One of them fatally shot her cats with a hunting rifle and removed her personal belongings to make it look, according to police, as though she had moved away., Within weeks of the start of the police investigation, detective Erin Burke suspected that David and Ron Allen murdered Lawrence and disposed of her body in order to prevent her from reporting them for what she called in the documents frauds, thefts, mistreatment and neglect.. Joan Lawrence, John Crofts, Ralph Grant and John Semple vanished from retirement homes owned by a local family under what police say are suspicious circumstances. Born April 11, 1931, in Anderson, she was the daughter of the late Bennie and Helen Buzzele Fields. She was born Aug. 30, 1985, in Latrobe, the daughter of Patricia O'Brien Smith and the late. According to court records, the oldest brother, David Laan, has been convicted for breaking and entering and theft. She spent six months recovering from her injury at the Institute of Research and Rehabilitation at UPMC Southside in Pittsburgh. He said at the time he assumed his father owed rent payments to the care home. The Walrus is a registered charity with an educational mandate. OPP Det. She was born December . But I will say that I had significant concerns regarding the care of these individuals. "They were the ones that were always there when I went.". She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Elva Brown; sons, Robert and Charles Curtis; and sister, Barbara Howard. A Loved One Has Passed Away Customer Service Plan Ahead . Visitation will conclude with a. memorial service to celebrate Katies life, with Pastor David Clement of Trinity Lutheran Church of Latrobe officiating. Joe Napsha is a Tribune-Review staff writer. 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. If you know of an upcoming event for Katherine Smith, please add one. Smith had played soccer in high school. It's just a matter of time. A true individual and unlike anyone we have ever met or will ever meet. Would you like to offer Katherine Smiths loved ones a condolence message? The Fifth Estateapproached Kathrine,who now goes by Kathy or Katherine Smith,for comment near her home in Bracebridge. This article was published over a year ago. Katie Smith of Stahlstown did not let a car accident that left her paralyzed stop her from living life the way she wanted, from continuing to play sports here and abroad to being a positive impact in peoples lives, according to her friends. For over four years she worked for the PEAL Center in Pittsburgh, PA, where she designed and coordinated curriculum and events for transitioning youth with special needs throughout Pennsylvania. Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application. In addition to her mother, she is survived by her brother, Patrick M. Smith. Angier, NC: Mrs. Katherine "Elaine" Smith Reardon, age 67, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at the SECU Hospice House in Smithfield. You can contact Joe by email at jnapsha@triblive.com or via Twitter . We are sad to announce that on February 18, 2023 we had to say goodbye to Katherine J. Smith of Huber Heights, Ohio. The care homes were described in promotional material as "Christian Retirement Homes," with names like Cedar Pines and Fern Glen Manor. Donate to The Walrus today. Grand Rapids Press Obituaries - Mon, 24 Oct 2022 . 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. Another resident told police he had no shower facilities and was told he'd be taken to Fern Glen to shower once a week. Conditions in the homes also caught the attention of people in the community. It was during the investigation into Lawrence's disappearance that police realized three men had also disappeared. The documents state that Kathrine bugged Lawrence to move into Cedar Pines, a residence Kathrine had purchased west of Huntsville. To date, no one has been charged in relation to the disappearances, but the four Muskoka missing had one thing in common: their landlords, David, Walter, and Paul Laan. Many of the people who lived at Laan homes were homeless, mentally ill or had no family left. She attended the Valley School of Ligonier from kindergarten through ninth grade and then Mount Pleasant Area High School from where she graduated in 2003. Write your message of sympathy today. Soon after her college graduation, she began a career in education that included positions as a private tutor and as a substitute teacher working in various school districts in the area. 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. There she worked with vulnerable members of her community on issues like access to affordable housing and healthcare benefits and had recently been promoted to a supervisory role at DON. When journalists from The Fifth Estate approached David in a Toronto parking lot this past summer, he declined to answer questions and drove away. Smiling, she waved at the camera and then drove off. She was too good for all of us, and we are beyond blessed to have her friendship. Online Geometry Tutors OPP say they think the Laans sought out people who had no family or friends to look out for them. That was inspiring to me, and I am sure it was to all those who encountered her, said DeFlitch, retired executive managing editor of the Tribune-Review. Obituary. Muskoka mystery: Missing senior killed to stop her from reporting 'mistreatment, neglect,' police said | CBC News Loaded. "[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. She loved the many cats with whom she lived through her life and will be missed dearly by her cat Scruffy. Lawrence, known locally as The Cat Lady because she lived in a small, rundown garden shed with 30 or so cats, went missing from a home operated by the Laan family. 