DNA evidence leads to a suspect 28 years after a fatal stabbing in Canada’s capital

Police in Canada’s capital say they have identified the suspect in a fatal stabbing that occurred nearly three decades ago. The suspect, a man from Vancouver, British Columbia, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder after advanced DNA testing helped authorities link him to the crime.

Lawrence Dale, now 73, is accused of killing 22-year-old Christopher Smith on April 12, 1996. according to Ottawa Police. Smith was stabbed to death on the Portage Bridge, which connects the Canadian capital, Ottawa, to Gatineau in the neighboring province of Quebec.

“Advancements in forensics and DNA have allowed police to identify the perpetrator and the matter is now before court,” Ottawa police said in a statement.

Diehl was arrested in Vancouver on December 10, police said. Investigators returned the suspect to Ottawa during the week, and he made his first court appearance over the weekend.

Several law enforcement agencies from across Canada have worked since 2020 to solve Smith’s cold case, including the National Police Force. Diehl was recognized by Investigate genetic genealogywhere scientists and investigators use a combination of genetic testing and genealogy research to build a family tree for the individual whose sample is being evaluated.

In Smith’s case, scientists used genome sequencing to build a DNA profile of the murder suspect, according to Othram Inc., a laboratory specializing in forensic genetic genealogy to assist law enforcement. Outram’s findings allowed police working the case to develop new leads and pursue a renewed investigation, which culminated in the identification of Diehl.

Diehl’s arrest marked the closure of Ottawa police’s oldest cold case, and the first time the department had used genetic genealogy to solve a crime.

“By bringing these charges, the Ottawa Police Service proves once again that we will never stop working for victims of crime and their loved ones,” Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs said in a statement. “We will continue to embrace innovative techniques to solve cases, and I commend the members of our homicide unit for ensuring that no case is ever forgotten, and that no stone is left unturned.”

Stubbs said police contacted Smith’s family to inform them of new developments in his case. Investigators asked anyone to contact the Ottawa Police Homicide Unit for information about Diehl and his time in Ottawa, as investigators learned he was there for work-related reasons at the time of the crime.