Read more on our About Us page. The Fifth Estate has learned that Kathrine Laan died in July. Obituary. No charges have ever been laid in the disappearance of any of the four seniors. The Walrus sparks conversations about Canada and its place in the world through our award-winning independent journalism, fact checking, events, podcasts, and content solutions. What initially seemed to be tragic misfortune would instead become the beginning of 15 years of perseverance, inspiration, and accomplishment. She departed this life on February 5, 2023, at the age of 67, while resting at home. Some information may no longer be current. In Lawrences case, David and Ron Allen were listed as first-degree murder suspects. Approached for comment multiple times byThe Fifth Estate, members of theLaanfamilydeclined to comment. Call Call. For tips about this story or any other, contact Lisa Mayor at lisa.mayor@cbc.ca or Timothy Sawa at timothy.sawa@cbc.ca. Memorial contributions may be made in Katies memory to Three Rivers Adaptive Sports(TRAS): P.O. Wheelchair Pennsylvania and president of the Ms. A group of teammates and eternally grateful friends penned the following statement, which was released by Erin Clark. When Lawrence realized she hadn't received the cheque, she had a friend who worked at a local law office look into it. Officiating will be Rev. (Manishen has ignored requests for an interview.). jennifer sarich death The Trust Project is a collaboration among news organizations around the world. What Matthews saw in the early days of investigating the homes had him worried for the well-being of the residents who lived there. At the time of publication, I knew that Kathrine had a criminal record for possession, extortion, theft, and fraud. This property wasn't directly connected to the other "care homes," but was used as a rooming property for renters. The youngest brother, Paul, teaches English at a private university in metropolitan Seoul. Katherine C. Smith. Family linked to disappearance of seniors fights release of police documents. "[Kathrine] was a con artist," Hurley said after realizing the letter and the date they began stealing his money were almost identical. To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Katherine Fields Smith, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store. November 14, 2022 Receive obituaries from the city or cities of your choice. In a legal filing published on September 20, Jeffrey Manishen, of the Hamilton-based firm Ross & McBride, says his clients could face vigilante justice because of stories released by the two media organizations. Writing on behalf of his clients, Manishen says information about the case should remain private until the police investigation is closed. Citing legal examples in which judges ruled against journalists seeking similar access, Manishen argues that the publication of stories containing inadmissible or irrelevant details about his clients that could prejudice prospective jurors and infringe on their right to a fair trial. Katherine "Kappy" L. Smith December 30, 1922 - February 21, 2023 Share this obituary Sign Guestbook | View Guestbook Entries | Send Sympathy Card Print Obituary Michael J Lear of Guymon February 22, 2023 Smith family, I am deeply sorry for your loss. Facebook gives people the power to share. Insp. Badger said she and Smith made appearances together at the Parent Education & Advocacy Leadership (PEAL) Center in Pittsburgh, which works with disabled children and their families. She was sentenced to nine months in custody. During the investigation into the disappearance of Lawrence, police also discovered that three other seniors were missing from properties owned by the same family John Semple, 90, John Crofts, 71, and Ralph (Doogie)Grant, 70. Obituary. Learn more or change your cookie preferences. Friends and family will be received from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Snyder-Green Funeral Home, 402 E. Church St., Ligonier, where a funeral service will immediately follow. "Every police officer, I think, if you ask them, 'Why do we do this, we do this to serve?' An OPP detective who went to one property noted the septic system drained directly from the building onto the ground. Roger van der Laan. Her coach, Jerry DeFlitch of East Huntingdon, recalled that Smith was a joy to coach and that she always worked hard. Ten of the residents were deaf. You can read the feature Cottage Country Murder here. He says Kathrine Laan asked him to do some work on one of the houses for her in the late 1990s. Not long after Kathrine was found stealing money from the school, she and three of her brothers all four Laan family members who shared in the ownership of the retirement homes were charged with stealing pension and old age security cheques from residents of homes they operated before and for years after their deaths, at least $100,000 in all. Soon after her college graduation, she began a career in education that included positions as a private tutor and as a substitute teacher working in various school districts in the area. Katie also served as a mentor to both peers and students. Joan Lawrence, John Crofts, Ralph Grant and John Semple vanished from retirement homes owned by a local family under what police say are suspicious circumstances. Before arriving on the Island, she worked in Toronto as an investigative journalist with CBC's The Fifth Estate, where she received two Canadian Screen Awards, a Michener Award and a National Radio Television Digital News Association Award. Katie also participated in adaptive