Police say other fires connected to 2010 murder
The fire that cost Livia Beirnes her life seven years ago caught everyone’s attention.
The 74-year-old was tied to a pole in her basement when her home at 11 Oakwood Ave. was set ablaze. But it wasn’t the only deliberately set fire in the area.
Niagara Regional Police detectives investigating the Beirnes homicide say they now believe four other arsons in the neighbourhood are connected to the case and all five fires may have been set by someone connected to the neighbourhood.
“I cannot get into a discussion about evidence at this point, but we do think the fires are connected and that it is significant,” said Det. Sgt. James Munro of the NRP major crimes unit.
Police released a short Youtube video Friday detailing the five fires and once again asked for members of the public to come forward with information.
Last week, the NRP announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Berines’ killer.
The first arson was in May 2009 at 8 Oakwood Ave. where a truck was destroyed.
The next fire was the Aug 4, 2010 blaze that killed Beirnes. Police say neighbours who saw fire heard Beirnes calling for help and rushed to the house. When they asked Beirnes through a window if she could get to the window or a door, she said she was tied to a pole and couldn’t escape.
Firefighters eventually got Beirnes out of the house, but she died in hospital the next day.
The third arson destroyed a vacant house at 56 Hartzel Road on Aug 7, 2010.
An unoccupied house was set on fire on March 27, 2011 at 15 Battlesea Ave.
Then, on April 11, 2011, a 25-yearold mother and her two children escaped their home at 8 Oakwood Ave. Police say this second fire at the address was set at the back of the house.
Although Munro said he could not, for investigative reasons, disclose why police now believe the arsons are connected to Beirnes death, he did point out the fires are linked geographically.
Munro would not speculate why the Beirnes was tied up in her house when it was set on fire — making it markedly different from the other four arsons — but did say police detectives are also consulting with behavioural psychologists to get a clearer understanding of the mindset of the person behind the fires.
Police are asking anyone with information to contact Munro at 905-688-4111 or by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, online at www.niagaratips.com or by text ago 274637 with the keyword Niagara.
The NRP video on the case can be watched at www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nJeN3U15CE