katherine laan smith obituary

She was a member of the Pittsburgh Steelwheelers quadriplegic rugby team since 2008, competing in tournaments throughout the country. But we didn't do any digging beyond that.". Audience Relations, CBC P.O. The information contained in the documents has not been tested in court. Privacy Policy and The documents show that, on three different properties owned by the Laans near Huntsville, Ontario, many of the residents paid between $400 and $750 a month to rent shared rooms and tiny outbuildings during the 1990s. (82 years old). Angier, NC: Mrs. Katherine "Elaine" Smith Reardon, age 67, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at the SECU Hospice House in Smithfield. Katherine R Smith of Bloomingdale, Passaic County, New Jersey was born on November 20, 1917. One resident told police he noticed that he wasn't receiving any of his cheques in the mail as he normally did, and that he didn't remember signing any documents allowing the Laans access to his money. In mid-December 1998, police found the bodies of six of Lawrence's cats with bullets in them during a search of the property where Lawrence was last seen. In addition to her mother, she is survived by her brother, Patrick M. Smith. ", Missing senior killed to stop her from reporting 'mistreatment, neglect,' police said, Muskoka mystery: Disappearance of 4 seniors in late 1990s haunts Ontario's cottage country. And there was never a time that she allowed anything to stop her from doing what she loved. She touched many and was able to sincerely connect and communicate with people of all ages, from different walks of life and situations. She departed this life on February 5, 2023, at the age of 67, while resting at home. Insp. Burial will be private. She worked diligently with caring and skilled doctors, nurses, and therapists to rebuild her strength and develop skills that would guide her path forward. She was the school's volunteer treasurer at the time. She is also survived by 6 beautiful nieces and nephews. Lawrence, known locally as The Cat Lady because she lived in a small, rundown garden shed with 30 or so cats, went missing from a home operated by the Laan family. There is no photo or video of Katherine J. Smith.Be the first to share a memory to pay tribute. Her spirit was infectious, and it was hard not to be jealous of the way she approached life. Donations can be made in her honor to The Red Door Community. She was a courageous fighter for justice. "[Kathrine] would go to Toronto and find people who had no connection to any other people, really, and she would entice them and say, you know, I have a nice retirement home up north and it's a beautiful place," says former friend Alice Peddie, who knew Kathrine Laan when she was involved in the care homes. She courageously battled an illness and died in the hospital at UPMC Mercy in Pittsburgh, PA. it's to make a difference. "Many people, in historic investigations, don't come forward in the beginning because they're scared, and as time goes on, often times, they believe that the police must have the information. For two decades, Canadians have relied on our thought-provoking journalism to make sense of our world. David Neal officiating. Another resident said he was taken into town once in a while, but after a short time "he felt that it was useless to go intotown because he didn't even have money for a cup of coffee.". A unique and lasting tribute for a loved one. The Laans lawyer, Jeffrey Manishen, at that time argued that releasing the documents would "seriously impact" the "privacy and reputational interests of the Laans.". "[I hope] we can finally bring justice to the families of those victims," he said. Over the course of their operation, four residents disappeared from the Laan family homes: 77-year-old Lawrence, a former newspaper reporter and aspiring author; 69-year-old Grant, a family man and former auto parts salesman; 70-year-old Crofts, a former Eaton's employee and father of twin boys; and 89-year-old Semple, a father, grandfather and war veteran. This article was published over a year ago. Katie had the ability to see you, even when no one else did, and the uncanny talent to relate to every single person she met without hesitation. When journalists from The Fifth Estate approached David in a Toronto parking lot this past summer, he declined to answer questions and drove away. Obituary. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. Badger said she and Smith made appearances together at the Parent Education & Advocacy Leadership (PEAL) Center in Pittsburgh, which works with disabled children and their families. The Fifth Estate spent months tracking down Kathrine Laan, in the end finding multiple names she'd used over the past several years and around a dozen addresses and phone numbers for her across the United States and Canada. Born April 11, 1931, in Anderson, she was the daughter of the late Bennie and Helen Buzzele Fields. Learn more or change your cookie preferences. She was instructed by Three Rivers Adaptive Sports and completed the Pittsburgh Marathon three times in hand-cycling. She also began honing her craft as a public speaker and developed a program she presented to students geared toward cultivating inclusive environments and promoting self-advocacy for youth. She did not view needing a wheelchair to give her mobility as a disadvantage because it gave her so many opportunities, Badger said. The Ontario Provincial Policedocuments, obtained in court byThe Fifth Estateand the Walrus magazine, were part of a search warrant application filed in a homicide investigation into the disappearance of Joan Lawrence, a localwoman known as The Cat Lady who went missing in Muskoka in the late 1990s. Leave a sympathy message to the family in the guestbook on this memorial page of Katherine J. Smith to show support. Katie was born on August 30, 1985, in Latrobe, PA and grew up in Stahlstown, PA, where she was living at the time of her passing with her mother and Patricias partner, Raymond Nelson. Lawrence disappeared shortly after noticing a tax refund cheque she was expecting never came to her. The documents show in detail investigators theories' about the 77-year-old's disappearance, which police believe took place between mid-October and mid-November 1998. Facebook gives people the power to share. