Almost seven years after a 74-year-old woman was tied up and left to die in the basement of her burning home in St. Catherines, Ont., police are offering a $50,000 reward in hopes of bringing those responsible to justice.
Livia Beirnes lived alone in her house on 11 Oakwood Avenue, but had a daughter in the Niagara Region and a son who lived outside the area.
On August 4, 2010, at 8:50 p.m., emergency crews responded to a report of a fire at her home. Neighbours in the Merritton community rushed to the scene of the blaze and Beirnes could be heard shouting for help from the basement.
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Firefighters located her inside the home, but police said she was unable to escape the fire because she was tied up.
Beirnes was eventually rescued from the burning home and rushed to hospital, but died from smoke inhalation a day later.
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On Thursday, six and a half years after her death, police posted a significant reward for information leading to an arrest and are hoping someone who knows something about the case will come forward.
Moir said the reward was put forth as soon as approval from the Police Services Board was granted instead of on a significant date or anniversary of the case, which is common in other homicide investigations.
“Anyone that may have been reluctant in the past that has information, this would be an incentive for them to come forward and assist police,” she said.
“It’s been an ongoing investigation since 2010, so leads have been followed, we’re just hoping that someone has information. People talk — and we’re hoping that can help us.”
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Investigators said they are determined to bring those responsible to justice to provide closure to the Beirnes family.
Anyone with information or evidence in the investigation into Beirnes’ death is asked to contact Niagara Regional Police Det.-Sgt. Jamie Munro at 905-688-4111 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
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