

"Curiously, a unique button was found with Veronica that did not come from her clothing, and police are hoping that the button might be the key to finding out more about who attacked her on that fall day almost 40 years ago.

Respectfully snipped. Wow, I am now obsessed with this button! I did a quick search online and found some similarities with antique celtic designs, as well as some freemasonry symbols, but no direct hit. I'll keep looking as time permits. VERY intriguing! Are you all seeing the end poking out as a serpent's head?

Amateur opinion and speculation

 

[dotr]

Respectfully snipped. Wow, I am now obsessed with this button! I did a quick search online and found some similarities with antique celtic designs, as well as some freemasonry symbols, but no direct hit. I'll keep looking as time permits. VERY intriguing! Are you all seeing the end poking out as a serpent's head?

Amateur opinion and speculation

The closest buttons that i found so far, are old medic/military type buttons, the search continues!

 

[carbuff]

I found some Tarot cards with a very similar design. Also a pair of cufflinks.

Apparently it's a variation of the ouroboros, the snake swallowing its tail, that's a symbol of infinity and the birth-death cycle in many cultures.

 

[musicaljoke]

I wish we could see the back, to know if it's a button of the sort that one sews to clothing, or if it's a game piece, talisman, charm, or something of that sort. Does it look to you like it's made of silver and tarnished?

 

[rosesfromangels]

I found some Tarot cards with a very similar design. Also a pair of cufflinks.

Apparently it's a variation of the ouroboros, the snake swallowing its tail, that's a symbol of infinity and the birth-death cycle in many cultures.

I am now finding something very close related to a symbol of alchemy. I have not found this particular variation just yet. I'm definitely getting the heebie-jeebies from this. Bad vibes.

Amateur opinion and speculation.

 

[carbuff]

I wish we could see the back, to know if it's a button of the sort that one sews to clothing, or if it's a game piece, talisman, charm, or something of that sort. Does it look to you like it's made of silver and tarnished?

I'd like to see it too.

Since they describe it as not from her clothing, I presume it's got a shank of some sort on the back, but it would be nice to know.

Yes, it looks like tarnished silver, and they polished the snake part to make it show up in the picture. Or the snake might be a nickel alloy, which wouldn't tarnish, soldered onto a silver backing.

It's hard to tell but it looks like it could be a coin or token of some sort turned into a button by soldering a fastener to the back. I found several online places that sell fittings and findings to do just that.

 

[dotr]

Not sure if this is the case i once read about concerning a button left behind with a victim, or another case- probably the same one but if different, that would be interesting.
Any chance the killer carries such a button around and tosses it near the deceased as some kind of a statement or symbol? Or did it simply come off, perhaps in a struggle with the victim?
Not many items of clothing would have the style of button, but could imagine it on items like a leather jacket or jean button flies, imo, speculation.

 

[Ngaio]

 

[carbuff]

Think maybe this site could help? Snake - Livery Buttons Identified

I don't see an exact match but maybe LE could contact the person about it.

 

[dotr]

Thanks for the speedy response Ngaio! Where did the one you found originate, what sort of person ( other than the killer) would wear such a button?

 

[carbuff]

That looks like a snap, not a button. Definitely the kind that might be on a leather jacket cuff or something like that.

Could be a button though, with the shank part broken or pulled off.

 

[Ngaio]

 

[carbuff]

The button appears to be about 15mm in diameter, or just under .6". Hard to measure exactly because it's not lined up in the corner very precisely.

 

[rosesfromangels]

Think maybe this site could help? Snake - Livery Buttons Identified

I don't see an exact match but maybe LE could contact the person about it.

This is an *excellent* find Carbuff; well done!
It certainly does appear to be a "livery button". For those like me who didn't know what this was, it is essentially the family crest that was on the buttons of the family servants. The servant would wear these buttons on elaborate waist coats, etc. for special occasions. Kewl!

The Cavandish family livery looks the closest to the button in question:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6IzKkbM1E...AAD_I/VHMd3RyODws/s1600/Cavendish+[small].jpg

I agree the site owner might have more information.
Terrific find!

Amateur opinion and speculation

 

[dotr]

At 0:50, the pic you posted of possibly the back of the button?

 

[dotr]

This is an *excellent* find Carbuff; well done!
It certainly does appear to be a "livery button". For those like me who didn't know what this was, it is essentially the family crest that was on the buttons of the family servants. The servant would wear these buttons on elaborate waist coats, etc. for special occasions. Kewl!

The Cavandish family livery looks the closest to the button in question:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6IzKkbM1EmA/UYQg0_yUohI/AAAAAAAAD_I/VHMd3RyODws/s1600/Cavendish+[small].jpg

I agree the site owner might have more information.
Terrific find!

Amateur opinion and speculation

Agree, awesome find and interesting information about buttons too!
Hmm- who would be in possession of a such a button or wearing items that it is attached to in 1980 Ontario?
An actual servant in very traditional uniform?
An actor's costume?
Theme attraction worker?
Someone who inherited the button, maybe turned it into a "punk-like" earring?
Artisan who sought out button to embellish a jacket ect?
Guesses, speculation, imo.

 

[dotr]

Lengthy article. rbbm.

This is the wooded area near Humber Station Road and Castlederg Side Road where Veronica's body was found in October 1981. Ontario Provincial Police ph
ONTARIO COLD CASE: Family, police still seek answers to murder of teen 38 years later
Jan 9 2019
"Veronica Lynn Kaye, 18, left her apartment at 287 Markland Dr. in Etobicoke and boarded a bus to visit a friend at a photography store on Nov. 7, 1980.

But when it came time to transfer to another bus, she was picked up by a stranger, her dad said.

“She was a typical teenager. At the time, it was very common for kids to hitchhike,” he said. “I believe that she did hitchhike.”

The motorist took Veronica to her girlfriend’s workplace, Cherish Photography, on Hensall Circle in Mississauga.

“She went in. She was picking up some clothing, which she had loaned her (friend),” Ron said.

Police said Veronica gave no indication that anything was wrong, telling her friend that she had a ride waiting for her outside and that she was heading to Square One Shopping Centre. Veronica was last seen alive leaving Cherish Photography. Veronica wasn’t seen with anyone nor was a vehicle seen in the parking lot. It’s not known whether she ever made it to Square One."

Police even used a psychic to help in the search, Ron said.

“The psychic was pretty close to what really happened,” he said. “She saw the woods, she saw a white van.”

On Oct. 9, 1981, two men found Veronica’s body while walking in a wooded, isolated area near Humber Station Road and Castlederg Side Road in Caledon. She was in the same clothes she wore the day she went missing: a red ski vest, a maroon blouse, blue jeans and white running shoes.

As for the white van the psychic saw, Ron said police told him about 10 years ago that they had a strong suspect — a painter who frequented Mississauga and who had a white van. By the time Ron learned of this suspect, he had already died. Due to privacy concerns, police would not elaborate on the investigation into this suspect. However, they say the investigation remains open and active.

Veronica had a bus transfer on her when she was found."

"Webster wouldn’t disclose whether Veronica was robbed or raped but did say the murder isn’t linked to any other case. He said that the investigation has been thorough and that everyone who knew Veronica or was associated to her had been interviewed.

“We’re at the stage where we believe there are people that are still alive that may have knowledge of what happened to her, and we just want to find out the truth.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122."