St. Catharines, ON – Homicide detectives with the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) are making an appeal for information in an unsolved homicide investigation.
This week marks the 15-year anniversary of a disturbing St. Catharines homicide. On August 4, 2010, firefighters were called to Livia Beirnes’ home on Oakwood Avenue in St. Catharines. Firefighters could hear Mrs. Beirnes calling for help from her basement. Firefighters discovered her bound and unable to escape the burning home. Mrs. Beirnes died in the hospital the following day. Mrs. Beirnes was 76 years old.
Her death is being investigated as a homicide. Detectives determined that Mrs. Beirnes had been bound by zip ties, “Ty-Rap Cable Tie” brand, which at the time were not commonly sold in retail stores. It is believed the suspect brought the zip ties with them to the scene.
While this case is now 15 years old, detectives with the Homicide Unit have not stopped their investigation. They believe that someone has information that will play a key role in bringing the person or persons responsible for this homicide to justice.
Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the Niagara Regional Police Service’s Homicide Unit at 905-688-4111, option 3, extension 1009060.
Members of the community who wish to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477(TIPS). Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to people who contact the program with information which leads to an arrest.
Media inquires can be directed to [email protected]
NRPS Incident 2010-73627