POLICE PLEAD FOR HELP
INVESTIGATORS HOPE ‘CRIMINAL PROFILE’ WILL HELP SOLVE BURNABY KILLING
Homicide investigators hope a partial criminal profile of the person they believe murdered Burnaby teen Marrisa Shen will help generate more tips from the public.
The 13-year-old Shen was killed in what police say was a random attack on the evening of July 18, 2017. She was last seen leaving a Tim Hortons on Central Boulevard shortly after 7:30 p.m. Shen was reported missing by her family around 11:30 p.m., and police found her body in nearby Central Park at 1:10 a.m. on July 19.
On Tuesday, Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) spokesman Cpl. Frank Jang said the RCMP’s behavioural sciences group has developed a criminal profile of an unknown person believed to be responsible for Shen’s death.
“We’re hoping today that people will look at the criminal profile developed by our profilers, and if they recognize somebody who fits any of these characteristics, please contact IHIT immediately,” Jang told reporters at a news conference.
Criminal profilers believe the person responsible may have lived near Central Park on July 18, 2017, and may have behaved strangely after Shen was found dead.
Those behaviours include unexpectedly moving from the area; uncharacteristic avoidance of the Central Park area; withdrawal from social or family activities; missing work or appointments; suicidal gestures or attempts; particular interest in or special attention to media coverage of Shen’s death; and increased or decreased drug and/or alcohol use.
Jang said police use profiling for a wide variety of investigations, from sexual assaults to hostage situations and homicides.
“In this investigation, as in any homicide investigation, no stone is left unturned,” he said.
He denied the investigation has hit a dead end, instead saying investigators have been working hard on the case since the first day.
“If I were to express to you the hard work and determination by our investigators and our partners since July 18, I would be here all day. So we continue to pursue the killer of Marrisa Shen,” he said.
Jang admitted the profile is generic, but said the people who generated it are capable and experienced, and took into consideration all available information and evidence. He said the list of behaviours could jog some peoples’ memories.
“We don’t put these up just for no reason,” he said.
When asked why police didn’t release a full profile — last month IHIT indicated that it would release a partial profile — Jang said those details were not available to him.
Jang said police don’t currently have a specific suspect in the investigation, but instead maintain a list of persons of interest who may have information helpful to the investigation. Six months ago, police said that list had around 1,000 names. Jang said over the past nine months many names have been crossed off, but others have been added thanks to tips and investigation.
“It’s always fluid,” Jang said. Jang said investigators appreciate all information that comes from the public, and hope the profile will encourage more people to come forward so police can get answers for the Shen family.
“It tells us that people haven’t forgotten about Marrisa Shen, and I assure you IHIT hasn’t forgotten about Marrisa, either,” he said.
Anyone with information about Shen’s death or the suspect is asked to call homicide investigators by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca or by phoning 1-877-551-4448. Those who wish to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-8477.
For more information on the investigation, visit marrisashen.org.