Investigators with the Windsor Police Service have identified the suspect in the murder of six-year-old Ljubica Topic in May 1971.
The young girl was playing in the front yard of her Drouillard Road home with her brother when she was led away by an unknown man. Just four hours later, her body was found in the rear alleyway of Hickory Avenue. A full-scale investigation was launched but no charges were ever laid.
"Over the past 48 years, we've continued to search for answers in this case. As of Monday, December 9, 2019 that search is now over as we have identified the man responsible for the abduction, sexual assault, and murder or Ljubica Topic," said Detective Scott Chapman.
With the help of new DNA technologies, investigators were able to match separate sources of DNA from the crime scene and identify the male suspect responsible for the murder.
"This man is recently deceased and we will not be able to release his name publically as he can never be formally charged. I want to make it clear that had he been alive today he would have been arrested and charged for these offences," said Chapman.
Chapman said investigators are confident that the identified male is responsible for the murder.
"Based on the nature of the DNA and where it was located we are certain that he was the person responsible," said Chapman.
Investigators said he was 22-years-old at the time of the murder and was living in Windsor. At some point in his life, he made his way to live in Western Canada. The suspect had never been identified as a person of interest in the case until this DNA evidence was uncovered in the last several months. He was not known to the Topic family. Investigators said he was never linked to any other crimes locally.
The Topic family was notified of this development in the case prior to the Windsor Police Service holding the news conference on Friday.
Chapman, who had been working on this case for several years, said telling the family was the "most significant moment in his career." He said his head was spinning from the moment he received notice of the DNA match.
"I felt like I was dreaming and my head was spinning but it was incredibly satisfying and my first thoughts turned to I'm finally going to be able to tell the family," said Chapman.
The family has requested privacy at this time but sent a letter to the Windsor Police Service and asked that it be read at the news conference. In it, the family thanked the many generations of officers who worked on the case.
"You have done yourselves, your profession, and justice proud. We never gave up hope, and you never gave up. Our family owes you a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts," Chief Pam Mizuno read from the letter from the Topic family.
After 48 years, the homicide investigation is now closed.