Welland homicide remains unsolved 22 years later
It’s been 22 years since John Horvath was found beaten to death at his Welland home.
It was Jan. 4, 1999, when alert neighbours grew suspicious a rear door to his Norway Avenue residence appeared forced open, and Horvath had not shovelled his driveway after a major storm.
He was 75 years old at the time and lived alone, a retired shop teacher at E.L. Crossley Secondary School in Pelham. His murder remains unsolved. Police said he suffered blunt trauma to his head and that he interrupted a burglary in progress at his home. It is also believed he was visiting family in Thunder Bay, Ont., before he was murdered, possibly leaving intruders to believe the home was empty.
Police have estimated Horvath was dead for 48 hours before his body was discovered in a pool of blood at the bottom of his basement stairs.
In 2009, Niagara Regional Police Det. Sgt. Jim Prinsen called it a “solvable case” believing there are people who know what happened to Horvath.
Ten years after the brutal incident, police remained stumped.
“There have been a lot of top-notch investigators on this case over the years. We have boxes of statements and reports and there has been an awful lot of work done. It’s not for lack of effort this case has not been solved,” said Prinsen in a Jan. 3, 2009, article in the Welland Tribune.
There are a few other historic homicides in Niagara that remain unsolved.
Frank Perry, a 62-year-old retired City of Niagara Falls employee, was discovered dead at his home in August 1992.
Joseph Marsala, 47, was found dead along Kalar Road in Niagara Falls in November 1995.
In May 1999, Toronto woman Nadine Gurczenski was found dead in rural Vineland.
A suspect description and sketch were released, but with no results.
January marks the official launch of Crime Stoppers Month in Niagara.
In a news release from Crime Stoppers of Niagara, the citizen-supported program said, with the NRP, a special appeal is being made to gather information on these four cold murder cases.
This is the first time the local Crime Stoppers program has issued an appeal simultaneously on several cases, said the release. “There is no suggestion these cases are connected. Each homicide is unique and the motives are different. Evidence indicates different individuals are responsible for the killings and nothing has ever been uncovered to link the victims.”
Investigators are asking people to reflect back on the dates of these cases and determine if they were in the vicinity. Did you see or hear anything? Has anyone mentioned something that indicates they could have some connection with any of the incidents?
Do you recall someone who could be involved?
These are questions people should be asking themselves, Crime Stoppers said.
When it comes to Horvath’s case, “Several investigators who have looked into this murder through the years are convinced there are people who know who is responsible for the homicide.”
Friends of Horvath have described him as a “kind, gentle man of faith who was respected in the community,” said the release, adding he “didn’t deserve to die in such a savage and senseless way.”
NRP spokesperson Stephanie Sabourin said Monday that Crime Stoppers is launching a “cold case spotlight” that will include Horvath’s case.
She confirmed his homicide remains an active investigation.