Quebec police reopen 1989 homicide cold case

Quebec provincial police have reopened the unsolved homicide of Sylvie Laverdire, 24, whose mutilated body was found in her apartment in Ste-Thrse in April, 1989.

Police set up a command post in thetown, north of Laval,hoping that someone will come forward with new information.

Investigators say they are looking to speak to anyone who lived in the same neighbourhoodas Laverdire in 1989, anyone who knew Laverdire and anyone who might have noticed something out of the ordinary around the time the woman was killed.

Sret du Qubec Sgt. Benot Richard said many people were questioned at the time of Laverdire's death, but no one was arrested.

Modern tests yield new clues

Some items that didn't belong tothe woman were found in her apartment.

"We have some new ways to look at those things that were seized," said Richard. "We're trying to get people to come and talk to us, to see if we canlink those things with somebody."

For Laverdire's mother, seeing her daughter's case reopenedis painful, but it brings new hope as well.

"When you have kids, and you're close, and you speak to them every day, then suddenly there are no more phone calls, and you wait but know there will never be any calls again it's not easy," Janine Couturier said.

"I'm asking people, no matter how small the information may be that you have,please, as Sylvie's mother, I would like you to call."

Laverdire's disappearance was noted after she failed to show up at a Rosemre gym, where she worked as a manager.

Her body was found in her basement apartment on April 18, 1989. She had been sexually assaulted and strangled.

Her purse was found 2.5 kilometres from her apartment, on Ste-Thrse Road, nearHighway 640.

Anyone with information about Laverdire's murder is asked to call police at 1-800-659-4264.