YORK REGION, ONT.– Some of the region's more puzzling cold cases:
William Nash
Date: Sunday, June 24, 1956
Location: Kennedy Road and Highway 7, Unionville
The body of William Edward Nash, 64, was found inside the Nash Snack Bar. Nash operated the snack bar and also used it as his residence. He had previously run a Supertest Gas Station on the east side of Kennedy Road, about 300 metres south of Highway 7. Evidence at the scene indicated Nash was the victim of a robbery. Witnesses at the time of the investigation said Nash was alive on June 23, 1956, between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. and that noises were heard in and around the area after 10 p.m. An autopsy determined that William Nash died of blunt force trauma to the head.
Ingrid Bauer
Date: Wed., Aug. 16, 1972
Location: Islington Avenue near Pennon Road, Kleinburg
On Aug. 16, 1972, at 9:40 p.m., 14-year-old Ingrid Bauer left her house in Kleinburg to meet her boyfriend at his North Woodbridge home. People who knew her saw her hitchhiking southbound along the west side of Islington Avenue near Pennon Road. Bauer never arrived at her boyfriend’s residence. Some residents of the village reported hearing the cries of what sounded like a young person in the area of Islington Avenue and Sevilla Drive at about 10 p.m. that evening. Residents also reported seeing an unknown make or colour of pick-up truck in the area where the cries were heard. An extensive search based on information received from the public failed to locate Bauer, who remains missing.
Unknown Female
Date: Sept. 1, 1994
Location: 391 Bradwick Dr.
At about 3 a.m. on Sept. 1, 1994, a York Regional Police officer patrolling along Highway 7 located a fire at the back of an industrial building at 391 Bradwick.
The officer tried to put out the fire, which required the assistance the fire department.
When the fire was extinguished, the body of a young woman was found inside a suitcase. Two tires and gasoline were used to accelerate this fire. Police released photographs of a black dress, a floral white top, and purple nylon pants found at the scene. Tests completed by forensic experts indicated the victim was somewhere around 17 or 18 years of age. The victim had protruding front upper teeth, which were food stained, was about 5’5”, with a very slim build. She weighed between 85 and 100 lbs., and had dark curly hair, which may have been dyed a reddish colour. Experts think the victim was likely of North African origin, was light-skinned and was of mixed race. The cause of death is known but is being withheld by investigators.
In September 2004, a forensic anthropologist examined the skeleton of the girl found in a suitcase. It was found that she had sustained numerous injuries prior to her death, possibly from a fall from a height or a car accident — fractures in the lower back, including a number of vertebrae and ribs, the pelvic area, the left knee, and right ankle. She would not be able to walk and was likely in pain all of the time. This young woman was not given treatment for these injuries. These healing fractures were reported to have taken place three weeks to six months prior to this teen’s death.
The YRP’s cold cases can be reviewed at www.yrp.ca/coldcases.aspx.
Anyone with information on these or other cases is asked to contact 1-866-876-5423 x 7865.
