Sleuths wanted: Vancouver cold case website opens to close historic murders

VANCOUVER – Members of the public are being encouraged to pull on their Sherlock Holmes hats to help Vancouver’s police department solve historic murders.

The police force has launched a new website devoted to getting the word out about cold cases in hopes public tips will help solve the crimes.

The site — found at vpdcoldcases.ca — so far features eight murder cases that occurred between 1981 and 2008.

One case involves 61-year-old Cathy Berard, who was assaulted and left for dead on the grounds of an east Vancouver high school in 1996, while another reveals an anonymous letter sent to police in 2002 about the killing of Danielle Larue, whose body has never been found.

Deputy Chief Adam Palmer says families of the victims support the website approach, which has the possibility of garnering tips from a large public audience.

He says often a small lead, perhaps chatter along the grapevine, is all that’s required to crack open a case that has been dormant for decades.