. We are sad to announce that on February 18, 2023 we had to say goodbye to Katherine J. Smith of Huber Heights, Ohio. Another resident told police he had no shower facilities and was told he'd be taken to Fern Glen to shower once a week. In Lawrences case, David and Ron Allen were listed as first-degree murder suspects. Gated, and marked with No Trespassing and Beware of Dog signs, the property kept Lawrence out of sight of the public. Approached for comment multiple times byThe Fifth Estate, members of theLaanfamilydeclined to comment. She was a registered nurse, having received an Associate of Science in nursing from Walters State and Bachelor of Science from Tusculum College. Over the course of their operation, four residents disappeared from the Laan family homes: 77-year-old Lawrence, a former newspaper reporter and aspiring author; 69-year-old Grant, a family man and former auto parts salesman; 70-year-old Crofts, a former Eaton's employee and father of twin boys; and 89-year-old Semple, a father, grandfather and war veteran. When an isolated 77-year-old vanished from Huntsville in 1998, the Ontario Provincial Police couldn't locate any next of kin. Despite considerable media attention in the case, Manishen is the first person to speak publicly on behalf of the Laans and their uncle, none of whom responded to repeated interview requests. When Lawrence realized she hadn't received the cheque, she had a friend who worked at a local law office look into it. She was born Aug. 30, 1985, in Latrobe, the daughter of Patricia OBrien Smith and the late Robert Melville Smith. After sources told me she was living in my home community, I discovered her renting a nondescript bungalow 900 metres from the Bracebridge, Ontario, police detachment. She. "Occasionally I would get a phone call from Kathrine or occasionally I would call her to give me the rundown on him," he said. The four missing seniors all lived with the Laans prior to their disappearance. One resident told police he thought he was in a psychiatric hospital because there were 14 people living in the house and only four were able to carry on a conversation. Average Age & Life Expectancy Katherine R Smith lived 13 years longer than the average Smith family member when she died at the age of 84. "I believe [Joan] Lawrence's death occurred to prevent her from reporting frauds, thefts, mistreatment and neglect she was enduring at the hands of [her landlords] David Laan and Ron Allen," OPP Det.-Const. Katherine, the only daughter of James "B" and Pauline Jenkins, was born on August 30, 1953. "[Kathrine] was a con artist," Hurley said after realizing the letter and the date they began stealing his money were almost identical. In an affidavit filed in June, the OPP investigator currently assigned to the case, Rob Matthews, repeatedly describes it being active and ongoing. A Memorial Service will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes - Houghton Chapel, Ovid, MI, at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, February 25, 2023, with Pastor Mona Kindel officiating. Visitation will conclude with a memorial service to celebrate Katies life, with Pastor David Clement of Trinity Lutheran Church of Latrobe officiating. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. Western Pennsylvania's trusted news source. He says Kathrine Laan asked him to do some work on one of the houses for her in the late 1990s. Their disappearances were initially treated as missing persons investigations, but are now considered by police to be homicides. ", Missing senior killed to stop her from reporting 'mistreatment, neglect,' police said, Muskoka mystery: Disappearance of 4 seniors in late 1990s haunts Ontario's cottage country. He initially said he scared them in to the bush or that people fishing in the lake adjacent to the property had killed them. Katie was also an accomplished athlete. She loved the many cats with whom she lived through her life and will be missed dearly by her cat Scruffy. This property wasn't directly connected to the other "care homes," but was used as a rooming property for renters. In a legal filing published on September 20, Jeffrey Manishen, of the Hamilton-based firm Ross & McBride, says his clients could face vigilante justice because of stories released by the two media organizations. With thanks,Jennifer HollettExecutive Director, Updated 13:47, Nov. 27, 2019|Published 5:00, Oct. 13, 2017. According to court documents obtained byThe Fifth Estate, Kathrine Laan received a nine-month conditional sentence in connection with some of those thefts. According to court records, the oldest brother, David Laan, has been convicted for breaking and entering and theft. Allen, along with his nephew David Laan, were the two main suspects in Lawrence's