Tuesday, May 4, 2004

OPP Continues to Follow Up Leads in 1969 Murder

(North Bay, Ontario) – Almost 35 years after a North Bay man was found bound and gagged and floating in the Veuve River west of Warren, Ontario, Ontario Provincial Police investigators continue to follow up tips on the case.

Robert William Turner was 39 years old when he left his North Bay home for work June 20, 1969. He was found 34 days later – but he had been dead for less than 72 hours.

The OPP never closes an unsolved case, despite its age, so investigators went back to the public through the media two years ago in the hope that someone would have information that would be beneficial to the case. Thanks to the public and the media, new information has been received and is being pursued by police.

Despite long years in storage, original physical evidence in the 1969 murder - a cigarette butt in Turner’s vehicle - was sent for DNA testing. The results concluded that the DNA on the cigarette matched that of only the deceased.

D/Insp. Dave Cardwell of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch is heading the investigation and says he continues to feel there is someone who has knowledge of what happened to Robert Turner.

Anyone with information is asked to call the OPP at (705) 475-3300 or CrimeStoppers at 1-800- 222-TIPS(8477).