One year since 13-year-old was killed in Burnaby’s Central Park; still no arrests

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to remove the victim’s name, which is now covered by a publication ban.

BURNABY (NEWS 1130) – Today marks the one-year anniversary of the murder of a 13-year-old, whose body was found in a wooded area in Burnaby’s Central Park.

Cpl. Frank Jang with the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) read a statement from the girl’s family at the park this morning–a plea for information that could help further the investigation.

“Any piece of information could be helpful,” read the family’s statement.

“[She] was only 13 years old when her life was taken. It’s difficult to express in words the pain of losing her in this terrible way. We were supposed to see her grow up, but instead we’ve been deprived of the joy having her in our lives and we’re left with thought of what could’ve been of [her] life.”

While there have been no arrests or criminal charges in connection with the homicide, Jang says investigators are closer to solving it than they were a few months ago. IHIT is following up with a number of suspects who they think may have information, but there is no specific person of interest at this time.

Surveillance footage shows the girl outside the apartment building where she lived near the park on July 18, 2017. At 5 p.m., she sent a text from her phone, although it’s unclear to whom the message was sent or what it was about.

About an hour later (6:02 p.m.), the girl was seen again on surveillance footage, leaving home. Investigators said it did not appear she was in distress.

The girl was dressed in shorts and a t-shirt, the same clothes she’s believed to have been discovered in.

At 11:30 p.m., the girl’s mother called police to report her missing. Shortly after 1 a.m. on July 19, 2017, her body was found in the brush on the southeast side of Central Park. Officers were able to track the girl’s phone, leading them to her body.

Police have said they were confident the girl was killed in the park, however a cause of death has not been released. Shortly after her death, police said the killing was “random.”

Investigators have released a criminal profile of the type of person who might have killed the girl, describing them as someone who likely lived near the park and who might have unexpectedly moved away after her death.

A month after the killing, police had identified at least 90 persons of interest in the case, but no arrests have been made.

Speaking through a spokesperson, the girl’s mother has thanked the public in a statement issued earlier this week:

“Thank all the people who cared about her, helped her during the year. Thank the police for their hard work during the year but hope the police to capture the murder as soon as possible to comfort my daughter and return safety to our community.”

A dedicated website has been set up by IHIT, in the hopes of generating tips that will help them find the girl’s killer.

Jang says investigators have worked tirelessly, watching thousands of hours of surveillance video, taking over 200 tips, and conducting over 600 interviews to try to figure out ho is behind the young teen’s murder.

The investigation remains active. Anyone with information is asked to call the IHIT tipline at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

 – With files from Sonia Aslam, Hana Mae Nassar