'A complete mystery': No suspect, no motive, no witnesses 10 years after Wendy Ladner-Beaudry's killing

Peter Ladner experiences a range of emotions each year when the anniversary of his sister's death comes around.

"Fatigue would be one thing; sorrow, remembrance, frustration," said the former Vancouver city councillor and mayoral candidate. 

"All of the above, and fond memories of Wendy."

Wendy Ladner-Beaudry was found dead in Vancouver's Pacific Spirit Park on April 3, 2009. A decade later, police still haven't announced a break in the case, with no suspect, no motive, and no known witnesses.

Ladner said he and his family are in regular contact with police — the case was turned over to RCMP's Major Crimes Special Projects Unit five years ago — but he hasn't heard of any solid leads in the unsolved killing.

"It's a complete mystery, and you'd think after all these years either the police would have found something, or somebody would have come forward and said, 'I know something,'" he said.

"It's very difficult and tiring to keep raising this issue year after year and going to the press conference and, kind of, getting emotional in public and trying to evoke some response from somebody out there," said Ladner.

The family has repeatedly renewed its $30,000 reward for information that leads to a break in the case. The family did so again on Wednesday. 

Two years ago, investigators said they had spoken to 300 persons of interest, the same number given the year before.

RCMP Supt. Jeanette Theisen said it is possible for people to come forward "years later" with a piece of information that can further a murder investigation. She couldn't give an exact figure for how many people have been interviewed or questioned over the investigation, but ventured a guess.

"After a 10-year, exhaustive investigation, the numbers would be in the thousands. The tens of thousands," the officer said.

Ladner said the smallest tip could change things.

"I'm sure more than one person knows about this murder," said Ladner. "I'm pretty convinced it was a murder without any motive — it was a random killing. Just the same, people talk, people show signs that they know something.

"I just don't know why we haven't been able to get anything," he said.

At the time of her death, Ladner-Beaudry was co-chair of the B.C. Games Society. Ladner remembers her as an active member of the community, a joyous, wise, upbeat and healthy person. He said she was a loving mother to her two daughters, and loving wife to her husband, Michel Beaudry.

"She was the glue that held the family together," said Ladner.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the RCMP Major Crimes Unit at 778-290-5291, or, if they wish to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

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