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. In the case of Ralph Grant, John Crofts, and John Semple, whose ages ranged from sixty-nine to ninety, no suspects have officially been named, though in 2001 Walter told the Toronto Sun that police were trying to put a murder charge on us.. The Walrus sparks conversations about Canada and its place in the world through our award-winning independent journalism, fact checking, events, podcasts, and content solutions. Anthony Varcak Sandy Weingartz . Burial will be private. A criminal defence attorney representing the Laan siblings, as well as their uncle, Ron Allen, has responded. Western Pennsylvania's trusted news source. As we look at Who We Are Now in 2023, help us power the next 20 years of inspiring conversations and fact-checked journalism. Lessons from Fort Jefferson continue to have impact. She is also survived by other relatives and friends. m, 41 Matt twelfth Kraal mroit. Her sister, Jane Benedict, and, her nephew, Michael Benedict. They contain everything from hearsay evidence to concrete facts in the investigation. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Most of the information contained in the files, however, remained blacked out. However, a source with knowledge of the case claims it hasnt been active for years. Donations can be made in her honor to The Red Door Community. I wrote about the cold case for this magazine last fall. Plant a tree Memorial Trees H Hope the tree helps some love Shannon, Bre & Tabby February 21, 2023 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. Obituary Katherine Clare Smith It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Katherine Clare Smith, 36, of Stahlstown, PA, on February 27, 2022. A former freelance copywriter for Chatelaine and the Toronto Star, she survived off an $800-a-month pension income and drifted between boarding houses and shelters after a fire destroyed her house in 1994around the time the Laans opened their first retirement home. Lawrence also began to indicate she was in danger. A private celebration of life will follow at a later date. The four missing seniors all lived with the Laans prior to their disappearance. 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. A unique and lasting tribute for a loved one. . Visitation will conclude with a memorial service to celebrate Katies life, with Pastor David Clement of Trinity Lutheran Church of Latrobe officiating. It was while attending Penn State University and studying to be a nurse when Smith was in a car accident in July 2007, causing a catastrophic spinal cord injury. 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.". Katherine Marie Smith of Tracyton, WA passed away on March 15, 2022 in Silverdale WA. Lisa Mayor is a journalist with CBC News on Prince Edward Island. 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. 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 . She traveled the world playing bocce, Zablotney said. Wheelchair America in 2012. There is no photo or video of Katherine J. Smith.Be the first to share a memory to pay tribute. Copyright 2023 Echovita Inc. All rights reserved. TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox. Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. That legal secretary told police that the cheque was endorsed with Lawrence's forged signature. Read more on our About Us page. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. Leave a sympathy message to the family in the guestbook on this memorial page of Katherine J. Smith to show support. 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. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. With thanks,Jennifer HollettExecutive Director, Updated 13:47, Nov. 27, 2019|Published 5:00, Oct. 13, 2017. The documents say he approached each resident and asked them if they understood what they had signed. Muskoka mystery: Fifth Estate host Bob McKeown approaches Kathrine Laan, CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. Katherine was born on May 1, 1935 in Kennewick WA to Percy and Vivian (Marberg) Sellick and grew up in Everett, WA. 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. Ron Allens age and whereabouts are unknown. About a week later, his father died. Your sweet mother was truly a Godly woman with a huge heart. This property wasn't directly connected to the other "care homes," but was used as a rooming property for renters. View Tribute Book Read more Events Resources Unique Funeral Options 6 Ways To Thank A Caregiver (and more!) Would you like to offer Katherine J. Smiths loved ones a condolence message? Despite extensive and repeated searches by police, the bodies of Joan Lawrence, John Semple, John Crofts, and Ralph Grant have not yet been found. In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by her brother, Timothy O. Smith. "I had significant concerns regarding the care of these individuals," he said. "My dogs have a better place to stay, like a neater, cleaner place to stay than wherethose people were," says local contractor Geoff Vander Kloet. There is no photo or video of Katherine Smith.Be the first to share a memory to pay tribute. Box 38235, Pittsburgh PA 15216 and. Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. Learn more or change your cookie preferences. . She courageously battled an illness and died in the hospital at UPMC Mercy in Pittsburgh, PA. