"[Kathrine] was a con artist," Hurley said after realizing the letter and the date they began stealing his money were almost identical. The importance of saying "I love you" during COVID-19, Effective ways of dealing with the grieving process, Solutions to show your sympathy safely during the Covid-19 pandemic. Visitation will conclude with a memorial service to celebrate Katies life, with Pastor David Clement of Trinity Lutheran Church of Latrobe officiating. "It appeared to be clean and well-kept," he said. KATHERINE MARIE LEIKER Katherine Marie "Katie" Leiker, 36 and Emmett James Leiker, her unborn son, of Munjor, Kansas died Friday, February 17, 2023 at their home. By the age of 25, their sister, Kathrine Laan, had spent time in jail for drug possession, theft and extortion. Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and public records. Its goal is to create strategies that fulfill journalisms basic pledge: to serve society with a truthful, intelligent and comprehensive account of ideas and events. The missing piece of the puzzle is out there somewhere and I'm very optimistic that we will find it. She was also full of sarcasm, wit, was habitually late, and we loved her even more for it. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. "[Kathrine] would go to Toronto and find people who had no connection to any other people, really, and she would entice them and say, you know, I have a nice retirement home up north and it's a beautiful place," says former friend Alice Peddie, who knew Kathrine Laan when she was involved in the care homes. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. You can contact Joe by email at jnapsha@triblive.com or via Twitter . In Lawrences case, David and Ron Allen were listed as first-degree murder suspects. 2, 2018. Would you like to offer Katherine J. Smiths loved ones a condolence message? She will deeply be missed. The Fifth Estate spent months tracking down Kathrine Laan, in the end finding multiple names she'd used over the past several years and around a dozen addresses and phone numbers for her across the United States and Canada. Hurley said police called him two years after his father died around 1998, when their investigation began but didn't offer him any new information. Fact-based journalism that sparks the Canadian conversation. Connersville native, Katherine L. Smith, 68, died Sunday, August 21, 2022 surrounded by her loving family. Paul was given a restitution order to pay back more than $20,000, and Walter more than $10,000. She courageously battled an illness and died in the hospital at UPMC Mercy in Pittsburgh, PA. At the time of publication, I knew that Kathrine had a criminal record for possession, extortion, theft, and fraud. The newly released documentsinclude details about a gun found on the property from which Lawrence disappeared, along with insight into conditions of "care homes" run by the Laan family in the area and information about a forged signature on a tax cheque that police believe was the catalyst in Lawrence's disappearance. Katherine C. Smith. "That was probably his lifeline that kept him from either disappearing or dying quietly in a bed there.". What Matthews saw in the early days of investigating the homes had him worried for the well-being of the residents who lived there. She worked diligently with caring and skilled doctors, nurses, and therapists to rebuild her strength and develop skills that would guide her path forward. During her career as an advocate, she was invited to the United Nations to participate in a summit hosted by the Humanity and Inclusion organization, was a presenter for the Dan Miller Disability and Mental Health Summit and attended the Harkin International Disability Summit. Katie was a member of the USA Boccia Paralympic national team, competing and training in destinations including Canada, the United Kingdom, and Brazil. There was never an opportunity missed on a good one liner. Smith pursued her love of sports by skiing and playing rugby, curling and bocce, Zablotney said. That same friend told police that was the last time she spoke with or heard from Lawrence, whom she normally saw three times per week. 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. It was while attending Penn State University and studying to be a nurse when Smith was in a car accident in July 2007, causing a catastrophic spinal cord injury. According to the documents, she told a social worker to call police if anything happened to her. When Lawrence realized she hadn't received the cheque, she had a friend who worked at a local law office look into it. Rob Matthews told The Fifth Estate the case is moving forward in a substantial way after they received a "significant" number of tips and information following a news conference this summer and media attention to the case. For two decades, Canadians have relied on our thought-provoking journalism to make sense of our world. Privacy Policy and Katherine J. Smith Obituary We are sad to announce that on February 18, 2023 we had to say goodbye to Katherine J. Smith of Huber Heights, Ohio. To date, no one has been charged in relation to the disappearances, but the four Muskoka missing had one thing in common: their landlords, David, Walter, and Paul Laan. This article was published over a year ago. She also began honing her craft as a public speaker and developed a program she presented to students geared toward cultivating inclusive environments and promoting self-advocacy for youth. Its thought that Lawrence moved to Huntsville from Barrie, Ontario, in 1963. Friends