horseback riding, administered through Nickers N Neighs and the Stoneybrook Foundation, where she also became a board member. In mid-December 1998, police found the bodies of six of Lawrence's cats with bullets in them during a search of the property where Lawrence was last seen. His younger brother Walter Laan's criminal record began at the age of 18 and continued over 24 years with convictions for property offences, breaking and entering, fraud and impersonating a police officer. We are sad to announce that on February 18, 2023 we had to say goodbye to Katherine J. Smith of Huber Heights, Ohio. According to the documents, she told a social worker to call police if anything happened to her. The forms, he said, were to give theLaanspermission to change residents' bank accounts and to have theirchequesdeposited directly. Lawrence told the friend that Allen later admitted to her that he had forged her signature and cashed the cheque. Of thepages the organizations received, almost two-thirds were redacted. A Loved One Has Passed Away Customer Service Plan Ahead . According to court records, the oldest brother, David Laan, has been convicted for breaking and entering and theft. The Laans lawyer, Jeffrey Manishen, at that time argued that releasing the documents would "seriously impact" the "privacy and reputational interests of the Laans.". The portions of the search warrants that remain under seal will be challenged by The Walrus/CBC in a hearing later this month. With thanks,Jennifer HollettExecutive Director, Updated 13:47, Nov. 27, 2019|Published 5:00, Oct. 13, 2017. Katherine Ann Smith Mahan, age 86, of Talbott, departed to be face to face with the Lord at Signature Lifestyles assisted living on Wednesday, December 30, 2020. He also told police he heard the "sound of gunshots" around the last time he saw her in the fall of 1998. There was never an opportunity missed on a good one liner. Best Match Powered by Whitepages Premium AGE 80+ Katherine Smith West Milford, NJ (previously lived in Wanaque, NJ) View Full Report Addresses She attended the Valley School of Ligonier from kindergarten through ninth grade and then Mount Pleasant Area High School from where she graduated in 2003. "I believe [Joan] Lawrence's death occurred to prevent her from reporting frauds, thefts, mistreatment and neglect she was enduring at the hands of [her landlords] David Laan and Ron Allen," OPP Det.-Const. One of the first residents who spoke to police said he only had rice and pasta to eat and was paying $700 per month tolive at FernGlen. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. She was the school's volunteer treasurer at the time. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Elva Brown; sons, Robert and Charles Curtis; and sister, Barbara Howard. Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. OPP Det. They also confirm, for the first time, that police believed at least one of the missing seniors was killed and that a member of the Laan family was responsible. A memorial gathering is being held to celebrate the life of Kathy Smith at Horan & McConaty on Thursday December 16th, 2021 at 1:00 pm. His son, Michael Hurley, wasn't aware his father's money was being stolen until a 2017 investigation by The Fifth Estate revealed that Kathrine, Walter, Paul and David Laan had been involved in fraud in connection with residents at the homes they operated. The Fifth Estate has learned that Kathrine Laan died in July. Smith enrolled at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, where she graduated cum laude in 2012 with a bachelors degree in psychology and with elementary and special education certificates. David Laan, who is now sixty, is believed to work at George Brown College in Toronto. The documents, which total more than400 pages, describe the police investigation to date, includingwhat was found in searches police carried out on the property where Lawrence was last known to have lived. In late 1998, a resident of one of the homes where Lawrence was living reported to his social worker that he thought she was missing. Joe Napsha is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Western Pennsylvania's trusted news source. Smith was a member of the USA Boccia Paralympic national team. February 18, 2023 Grand Rapids, MI WILLIAM VAN LAAN OBITUARY VAN LAAN, WILLIAM William C. Van Laan, age 88, of Kentwood, began his eternal life in heaven on Friday, September 21, 2012, after battling cancer. Police recently confirmed all 16 residents who died had their money stolen before and after their deaths. Katherine now resides at 879 Kirts Boul, Troy, MI 48084-4857. where is bob hoover buried; lloyd williams obituary; raelondo wright rae carruth son; que significa una casa sucia; altland house haunted; avengers fanfiction peter intern meets team cap Her spirit was infectious, and it was hard not to be jealous of the way she approached life. Martin Funeral HomePhone: (205) 755-35501300 4th Ave. N, Clanton, Alabama, Martin Funeral Home*Martin Funeral Home, Inc. does not own a crematory.Supported by SRS Computing. Several of the family members who ran the homes have criminal records. Some information may no longer be current. The documents show that, on three different properties owned by the Laans near Huntsville, Ontario, many of the residents paid between $400 and $750 a month to rent shared rooms and tiny outbuildings during the 1990s. I Believe in the Evil EyeAnd You Should Too. More than two decades later, CBC Podcasts has found Lawrence's family. 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