disappearance, according to the police documents. Four seniors went missing in Ontarios Muskoka region in the 1990s. That legal secretary told police that the cheque was endorsed with Lawrence's forged signature. Obituary Katherine Marie "Katie" Leiker Katherine Marie "Katie" Leiker, 36 and Emmett James Leiker, her unborn son, of Munjor, Kansas died Friday, February 17, 2023 at their home. For those four who disappeared and had no one to look out for them, Matthews is hopeful that justice will be served and they can finally be laid to rest. Lisa Mayor is a journalist with CBC News on Prince Edward Island. She was the school's volunteer treasurer at the time. This article was published over a year ago. One resident told police he noticed that he wasn't receiving any of his cheques in the mail as he normally did, and that he didn't remember signing any documents allowing the Laans access to his money. Despite evidence that included testimony from another resident on the propertyfifty-seven-year-old Allan Marshall, who said he heard gunshots and saw a backhoe being operated around the time of his neighbours disappearancepolice have never charged anyone in the Lawrence case. You can read the feature Cottage Country Murder here. Katherine Anne (Arnold) Smith came into the world on Nov. 18, 1937, in Danvers, Mass., and grew up in Cuba, N.Y. She left the world peacefully, surrounded by her loving husband and children on . Born April 11, 1931, in Anderson, she was the daughter of the late Bennie and Helen Buzzele Fields. "I was taken back by the condition of the place and the conditions that they had to live in," he said. Anthony Varcak Sandy Weingartz . Obituary SMITH, Katherine J. age 82, of Huber Heights went home to be with the Lord February 18, 2023. The documents show in detail investigators theories' about the 77-year-old's disappearance, which police believe took place between mid-October and mid-November 1998. When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. jennifer sarich death And there was never a time that she allowed anything to stop her from doing what she loved. Katherine R Smith of Bloomingdale, Passaic County, New Jersey was born on November 20, 1917. He told police there was a chance he did it while drunk, as the Laans often brought their residents some recovering alcoholics rye and beer to drink. She was born December . Funeral arrangement under the care ofJenkins Funeral Home. He signed all but two of the forms. The documents show Allen told one detective he killed 10 to 15 of Lawrence's cats. Most impressively, she had that exact same personality and character after the accident and through her therapy. Not long after Kathrine was found stealing money from the school, she and three of her brothers all four Laan family members who shared in the ownership of the retirement homes were charged with stealing pension and old age security cheques from residents of homes they operated before and for years after their deaths, at least $100,000 in all. "That was probably his lifeline that kept him from either disappearing or dying quietly in a bed there.". Katherine was a homemaker who meticulously tended to her property . But we didn't do any digging beyond that.". Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. April 29, 1988 - She was a member of the Pittsburgh Steelwheelers quadriplegic rugby team since 2008, competing in tournaments throughout the country. She was sentenced to nine months in custody. OBITUARY Katherine Mae Smith October 11, 1961 - January 11, 2023. Angier, NC: Mrs. Katherine "Elaine" Smith Reardon, age 67, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at the SECU Hospice House in Smithfield. Read more on our About Us page. View Tribute Book Read more Events Resources Unique Funeral Options 6 Ways To Thank A Caregiver (and more!) If you know of an upcoming event for Katherine Smith, please add one. He said at the time he assumed his father owed rent payments to the care home. She married Donald "Don" Smith on August 6, 1990 in Jellico, Tennessee. The documents show that Lawrence told a friend she confronted a person named "Ron" about it and he at first denied he forged her signature. In July 2007, Katie became a quadriplegic after suffering a spinal cord injury in a car accident. I wish I could talk about what I saw in those homes but when this case finally is resolved, I feel those [victims'] families will have justice.". The Trust Project is a collaboration among news organizations around the world. For tips about this story or any other, contact Lisa Mayor at lisa.mayor@cbc.ca or Timothy Sawa at timothy.sawa@cbc.ca. "[Kathrine] would go to Toronto and find people who had no connection to any other people, really, and she would entice them and say, you know, I have