Post by Joanna on Jan 28, 2014 0:42:48 GMT -5
Renée Sweeney's 1998 Murder Remains Unsolved
It was 16 years ago today that Renée Sweeney of Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, was murdered. The crime remains unsolved.
On January 27, 1998, the 23-year-old Laurentian University student was working at Adults Only Video in Sudbury, when she was stabbed to death around 11 a.m. DNA evidence suitable for comparison to a suspect was located at and near the scene of the crime. Police are using the DNA as an investigative tool, and more than 1, 200 suspects have been eliminated. In 2010, Greater Sudbury Police Sgt. David Toffoli, the lead investigator, told Northern Life he believed the killer is still alive, and someday, he will be caught. “All it takes is that one tip,” he said. “One tip could lead us directly to the killer. The person may think it’s an insignificant tip, but for us, it may be the tip that leads us to (the murderer).”
At the time of the murder, the suspect was described as a white man in his early 20s, 5'10" to 6', 140-150 pounds, with short, dark hair, and wearing glasses, jeans, running shoes and a grey-hooded top underneath a lightweight, teal-colored jacket. However, Toffoli added, people need to realize so much time has passed, the suspect may no longer look like he did then. He may have longer hair, may have no hair, or may have grown facial hair. He may have gained weight. The suspect may now wear contacts or have had surgery, or may only wear glasses for reading.
A short distance from the scene, the suspect abandoned a lightweight jacket and white cotton gloves, which were located by police officers using tracking dogs. The large-size jacket was a High Sierra brand made in Korea, and there was a large diaper pin inside the left chest pocket.
“Renée was a very outgoing, exuberant and intelligent girl,” remembers her stepfather, Bill Strachan. “Renée was setting up to work in the National Archives in Ottawa. We were looking forward to seeing that kind of thing come about.”
The young woman also played trombone in the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra. “She could have gone a long way in the music program, too,” Strachan continued. “But of course, the music died one day and that was sad. ... Renée always said, ‘Look mom, I can always look after myself.’ And I guess she tried,” he added.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 705-674-7511 or Crime Stoppers at 705-222-TIPS, online at www.sudburycrimestoppers.com or by texting TIPSUD and the information to CRIMES (274637).
Source: Northern Life, January 27, 2014.
