On way to walk dog, woman helps apprehend suspected killer

Maple Ridge resident Susanne Murphy normally walks her dog Tuco on the dike near her house before 9: 30 a. m. But last Wednesday, as police were searching for killer Angus David Mitchell, she slept in and left a little later. En route, she heard a radio alert describing Mitchell’s green van and licence plate. Minutes later, she drove right past the van, dug into her pocket for her phone and called 911. Insp. Kevin Hackett, of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team, credited Murphy with saving lives. “We require the public to get involved and take courageous steps sometimes,” Hackett said. “The fact that Ms. Murphy took the initiative to respond to the broadcast, to be vigilant and to notify the police through 911 about the potential location of the suspect is what ultimately helped us locate him, apprehend him and stop other innocent individuals from being murdered.” Murphy said she knows she did the right thing. “I was really nervous because I didn’t know if he was in his van. I didn’t know if he was walking around the area,” Murphy said. “I didn’t know what to think. I just knew I had to call 911 and say his van is here.” The 911 operator made her stay in her vehicle at the end of the same gravel road and to stop others on the trails from getting closer to Mitchell. After about an hour, they were able to leave safely, as police had Mitchell surrounded. It wasn’t until she was on her way home from another area dog park in the afternoon that she heard on the radio that Mitchell had been killed in a shootout with police. “Honestly, I was dancing in the car. I was happy because I realized I did a good thing,” Murphy said. “I was relieved that I was able to help out and they captured a dangerous man like him.”