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Write your message of sympathy today. "It appeared to be clean and well-kept," he said. She was born December . Despite considerable media attention in the case, Manishen is the first person to speak publicly on behalf of the Laans and their uncle, none of whom responded to repeated interview requests. It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Katherine Clare Smith, 36, of Stahlstown, PA, on February 27, 2022. The pastor said he observed the forms were already completed and signed, which made him uncomfortable. She would light up any room she entered. After two decades, the Ontario Provincial Police have received substantial tips that are helping them advance their investigation into what happened to four seniors who disappeared from the province's Muskoka region in the late 1990s, The Fifth Estate has learned. I personally never met anyone who did not like Katie, Badger said. In a strange twist, Matthews, who was investigating the Laans retirement homes before Lawrences disappearance, was said by David and Walter to be responsible for relocating the missing seniors. Four weeks ago, I published a story in this magazine about one of Canadas most notorious cold cases. The Walrus is a registered charity with an educational mandate. When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. With thanks,Jennifer HollettExecutive Director, Updated 13:47, Nov. 27, 2019|Published 5:00, Oct. 13, 2017. m, 41 Matt twelfth Kraal mroit. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. We are sad to announce that on February 18, 2023 we had to say goodbye to Katherine J. Smith of Huber Heights, Ohio. Smith had played soccer in high school. His younger brother Walter Laan's criminal record began at the age of 18 and continued over 24 years with convictions for property offences, breaking and entering, fraud and impersonating a police officer. For tips about this story or any other, contact Lisa Mayor at lisa.mayor@cbc.ca or Timothy Sawa at timothy.sawa@cbc.ca. Among Katies honors and achievements, she was a governing board member for the PA Youth Leadership Network, was named Ms. OBITUARY Katherine Mae Smith October 11, 1961 - January 11, 2023. Visitation will conclude with a. memorial service to celebrate Katies life, with Pastor David Clement of Trinity Lutheran Church of Latrobe officiating. It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. Wheelchair America in 2012. None of the Laans, or their uncle, Ron Allen, reported their residents as missing. The Fifth Estate approached David and Walter Laan for comment, and they declined to speak. Daughter of the late Earl, Sr. and Alice Grant. Katie also served as a mentor to both peers and students. To date, no one has been charged in relation to the disappearances, but the four Muskoka missing had one thing in common: their landlords, David, Walter, and Paul Laan. It was later in the investigation that the OPP would learn 12 more people died while being cared for by the Laans making that 16 in total over about seven years. Not long after Kathrine was found stealing money from the school, she and three of her brothers all four Laan family members who shared in the ownership of the retirement homes were charged with stealing pension and old age security cheques from residents of homes they operated before and for years after their deaths, at least $100,000 in all. OPP Det. She courageously battled an illness and died in the hospital at UPMC Mercy in Pittsburgh, PA. She was the beloved daughter of Patricia OBrien Smith and the late Robert Melville Smith; loving sister of Patrick M. Smith and the late Timothy O. Smith; cherished granddaughter of the late Anne Thompson Smith, the late Janet McKenna OBrien and the late Harry C. OBrien; niece of Emily Smith, Philip Smith and Dennis OBrien; cousin of Derek OBrien, Courtney OBrien, Jeremy Smith, Rebecca Smith, Kyle OBrien, and Kelsey OBrien. San Francisco Bay. "She had stated that she did not trust them and to call the police if anything ever happened to her," the police documents from an interview with a friend say. "I was taken back by the condition of the place and the conditions that they had to live in," he said. That legal secretary told police that the cheque was endorsed with Lawrence's forged signature. Katherine Mae Smith Obituary. Walter, fifty-seven, operates Esto Mechanical, a North Yorkbased heating, refrigeration, and air-conditioning company. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, January 27 at Sullivan-King Mortuary with Rev. A private investigator hired by the CBC in 2017 was unable to locate Kathrine, now fifty-four. 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