and family will be received on Sunday, March 6, from 1-4 p.m. at the Snyder-Green Funeral Home; 402 E. Church St.; Ligonier, PA 15658; (724) 238-2611. . The unredacted documents reveal new details, including that the Laans were systematically defrauding residents by stealing the seniors pension and benefit cheques, allegedly giving alcohol to alcoholics, and abandoning seniors on rural properties 230 kilometres north of Toronto. Echovita offers a solidarity program that gives back the funds generated to families. Memorial contributions may be made in Katies memory to Three Rivers Adaptive Sports(TRAS): P.O. Police say they've looked into those 12 deaths and say they are not considered suspicious. She departed this life on February 5, 2023, at the age of 67, while resting at home. Read more on our About Us page. She was a graduate of Everett High School, earned an Associate in Arts and Sciences degree at Everett Junior College, and received a Bachelor of . A former freelance copywriter for Chatelaine and the Toronto Star, she survived off an $800-a-month pension income and drifted between boarding houses and shelters after a fire destroyed her house in 1994around the time the Laans opened their first retirement home. She is survived by : her parents, Gary Smith and Diana Smith of Langhorne, PA; her step-parents, Kim and Lance; her siblings, Chelsea Perez and Jason Smith (Jillian); and her grandmothers, Caroline Walker and Kathleen Smith. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, January 27 at Sullivan-King Mortuary with Rev. Chris Tribula Katherine Ulewicz Kathy Ulewicz Roger Van Elslande. For tips about this story or any other, contact Lisa Mayor at lisa.mayor@cbc.ca or Timothy Sawa at timothy.sawa@cbc.ca. She can be reached at lisa.mayor@cbc.ca. Others reported having no access to bathroom facilities. Fact-based journalism that sparks the Canadian conversation. 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 lived for music and dancing and attended hundreds of concerts all over the country. A former freelance copywriter for Chatelaine and the Toronto Star, she survived off an $800-a-month pension income and drifted between boarding houses and shelters after a fire destroyed her house in 1994around the time the Laans opened their first retirement home. Sister. When journalists from The Fifth Estate approached David in a Toronto parking lot this past summer, he declined to answer questions and drove away. The care homes were described in promotional material as "Christian Retirement Homes," with names like Cedar Pines and Fern Glen Manor. Copyright 2023 Echovita Inc. All rights reserved. The OPP says the case remains openand declined to comment. Katherine Marie Smith of Tracyton, WA passed away on March 15, 2022 in Silverdale WA. Your sweet mother was truly a Godly woman with a huge heart. "[I hope] we can finally bring justice to the families of those victims," he said. That was inspiring to me, and I am sure it was to all those who encountered her, said DeFlitch, retired executive managing editor of the Tribune-Review. For the stories, The Walrus and The Fifth Estate have petitioned an Ontario court judge to unseal several search warrants executed in the early months of the investigation. Katie was a truly beloved friend to the many people she met through her life. 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. Just Fontaine, who scored 13 goals at 1958 World Cup, dies, Terry Holland, who transformed Virginia basketball, dies at 80, Kremlin image-maker turned critic Gleb Pavlovsky dies at 71, Betty Boothroyd, first female UK Commons speaker, dies at 93, Charleroi native, CMU grad actress Barbara Bosson dead at 83, Long-lost ship found in Lake Huron, confirming tragic story, GZA, Donnie Iris, John Mayer among top concerts to see around Pittsburgh in March, How officials cracked case of eyedrops that blinded people. The Trust Project is a collaboration among news organizations around the world. Charges against David Laan were withdrawn. In addition to new facts, the documents paint a more detailed portrait of previously known individuals. She was born Aug. 30, 1985, in Latrobe, the daughter of Patricia OBrien Smith and the late Robert Melville Smith. In an affidavit filed in June, the OPP investigator currently assigned to the case, Rob Matthews, repeatedly describes it being active and ongoing. Service map data OpenStreetMap contributors, Friends and family will be received on Sunday, March 6, from 1-4 p.m. at the Snyder-Green Funeral Home; 402 E. Church St.; Ligonier, PA 15658; (724) 238-2611. The forms, he said, were to give theLaanspermission to change residents' bank accounts and to have theirchequesdeposited directly. Some information may no longer be current. Paul and Walter Laan received sentences that included probation and community service. He said at the time he assumed his father owed rent payments to the care home. Funeral arrangement under the care ofBaker-Hazel & Snider Funeral Home. Interment will be private. Along with Lawrence, three more residents, aged sixty-nine to ninety, are believed to have gone missing between 1998 and 1999. Learn more or change your cookie preferences. View Katherine C. Smith's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more. Online Financial Statement Analysis Tutors. Over the course of their operation, four residents disappeared from the Laan family homes: 77-year-old Lawrence, a former newspaper reporter and aspiring author; 69-year-old Grant, a family man and former auto parts salesman; 70-year-old Crofts, a former