a nice retirement home up north and it's a beautiful place," says former friend Alice Peddie, who knew Kathrine Laan when she was involved in the care homes. Its thought that Lawrence moved to Huntsville from Barrie, Ontario, in 1963. They also confirm, for the first time, that police believed at least one of the missing seniors was killed and that a member of the Laan family was responsible. Four weeks ago, I published a story in this magazine about one of Canadas most notorious cold cases. Katherine "Kappy" L. Smith December 30, 1922 - February 21, 2023 Share this obituary Sign Guestbook | View Guestbook Entries | Send Sympathy Card Print Obituary Michael J Lear of Guymon February 22, 2023 Smith family, I am deeply sorry for your loss. Obituary. Sister. Friends and family will be received from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Snyder-Green Funeral Home, 402 E. Church St., Ligonier, where a funeral service will immediately follow. I Believe in the Evil EyeAnd You Should Too. In late 1998, a resident of one of the homes where Lawrence was living reported to his social worker that he thought she was missing. Read more on our About Us page. Rob Matthews told The Fifth Estate the case is moving forward in a substantial way after they received a "significant" number of tips and information following a news conference this summer and media attention to the case. Your browser may not work with certain site. Visitation will conclude with a. memorial service to celebrate Katies life, with Pastor David Clement of Trinity Lutheran Church of Latrobe officiating. Hurley made several visits to Cedar Pines to see his father and said he didn't think anything was off at the time. m, 41 Matt twelfth Kraal mroit. Her son, Ryan Smith, his wife, Brianne Stepanich-Smith, their daughters, Evie and Mazie. Receive obituaries from the city or cities of your choice. Smith pursued her love of sports by skiing and playing rugby, curling and bocce, Zablotney said. She courageously battled an illness and died in the hospital at UPMC Mercy in Pittsburgh, PA. She was the beloved daughter of Patricia OBrien Smith and the late Robert Melville Smith; loving sister of Patrick M. Smith and the late Timothy O. Smith; cherished granddaughter of the late Anne Thompson Smith, the late Janet McKenna OBrien and the late Harry C. OBrien; niece of Emily Smith, Philip Smith and Dennis OBrien; cousin of Derek OBrien, Courtney OBrien, Jeremy Smith, Rebecca Smith, Kyle OBrien, and Kelsey OBrien. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. Donations can be made in her honor to The Red Door Community. 2, 2018. None of the leads were proven true, and in the almost twenty years since their disappearance, the missing seniors have never resurfaced. She worked diligently with caring and skilled doctors, nurses, and therapists to rebuild her strength and develop skills that would guide her path forward. David Neal officiating. Heended up at Fern Glen inUtterson, almost 200 kilometres further north from Toronto than Richmond Hill. While investigating the disappearances, police also began looking into the conditions of the homes. When journalists from The Fifth Estate approached David in a Toronto parking lot this past summer, he declined to answer questions and drove away. She departed this life on February 5, 2023, at the age of 67, while resting at home. Upgrade now. She spent six months recovering from her injury at the Institute of Research and Rehabilitation at UPMC Southside in Pittsburgh. In addition to new facts, the documents paint a more detailed portrait of previously known individuals. Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and public records. Wheelchair Pennsylvania and president of the Ms. Badger had handed her Ms. Pennsylvania crown to Smith. According to the unredacted documents, her landlords lied about her whereabouts. The OPP says the case remains openand declined to comment. The unredacted documents reveal new details, including that the Laans were systematically defrauding residents by stealing the seniors pension and benefit cheques, allegedly giving alcohol to alcoholics, and abandoning seniors on rural properties 230 kilometres north of Toronto. 