She departed this life on February 5, 2023, at the age of 67, while resting at home. According to court records, the oldest brother, David Laan, has been convicted for breaking and entering and theft. Hurley lived at Cedar Pines, one of the homes run by the Laans, for a few years until his death in 1996. ", Missing senior killed to stop her from reporting 'mistreatment, neglect,' police said, Muskoka mystery: Disappearance of 4 seniors in late 1990s haunts Ontario's cottage country. The information contained in the documents has not been tested in court. Several of the family members who ran the homes have criminal records. Born April 11, 1931, in Anderson, she was the daughter of the late Bennie and Helen Buzzele Fields. View Tribute Book Read more Events Resources Unique Funeral Options 6 Ways To Thank A Caregiver (and more!) Plant a tree Memorial Trees H Hope the tree helps some love Shannon, Bre & Tabby February 21, 2023 Ron Allens age and whereabouts are unknown. Around 1994, David, Walter, Paul, and their sister Kathrinewho is not one of Manishen's clientsopened a series of retirement homes in Emsdale and Huntsville. Lessons from Fort Jefferson continue to have impact. When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. The Walrus uses cookies for personalization, to customize its online advertisements, and for other purposes. For tips about this story or any other, contact Lisa Mayor at lisa.mayor@cbc.ca or Timothy Sawa at timothy.sawa@cbc.ca. Katie was a truly beloved friend to the many people she met through her life. 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. 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. Lawrence also began to indicate she was in danger. "They were the ones that were always there when I went.". In 1998, the OPP began investigating the conditions of care homes being run by a local family in Muskoka. She graduated cum laude from Seton Hill University in 2012 with a BA in Psychology and with Elementary and Special Education Certificates. What Matthews saw in the early days of investigating the homes had him worried for the well-being of the residents who lived there. Last month, Fifth Estate journalists and I interacted with Kathrine outside a movie theatre in Bracebridge. She said this was all "fake news.". Echovita offers a solidarity program that gives back the funds generated to families. 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. Claiming mistreatment and financial abuse, Lawrence approached a law firm to help her gather evidence against her landlords to bring to the OPP. "It appeared to be clean and well-kept," he said. Smiling, she waved at the camera and then drove off. She attended the Valley School of Ligonier from kindergarten through ninth grade and then Mt. 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. Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and public records. 2023 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved. asheboro country club membership cost why did ruby bentall leave the paradise. A private investigator hired by the CBC in 2017 was unable to locate Kathrine, now fifty-four. Her sister, Jane Benedict, and, her nephew, Michael Benedict. Members of theLaan familyrecruited people from Toronto who were on the fringes of society and promised them a quiet life in Muskoka, with activities like bowling, woodwork and singsongs at their care homes. In a previously filed legal document, Justin Safayeni, a lawyer for the Toronto-based firm Stockwoods, who is representing The Walrus/CBC, argued that unsealing the information poses no serious risk to the Laans or their uncle and that the threat of vigilante justice is entirely speculative and without foundation., In fact, Safayeni writes, numerous media reports have linked the Laans to Ms. Lawrences disappearance over the past 20 years and no charges have been laid, yet there is no evidence that the Laans (or Mr. Allen) have faced any kind of threats or violence. The possibility that that would happen now is entirely speculative.. Call Call. Funeral Services will be 2:00PM Sunday, December 5, 2021 at Piney Grove Chapel Baptist Church, Angier. 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. "[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. . When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. She spent six months recovering from her injury at the Institute of Research and Rehabilitation at UPMC Southside in Pittsburgh. 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. Katherine Jennifer Smith April 29, 1988 - November 14, 2022 It is with a heavy heart and unmeasurable sadness that we announce the death of our 34-year-old daughter Katie. The missing piece of the puzzle is out there somewhere and I'm very optimistic that we will find it. If you know of an upcoming event for Katherine Smith, please add one. 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. Katie Smith of Stahlstown did not let a car accident that left her paralyzed stop her from living life the way she wanted, from continuing to play sports here and abroad to being a positive impact in peoples lives, according to her friends. The Laans reportedly said it was against their religion to eat meat, so meals consisted of hard-boiled eggs and Kraft Dinner three times a day. The Walrus is a registered charity with an educational mandate. However, a source with knowledge of the case claims it hasnt been active for years. 2, 2018. The four missing seniors all lived with the Laans prior to their disappearance. OPP say they think the Laans sought out people who had no family or friends to look out for them. Wanting more space for her cats, Lawrence relocated to the Laan farm, a twenty-eight-hectare property owned by three of the Laan brothers: David, Walter, and Paul. Anthony Varcak Sandy Weingartz . Obituary SMITH, Katherine J. age 82, of Huber Heights went home to be with the Lord February 18, 2023. A unique and lasting tribute for a loved one. Echovita offers a solidarity program that gives back the funds generated to families. Joe Napsha is a Tribune-Review staff writer. In a strange twist, Matthews, who was investigating the Laans retirement homes before Lawrences disappearance, was said by David and Walter to be responsible for relocating the missing seniors. She can be reached at lisa.mayor@cbc.ca. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, January 27 at Sullivan-King Mortuary with Rev. According to the documents, adetectiveon the case also interviewed a pastor whom theLaansasked to go to Fern Glen to act as a witness as documents were signed by residents. 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. She was predeceased by : her parents, Robert Brown and Elva Brown; her sons, Robert and Charles Curtis; and her sister Barbara Howard. The Walrus uses cookies for personalization, to customize its online advertisements, and for other purposes. Memorial contributions may be made in Katies memory to Three Rivers Adaptive Sports(TRAS): P.O. Katherine R Smith of Bloomingdale, Passaic County, New Jersey was born on November 20, 1917. Connersville native, Katherine L. Smith, 68, died Sunday, August 21, 2022 surrounded by her loving family. "Every police officer, I think, if you ask them, 'Why do we do this, we do this to serve?' While investigating the disappearances, police also began looking into the conditions of the homes. The affidavits, calledinformation to obtain search warrant documents (ITOs), are written by police officers or detectives and are presented before a judge in an effort to obtain a search warrant. Visitation will conclude with a memorial service to celebrate Katies life, with Pastor David Clement of Trinity Lutheran Church of Latrobe officiating. 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.". Joan Lawrence, the so-called "Cat Lady," lived a hermitic life, spending her pension on cat food and an eight-by-ten-foot, $600-a-month shed. Newly obtained police documents reveal additional details and shed further light on what police believe may have happened to four elderly people who mysteriously vanished two decades ago from a secluded area of Ontario's cottage country north of Toronto. She was a homemaker and member of South Point Baptist Church formerly Harvest Baptist Church. November 14, 2022 Fact-based journalism that sparks the Canadian conversation. None of the Laans, or their uncle, Ron Allen, reported their residents as missing. David, Walter, Walters wife, Karen, Paul, and Kathrine were eventually charged in relation to the theft of residents government benefit chequesincluding cheques belonging to three of the missing seniors. The OPP says the case remains openand declined to comment. Sharon Kay Darling, age 83, of Owosso, MI, passed away Monday, February 20, 2023, at Medilodge, East Lansing. Join Facebook to connect with Kathy Laan and others you may know. Snyder-Green Funeral Home Inc. 402 E Church St. Ligonier, PA KATHERINE SMITH OBITUARY It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Katherine Clare Smith, 36, of Stahlstown,. 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. "She had stated that she did not trust them and to call the police if anything ever happened to her," the police documents from an interview with a friend say. 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