Eaton's employee and father of twin boys; and 89-year-old Semple, a father, grandfather and war veteran. Box 38235, Pittsburgh PA 15216 and www.traspa.org and the Pittsburgh Steelwheelers www.steelwheelers.com. If you know of an upcoming event for Katherine Smith, please add one. It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. Ms. Katherine Clare Smith, 36, died Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022, at UPMC Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh. They were run mostly by four members of the Laan family David, Paul, Walter and Kathrine and their uncle Ron Allen, who was a caretaker at one property. (Lisa Mayor/CBC) Police believed an elderly woman who disappeared in Ontario's cottage country two decades ago was killed to "prevent her from reporting frauds, thefts, mistreatment and neglect. She did not view needing a wheelchair to give her mobility as a disadvantage because it gave her so many opportunities, Badger said. With thanks,Jennifer HollettExecutive Director, Updated 9:54, Nov. 12, 2019|Published 15:11, Mar. David Neal officiating. He signed all but two of the forms. She was born December 30, 1986 in Enid, Oklahoma, the daughter of Todd and Terry (Washtak) Smith. Hurley received a letter from Kathrine Laan shortly after his father died, saying that his father had become like family to them and that they loved him. Other stories told to police included that Lawrence, who subsisted off a pension cheque and rented an eighty-square-foot garden shed, had gone to Vancouver, Hawaii, and upstate New York. Her sister, Jane Benedict, and, her nephew, Michael Benedict. Memorial contributions may be made in Smiths memory to Three Rivers Adaptive Sports, P.O. Online Finite Mathematics Tutors. it's to make a difference. OPP say they think the Laans sought out people who had no family or friends to look out for them. Lisa Mayor is a journalist with CBC News on Prince Edward Island. Police believed an elderly woman who disappeared in Ontario's cottage country two decades ago was killed to "prevent her from reporting frauds, thefts, mistreatment and neglect she was enduring" from her landlords, according to documents recently obtained by The Fifth Estate. But Hurley was the only surviving family member of his father's family. Her coach, Jerry DeFlitch of East Huntingdon, recalled that Smith was a joy to coach and that she always worked hard. (Matthews declined to be interviewed.). 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. Obituary. One resident told police he noticed that he wasn't receiving any of his cheques in the mail as he normally did, and that he didn't remember signing any documents allowing the Laans access to his money. Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. When Hurley inquired with the Canada Pension Plan about his father's survivor benefits paid to the next of kin to assist with the costs of a funeral, he was told that the payout had been made to "the other applicant.". 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. 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. Donate to The Walrus today. No charges have ever been laid in the disappearance of any of the four seniors. Detectives had to take him to hospital, where he was admitted because of his poor health. Katie was born on August 30, 1985, in Latrobe, PA and grew up in Stahlstown, PA, where she was living at the time of her passing with her mother and Patricias partner, Raymond Nelson. And her sister, Jillian Mariani. She had a true affection for all young people and amassed an impressive childrens book collection. She will be dearly missed by all. Mrs. Thelma Louise Cooper Muldrow was born in Florence, South Carolina on February 19, 1955, to the late Robert Christopher Cooper, Sr. and the late Alberta Alexander Cooper. TV Q&A: Is a Pittsburgher writing for CBSs East New York? The shed where Lawrence lived, according to police documents, "did not have toilet facilities, running water or electricity and was not insulated." She was a regular and enthusiastic participant in The Moth Live Storytelling series in Pittsburgh. Best Match Powered by Whitepages Premium AGE 80+ Katherine Smith West Milford, NJ (previously lived in Wanaque, NJ) View Full Report Addresses She traveled the world playing bocce, Zablotney said. She was a member of the Pittsburgh Steelwheelers quadriplegic rugby team since 2008, competing in tournaments throughout the country. According to the unredacted documents, her landlords lied about her whereabouts. Katherine Mae Smith Obituary. Since her last known arrest in the early 2000s, she has changed the spelling of her name at least six times and altered her physical appearance. Katherine Fields Smith, 91, of Anderson, and widow of the late Joel B. Smith, Jr., passed away Wednesday, January 25, 2023, at Iva Post-Acute Care. Another resident said he was taken into town once in a while, but after a short time "he felt that it was useless to go intotown because he didn't even have money for a cup of coffee.". "I had significant concerns regarding the care of these individuals," he said. Another resident told police he had no shower facilities and was told he'd be taken to Fern Glen to shower once a week. Smith was a member of the USA Boccia Paralympic national team. In the case of Ralph Grant, John Crofts, and John Semple, whose ages ranged from sixty-nine to ninety, no suspects have officially been named, though in 2001 Walter told the Toronto Sun that police were trying to put a murder charge on us.. 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