More than 50 years after the brutal murder of a six-year-old Windsor girl, police have identified the man they believe murdered Ljubica Topic.
On May 13, 1971, the little girl had been playing outside her family's Drouillard Road home when a stranger lured her away by promising her money.
Her body was found in an alley a kilometre away.
(Photos of Frank Arthur Hall courtesy of the Windsor Police Service)
Windsor Police investigators worked tirelessly to find her killer, but it wasn't until forensic technology improved that they could identify a suspect. Five decades later, police reviewed the case internally and can now confirm the man they think is responsible is Frank Arthur Hall.
DNA evidence helped establish Hall as the murderer.
Initially, Windsor Police refused to identify the suspect, citing the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. New leadership at the police service overturned that decision.
"We are committed to operating with full transparency and serving the interests of the people of Windsor and Amherstburg," said Police Chief Jason Bellaire. "We hope this decision meets the public's need for knowledge and offers the opportunity for members of the community to provide further information that may assist with other investigations."
Hall was 22 and lived in the 1800 block of Drouillard Road, less than two kilometres from the Topic family home.
Hall is now deceased. He moved away from Windsor to Edmonton, where he lived until his death at 70 in 2019.
Listen to the 519 Podcast episode on Ljubica Topic.
The Windsor Police Major Crimes Unit was awarded the Ontario Homicide Investigators Association's Lynda Shaw Memorial Award for solving the case.
Shaw, a Western University student, was murdered in April 1990. Her body was found in a woodlot not far from Hwy. 401. The Ontario Provincial Police solved that homicide 15 years later, again using DNA evidence. Police in London revealed Shaw's killer had been on parole after serving time in prison for two other murders.
Windsor Police still want to hear from anyone with information about the Topic murder. Call 519-255-6700 ext. 4830 for the Major Crimes Unit. For those who wish to remain anonymous, the number for Crime Stoppers is 1-519-258-8477, and tips can be posted online at www.catchcrooks.com.