Fredericton police announced the reopening of an investigation into the 2008 murder of a 43-year-old school teacher who was reportedly poisoned with mercury. The case had remained unsolved since 2013, with no charges ever filed. In 2011, a 44-year-old man was briefly detained in connection with the death but was later released without conditions.
The individual remained the sole suspect as of 2012, although the police did not confirm if that status remained unchanged. The decision to revisit the case was made in June 2025 to ensure that no cases are forgotten and unsolved incidents continue to receive attention for potential progress.
The victim’s sister, Lori Haggerty, suggested that the murder was related to intimate partner violence, a claim not confirmed by police. Despite efforts to cope with the emotional turmoil following her sister’s unsolved murder, Haggerty felt reopened wounds upon hearing about the investigation’s revival after 17 years.
Haggerty believed the decision to reopen the case was prompted by increased attention garnered during her charity walk across Canada, which aimed to raise awareness about domestic violence and mental health issues. Fredericton Police Force stated that they regularly review cold cases for new leads, technologies, or investigative methods.
Revisiting cold cases can be emotionally challenging for families and witnesses, as noted by University of New Brunswick criminologist Mary Ann Campbell. Campbell emphasized that reopening an investigation does not necessarily imply past mistakes but rather aims to explore new evidence or investigative possibilities that may have emerged over time.
Haggerty expressed mixed feelings of hope and apprehension regarding the reopened investigation, acknowledging the emotional rollercoaster of longing for justice while grappling with past disappointments.