The Saskatoon Police Service has solved a 20-year-old mystery.
In 2006, the body of a woman was found in a well and for years her identity remained unknown.
However, on Monday morning the Saskatoon Police Service held a press conference where they identified the unknown woman as Alice Spence.
Spence was born in Michigan to Irish immigrants in 1881, and would move to the Saskatoon area with her husband and daughter in 1913.
Investigators believe Spence was killed and dumped in the well sometime between 1915-1920.
Darren Funk, lead investigator on the file says despite the lengthy investigation Alice was never forgotten.
“Against what seemed like impossible odds, investigators continued to scour every avenue of investigation that was available to them at the time,” said Funk. “Our perseverance paid off, and through many friendships and advances of technology, our woman in the well was given her name.”
The investigation made use of Investigative Genetic Genealogy to identify to help break the case open. The investigative process was provided by the Toronto Police Service.
On hand at the press conference were descendants of Alice Spence.
Alice’s great granddaughter, Cindy Camp, was grateful to the investigators for solving the mystery.
“While this has been an emotional journey, we are so grateful to the many individuals who have worked tirelessly over the years to give the woman in the well her name back,” said Camp.
Investigators do believe Alice’s death was suspicious, however, they now consider the case closed as any person involved in her death would not be able to defend themselves in court.
(TOP PHOTO – Cindy Camp, the great granddaughter of Alice Spence speaks at a press conference at SPS Headquarters in Saskatoon. Photo by Joel Willick)