Delta Police may be close to identifying a 'person of interest' in the brutal daytime murder of 15-year old Laura Szendrei.At a media conference held this morning, police spokeswoman Sargent Sharlene Brooks revealed that hundreds of tips from the public may have led to the identification of a suspect in the teen homicide. Police have yet to contact the person.
Although the police are still unable to confirm whether this crime was targeted or random they have concluded that the recent pepper spraying incidents are in no way linked to the attack on Szendrei.
Using Mackie Park as a backdrop for the conference, Brooks hoped the setting would help jog peoples memories and hoped the public would continue to provide the DPD with any information regarding the attack, asking "anyone in Mackie Park who may have seen or heard anything suspicious please call police."
Police are investigating over 350 tips received from the public and have looked for patterns linking recent attacks on women jogging and walking alone to establish if there are any links with Laura's assault. The DPD advises people to walk in groups, don't wear headphones, and be completely aware of your surroundings.
Mackie Park is being completely reopened to the public, but Brooks stated that this investigation is not being scaled back. Currently there are close to 55 officers active on this case and more may be called in to assist.
Police are encouraging anyone who may have witnessed this attack to come forward. If you have any information regarding this crime please call Delta Police at (604) 946-4411
I'm frustrated with how hapless Delta seems to be in reacting to this attack.
ReplyDeleteWe're involved in soccer that's played around Mackie Park and were only asked last week to present any photos and recordings made during the day of the murder to DPD.
It blows my mind that it took weeks for DPD to contact us. How much experience does DPD have with working on homocides? Why are we not part of IHIT? Nothing DPD or Lois Jackson have done in the wake of this tragedy has left me confident about Delta's ability to address this horrific crime.