Vancouver woman’s family pleads for clues to 2009 murder

Family members of a Vancouver woman who was murdered four years ago while out jogging have made an emotional plea for people with any information in the case to come forward to police.

The body of Wendy Ladner-Beaudry was found on April 3, 2009, in Vancouver's Pacific Spirit Regional Park, five blocks from her house and right next to Southwest Marine Drive.

Investigators are stumped as to why the mother of two was killed, and some in the community are concerned about their safety.

"We're here today to call on community members and neighbours who might know a person out there who can solve this case to come forward now," former Vancouver city councillor Peter Ladner, Ms. Ladner-Beaudry's brother, said at a press conference at the edge of the park on Wednesday, not far from where his sister's body was found. "If you know something, someone, anything that will lead to an arrest, please, please let the police know."

Mr. Ladner said both his family and the community need closure, adding that the possibility of another attack, or even a murder, will persist until the killer is apprehended.

"That tragedy awaits anyone else who may innocently confront this person – in this park or somewhere else. For all we know, there already may be other women who have been attacked, or even killed, by Wendy's murderer," he said.

Sergeant Jennifer Pound of the RCMP's Integrated Homicide Investigative Team said the lack of a clear motive makes Ms. Ladner-Beaudry's murder difficult to solve.

"That's an absolute priority. In any of our investigations, the very first thing we ask ourselves is what the motive is," she said after Mr. Ladner spoke. "I would say 95 per cent of the time, we know who did it and we know a motive. In this case, because we don't have that information, we are relying heavily on the public to come forward."

Since Ms. Ladner-Beaudry's murder, questions have been raised about the safety of Pacific Regional Spirit Park. Sgt. Pound said the park has not had a similar incident since Ms. Ladner-Beaudry's death.

She said the case is still "very active," and while tips are not coming in at the rate they once did, "hundreds" of people are still considered persons of interest. On Wednesday, she spoke directly to them.

"It only serves you to speak to us and to offer up the information that you have in helping us move this case forward," she said. "If you're not going to co-operate, it's difficult for us to remove you from that list."

She explained that persons of interest have been identified by police analysts who have mapped the area and include residents with a criminal past, which she said might make them less forthcoming with information.

Nancy Edmonds, Ms. Ladner-Beaudry's sister, said it was too difficult for the victim's two daughters and husband to come to the park on Wednesday.

She remembered her sister as "a loving mother, a strong wife, a cheerful aunt, a dear friend, a dedicated mentor and a smiling neighbour."

Sgt. Pound said that anyone with information related to the murder can call Crime Stoppers if they wish to remain anonymous or the RCMP's IHIT tip line.