Windsor Police say they have cracked the case of a six-year-old girl murdered more than 50 years ago and have released the name of the person they say killed her.
Police said Wednesday night that a man named Frank Arthur Hall, who died in 2019, was responsible for Ljubica Topic’s death. Windsor Police announced in 2019 that they had solved the cold case, but have so far singled out Hall as the person they believe is responsible.
Police said they had identified Hall, 22 at the time of the crime, “through relentless investigative work and advances in forensic technology” and noted that “DNA evidence is critical.” .”
WINDSOR POLICE NEWSLETTER
Windsor police identify killer in Ljubica Cold case topic https://t.co/PUyyntkht1 pic.twitter.com/xyF7P450op
Police say Topic was abducted, sexually assaulted, and murdered on May 14, 1971.
She was playing outside her family home on Drouillard Road when a stranger lured her away with the promise of money, police said in a press release. She was later found dead near an alley a kilometer from her home. The case has attracted national attention.
The case has been reopened six times since the 1970s, with hundreds of tips from across Canada and the US. In 2015, police released a suspect’s profile after new evidence – Ljubica’s two teeth and an adult tooth – was found near her body. were detected.
More than 500 people have been interested in the case over the years.
The decision not to name the culprit was overturned
The police said in December 2019 that they had found the man responsible, but won’t reveal my name. Now they say that Hall died in February 2019.
Police said Hall lived in the 1800 block on Drouillard Street, less than two kilometers from Topic’s home. According to investigators, Hall later moved to Edmonton and died at the age of 70.
Police said that while they initially cited the City’s Freedom of Information and Privacy Act as a reason not to name Hall, “our new leadership team reviewed and ultimately rescinded the decision. All such cases will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to raise public awareness.”
“We are committed to operating with complete transparency and serving the interests of the people of Windsor and Amherstburg,” Police Chief Jason Bellaire said in a statement.
“We hope this decision responds to the public’s need for understanding and provides an opportunity for members of the public to provide additional information that may aid other investigations.”
CBC Windsor has contacted Windsor police for further comment.
