Family offers $30,000 reward in cold case
Police no closer to solving seven-year-old murder
The family of a woman murdered while running in Pacific Spirit Regional Park almost seven years ago has offered a $30,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of her killer.
At a news conference on Friday, Wendy Ladner-Beaudry’s loved ones and the police renewed their calls for the public to come forward and help solve the case.
“We’re suffering, the community is suffering, and if you can end that suffering help us,” said Peter Ladner, Ladner-Beaudry’s brother.
Ladner- Beaudry — a wellknown physical-fitness advocate — was killed on April 3, 2009, her body found on St. Georges Trail, just a few steps from the intersection of Camosun Street and Southwest Marine Drive in Vancouver just before 3 p.m.
Police have said that the 53-year-old mother of two was likely killed between noon and 3 p.m. in what appears to be an unmotivated, random attack.
Staff Sgt. Wayne Clary, with the RCMP Major Crime Section, said investigators developed an exhaustive list of more than 300 persons of interest and since the case was handed over to his section two years ago, the majority of those people have been eliminated as possible suspects. They have also looked into the tips that came in over the years.
Clary said there have been no new tips or leads, and investigators have not uncovered any new information about what happened to Ladner-Beaudry or why.
“We still firmly believe that someone out there knows something,” Clary said. “This is a terrible crime and one that must weigh on a person’s mind, whether they know a bit of information or know who may have involvement in the commission of this crime.”
Ladner said that if she were still alive, his sister would have turned 60 on Wednesday.
“We would feel her presence as a wise mother, a loving wife, a compassionate sister, a loyal friend, a cheerful mentor, a dedicated community member, a healthy-living advocate, a strong athlete, a running companion, a lover of the outdoors and a great Scrabble player,” Ladner said, his voice breaking.
“This tragedy has now been hanging over family, friends and acquaintances and a whole community for seven years.”
Ladner said his sister’s husband, Michel Beaudry, could not be at the news conference because his wife’s death is still too overwhelming for him.
Instead, Ladner read a statement written by Beaudry. In it, he called his wife “one of the most generous and outgoing women one could ever want to meet.”
“My children’s mother, their mentor, my life partner, my best friend, she’s gone forever,” Beaudry wrote. “The toll on our lives has been terrible, for Wendy is no longer here to challenge us, laugh, to help us see the world as the positive, happy place she always believed it was. The biggest torment for our family has been that there is no closure to this horrifying event.”
Beaudry said he believes his wife’s murderer will kill again unless everyone works together to bring that person to justice.
“Please, I entreat you, if you have any information about what happened on the afternoon of Friday, April 3, 2009, contact the police,” he wrote. “Let’s find the murderer and start the healing process.”
Over the years, the police and Ladner-Beaudry’s family have appealed for information numerous times. One year after her murder, a re-enactment video was released.
After two years, her family offered a $30,000 reward.
Police marked the third anniversary of her murder by renewing their call for information.
The family last went to the public in April 2014, on the fifth anniversary of her death.
“When we think about what we owe to Wendy, the least we can do is do everything we can to help bring this to justice,” Ladner said.
Anyone who has not yet spoken to police and may have information about the investigation is asked to call the major crime tip line at 778-290-5291 or, if you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-2228477 or visit solvecrime.ca.