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. Paul and Walter Laan received sentences that included probation and community service. Lawrence went missing from a property owned by the Laans known locally as the "farm." Lisa Mayor is a journalist with CBC News on Prince Edward Island. Paul was given a restitution order to pay back more than $20,000, and Walter more than $10,000. She used everything life gave her to become the best she could be, Badger said. panloloko sa kapwa "There was nothing there that would send an alarm bell off into my head. "I didn't get suspicious, only in so far as we couldn't pay the bill to the funeral home. "Every police officer, I think, if you ask them, 'Why do we do this, we do this to serve?' The Trust Project is a collaboration among news organizations around the world. When an isolated 77-year-old vanished from Huntsville in 1998, the Ontario Provincial Police couldn't locate any next of kin. She was a member of the Pittsburgh Steelwheelers quadriplegic rugby team since 2008, competing in tournaments throughout the country. The pastor said he observed the forms were already completed and signed, which made him uncomfortable. While at Fern Glen, he said he spent all his time in bed. What Matthews saw in the early days of investigating the homes had him worried for the well-being of the residents who lived there. Paul Laan has not responded to a request for comment. Though their cheques continued to be cashed, the missing seniors never resurfaced. Katherine, the only daughter of James "B" and Pauline Jenkins, was born on August 30, 1953. Stay up-to-date on event information as well as memories shared on Katherine C. Smiths Tribute Wall. Katherine Smith Obituary With heavy hearts, we announce the death of Katherine Smith of Union Dale, Pennsylvania, who passed away on November 14, 2022 at the age of 34. Funeral arrangement under the care ofJenkins Funeral Home. Around 1994, David, Walter, Paul, and their sister Kathrinewho is not one of Manishens clientsopened a series of retirement homes in Emsdale and Huntsville. The portions of the search warrants that remain under seal will be challenged by The Walrus/CBC in a hearing later this month. 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. Writing on behalf of his clients, Manishen says information about the case should remain private until the police investigation is closed. Citing legal examples in which judges ruled against journalists seeking similar access, Manishen argues that the publication of stories containing inadmissible or irrelevant details about his clients that could prejudice prospective jurors and infringe on their right to a fair trial. David Neal officiating. It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. In November 1998, before Lawrence could file her report with the OPP, she went missing. Hurley said police called him two years after his father died around 1998, when their investigation began but didn't offer him any new information. 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. She was instructed by Three Rivers Adaptive Sports and completed the Pittsburgh Marathon three times in hand-cycling. Receive obituaries from the city or cities of your choice. Smith enrolled at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, where she graduated cum laude in 2012 with a bachelors degree in psychology and with elementary and special education certificates. Hurley received a letter from Kathrine Laan shortly after his father died, saying that his father had become like family to them and that they loved him. Ron Allen was a caretaker there and David Laan was the landlord. Online Financial Statement Analysis Tutors. Memorial contributions may be made in Katies memory to Three Rivers Adaptive Sports(TRAS): P.O. 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. Born April 11, 1931, in Anderson, she was the daughter of the late Bennie and Helen Buzzele Fields. Funeral arrangement under the care ofBaker-Hazel & Snider Funeral Home. Four seniors went missing in Ontarios Muskoka region in the 1990s. As we look at Who We Are Now in 2023, help us power the next 20 years of inspiring conversations and fact-checked journalism. 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. The OPP says the case remains openand declined to comment. "It's amazing," said Matthews, who has been working on the case since the beginning. "That was probably his lifeline that kept him from either disappearing or dying quietly in a bed there.". Some information may no longer be current. 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.. "She had stated that she did not trust them and to call the police if anything ever happened to her," the police documents from an interview with a friend say. There are no events at this time. 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. Before arriving on the Island, she worked in Toronto as an investigative journalist with CBC's The Fifth Estate, where she received two Canadian Screen Awards, a Michener Award and a National Radio Television Digital News Association Award. The Walrus is a registered charity with an educational mandate. Upgrade now. 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. Katherine now resides at 879 Kirts Boul, Troy, MI 48084-4857. Along with Lawrence, three more residents, aged sixty-nine to ninety, are believed to have gone missing between 1998 and 1999. Timmy Blair. . Her spirit was infectious, and it was hard not to be jealous of the way she approached life. 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