269 Belmont Street Waymart, PA KATHERINE SMITH OBITUARY April 29, 1988 - November 14, 2022 It is with a heavy heart and unmeasurable sadness that we announce the death of our 34-year-old. Smith, J. Frazer (Joseph Frazer), 1897-1957 Publication details: New York : Dover, 1993 Availability: Items available for loan: Main Library (1) Call number: 728.8 SMI . (Lisa Mayor/CBC) Police believed an elderly woman who disappeared in Ontario's cottage country two decades ago was killed to "prevent her from reporting frauds, thefts, mistreatment and neglect. Katie later shifted her professional focus to non-profit work. Ron Allen was a caretaker there and David Laan was the landlord. The case quickly turned into a homicide investigation, and eventually, police discovered the names of three more seniors who had gone missing from a different retirement home owned by the Laans. In November 1998, the OPP began investigating the disappearance of Joan Lawrence, a seventy-seven-year-old Huntsville resident known as the Cat Lady, who lived on a farm property owned by the Laans. A group of teammates and eternally grateful friends penned the following statement, which was released by Erin Clark. She said this was all "fake news.". She competed in the Pittsburgh Marathon three times as a hand cyclist, having been instructed by instructed by Three Rivers Adaptive Sports. The documents show that, on three different properties owned by the Laans near Huntsville, Ontario, many of the residents paid between $400 and $750 a month to rent shared rooms and tiny outbuildings during the 1990s. Her coach, Jerry DeFlitch of East Huntingdon, recalled that Smith was a joy to coach and that she always worked hard. There was never an opportunity missed on a good one liner. Thelma loved the Lord and devoted her life to Christ at an early age. Badger said she and Smith made appearances together at the Parent Education & Advocacy Leadership (PEAL) Center in Pittsburgh, which works with disabled children and their families. 2023 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved. OPP say they think the Laans sought out people who had no family or friends to look out for them. Many of the people who lived at Laan homes were homeless, mentally ill or had no family left. (Matthews declined to be interviewed.). Facebook gives people the power to share. A criminal defence attorney representing the Laan siblings, as well as their uncle, Ron Allen, has responded. For two decades, Canadians have relied on our thought-provoking journalism to make sense of our world. It was later in the investigation that the OPP would learn 12 more people died while being cared for by the Laans making that 16 in total over about seven years. Write your message of sympathy today. The importance of saying "I love you" during COVID-19, Effective ways of dealing with the grieving process, Solutions to show your sympathy safely during the Covid-19 pandemic. Katherine Jennifer Smith April 29, 1988 - November 14, 2022 It is with a heavy heart and unmeasurable sadness that we announce the death of our 34-year-old daughter Katie. Copyright 2023 Echovita Inc. All rights reserved. Erin Burke wrote in the search warrant application. None of the Laans, or their uncle, Ron Allen, reported their residents as missing. Walter, fifty-seven, operates Esto Mechanical, a North Yorkbased heating, refrigeration, and air-conditioning company. Quite apart from the potential of vigilante justice, Manishen continues, the enhanced public scrutiny of highly dramatized commentary in all forms of media, including the nations public broadcaster, have the potential for reaction at an international level. Stories about his clients could also affect their jobs and give rise to psychological and emotional distress which may continue indefinitely.. Online Finite Mathematics Tutors. She was a prolific artist, plying her skill at pottery, collage, drawing, and painting. Plant a tree Memorial Trees H Hope the tree helps some love Shannon, Bre & Tabby February 21, 2023 Paul and Walter Laan received sentences that included probation and community service. Katherine Diane Smith May 11, 1958 - July 11, 2022 Share Obituary: Obituary & Events Tribute Wall 4 Share a memory Plant a tree Obituary Please share a memory of Katherine to include in a keepsake book for family and friends. Early in 2017,The Fifth Estateand The Walrus magazine began the process in Ontario Court of Justice to obtain police documents related to the case. Just Fontaine, who scored 13 goals at 1958 World Cup, dies, Terry Holland, who transformed Virginia basketball, dies at 80, Kremlin image-maker turned critic Gleb Pavlovsky dies at 71, Betty Boothroyd, first female UK Commons speaker, dies at 93, Charleroi native, CMU grad actress Barbara Bosson dead at 83, Long-lost ship found in Lake Huron, confirming tragic story, GZA, Donnie Iris, John Mayer among top concerts to see around Pittsburgh in March, How officials cracked case of eyedrops that blinded people. A spinal cord injury in a car accident on our thought-provoking journalism to make of. Disappearances were initially treated as missing persons investigations, but are now considered by police to be homicides spinal injury. The late 1990s 200 kilometres further north from Toronto than Richmond Hill upcoming for! 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