NEWS RELEASE
NIAGARA REGIONAL POLICE SERVICE
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It was 10 years ago this week that Livia Beirnes was murdered in her Oakwood Avenue home in St. Catharines.
On Aug. 4, 2010, at approximately 8:50 p.m., emergency responders attended 11 Oakwood Avenue in the City of St. Catharines, to the report of a house fire. At the time, 76-year-old Livia Beirnes lived alone in the residence.
Many area residents rushed to the scene in an effort to assist. Mrs. Beirnes could be heard calling for help from the basement level of the home. Firefighters arrived and located Mrs. Beirnes in the basement. Mrs. Beirnes was bound and unable to escape the burning home.
She subsequently died in the hospital the following day.
The investigation by Homicide Unit detectives determined that unknown suspect bound Mrs. Beirnes at the arms by the use of tie wraps (AKA zip ties). The Thomas and Betts brand product "Ty – Rap Cable Tie" (model # TY527mx) was a nylon tie wrap, black in colour. The tie wraps were 34cm long (13.4in). The locking mechanism on the tie wrap when produced contains a piece of metal.
At the time of the homicide the tie wraps were not commonly sold in retails stores to the public. It was determined that the tie wraps could be obtained locally, but they were generally sold by distributors to commercial businesses. The tie warps have many applications but are commonly used in the electrical industry. A search of Mrs. Beirnes home did not find any other ties wraps leading detectives to believe that the unknown suspect brought them to the scene.
Since 2010, members of the Niagara Regional Police Service have been investigating this case in an effort to identify the person or persons responsible for the murder of Livia Beirnes.
In a further attempt solve the Beirnes Homicide investigators have prepared a video to further detail the investigation. Please follow the link below.
Anyone with information about this murder of Mrs. Beirnes is asked to contact the Homicide Unit at 905-688-4111, extension 4406.
Information on crimes can also be submitted anonymously using Crime Stoppers of Niagara. To leave an anonymous tip, please contact Crime Stoppers via:
- Telephone - 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS)
- Online - www.niagaratips.com
- Text - 274637(CRIMES), keyword Niagara, then your tip
Crime Stoppers guarantees that you will remain anonymous through any of the methods offered to provide tips. You may also be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2000 if the information leads to an arrest.
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