Cold case: murder of Kathleen MacVicar near CFB Trenton remains unsolved after 25 years

Ontario Provincial Police are renewing efforts to solve the 2001 murder of 19-year-old Kathleen MacVicar, releasing new video and citing DNA advances. A $75,000 reward remains on offer.

OPP releases new video in 25-year-old murder of Kathleen MacVicar near CFB Trenton

The Ontario Provincial Police has released a new video retracing the final movements of Kathleen MacVicar, 25 years after the 19-year-old was stabbed to death near Canadian Forces Base Trenton, thewhig.com reports. Investigators say they remain committed to identifying the killer and hope the footage will generate fresh leads.

MacVicar had moved to Ontario in early 2001 from her hometown of Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, to start an independent life. She had been living with her aunt and uncle on CFB Trenton for just six months when she was killed.

The night she disappeared

On the evening of 13 June 2001, at approximately 10 p.m., MacVicar left the base to walk to a friend's house. While there, she made a phone call — the recipient of which she did not reveal to her friend. After hanging up, she left and was seen walking down York Crescent toward Creswell Drive.

Around 11 p.m., another witness spotted MacVicar in the area of Byron and Campbell Street, heading eastbound toward Curtis Road. That was the last confirmed sighting of her alive.

Two days later, at approximately 9:45 a.m. on 15 June 2001, a lawn maintenance worker employed by CFB Trenton discovered her body in a wooded area off Curtis Road — a short distance from her aunt and uncle's home. An autopsy determined she had been stabbed multiple times and had also been sexually assaulted. The weapon was never recovered.

Family's grief, two and a half decades on

MacVicar's mother, Colleen MacVicar, described the lasting toll of the unsolved case in a supplied statement. "I have missed her for 25 years and watching who she would have become. I can't believe the person who did this has got to live 25 years. I want my daughter back. I want those years back. I want her never to be in fear," she said.

A memorial, featuring a photograph of MacVicar in her graduation gown, remains at the site where her body was found.

Investigators cite DNA advances and decades of legwork

OPP Detective-Inspector Jennifer Patton, from the Criminal Investigations Branch, said technology now offers possibilities that did not exist at the time of the killing. "Advancements in DNA technology continue to provide new opportunities in historical investigations, and we remain committed to leveraging every available tool to identify the person responsible for Kathleen's murder. The OPP would like nothing more than to solve this case and bring resolution to Kathleen's family," Patton said.

Retired OPP Inspector Christina Reive, who features in the new video, reflected on what made the case so difficult from the outset. "Generally, we know who did it. There's a smoking gun. Possibly even the suspect's still on scene. And there are very few violent crimes like this anyways," she said. "With this particular one, being a young girl, new to the community, who lived a normal, low-risk lifestyle, we had no indication who would have done this, or any reason for it."

Reive noted that homicides and violent crimes are typically rare in the Trenton area, making the case all the more exceptional.

Over the past 25 years, OPP investigators have spoken to dozens of persons of interest and pursued every tip received. "Kathleen's life mattered, her death matters and we are committed to providing answers to Kathleen's family," Reive said.

$75,000 reward still available

A joint reward of $75,000 remains in place for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible. The reward consists of $50,000 from the Government of Ontario and $25,000 from the City of Quinte West.

Investigators believe individuals with relevant knowledge are still out there. Anyone with information is asked to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122.

Source: Google News JM — Kingston