A decade after Lisa Leckie was murdered in her south-end apartment, police have released crucial new information in hopes of finally bringing the London mother's killer to justice.
London police revealed at a news conference held Friday to mark the ten-year anniversary of the unsolved homicide that a note written on a typewriter was left behind by the killer.
"I can't tell you what the make or model of this typewriter is, except to say that it is an older style typewriter that has a fabric ribbon," said Det. Sgt. Alex Krygsman. "Even in 2009, it would not be something you would see just anywhere. So we are hoping that will help tweak members of the public, who might cast their minds back to somebody who would have had a typewriter like this and may have had knowledge of Lisa, to come forward."
While the contents of the note won't be released, police indicated it shows Leckie was targeted by someone she knew.
The 25-year-old mother of two was found dead in her third-floor apartment at 390 Southdale Rd. E shortly before 7 a.m. on March 24, 2009. The grim discovery was made by her common-law husband when he returned home from work. Leckie's eight-month-old son was found unharmed in his crib.
An autopsy determined Leckie died by asphyxiation. Investigators believe she was murdered between the evening of March 23, 2009, and the early hours of March 24, 2009.
A video image of a potential witness in the case was released three month's after Leckie's murder. Police have never identified the 5’10”, 200 lbs man who was seen in the video walking near the Southdale Road apartment building the night before Leckie's body was found.
More than 80 different police officers have worked on the case, doing more than 300 interviews. In releasing new clues about the investigation on Friday, police are optimistic someone will remember something, even after ten years, and come forward.
"People may move on, people may move away, but this event is unforgettable," said Krygsman. "I would say that anybody who thinks that what they have to say may be insignificant, doesn't matter, think again. Please pick up the phone and give us a call."
Leckie's eldest son, who was just eight-years-old at the time of her murder, has made a video appeal to the public for information.
"It affected everyone who had come into contact with her to know that someone so special to us could be gone in an instant. It feels like forever ago and yesterday all at once," Sean Leckie said in the nearly three-minute long video released by police.
He spoke about his struggle growing up without his mother's love and support and being unable to come to terms with why someone would want to hurt her.
"I don't want sympathy, I just want it over with. I want to know why someone would want to hurt my mother and everyone around her so badly," said the now 18-year-old Leckie. "If you have any info please, please come forward. Even the smallest thing. Reporting can do nothing but help the case along."
Anyone with information about this case is asked to call investigators with the police major crimes section at 519-661-5674 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.londoncrimestoppers.com.
