SMITH FALLS, ON – On August 1, 2017, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) launched a successful social media campaign in an effort to re-invigorate a homicide investigation that has been ongoing since 1975.
The remains of a female, which came to be known as Nation River Lady, were discovered in the Nation River by a local farmer, south of the Town of Casselman on May 3, 1975. OPP investigators wanted to re-introduce this case to the public in an effort to identify her and identify the person(s) responsible for her death.
Since the media launch on the morning of August 1, 2017, the OPP has received and is following up on over 18 tips so far from the public. The total number of impressions or times the content was displayed on Facebook in English was 28,016 and French was 65,374. Videos posted to OPP Facebook in both English and French received a total of 21,098 views. Twitter was equally successful with the content being viewed in English 32,048 times and French 7,274. As well, many news agencies broadcasted the information.
With advances in technology and the OPP Forensic Artist, the social media campaign contained numerous photographs of the items located on or with the Nation River Lady at the time of discovery and released a video of the three-dimensional clay facial reconstruction of Nation River Lady’s head and face.
Under the direction of Case Manager, Detective Inspector Dan Nadeau of the Criminal Investigation Branch and Missing Persons and Unidentified Bodies Unit (MPUB), members continue to follow-up on all information provided and thank everyone who has called or provided information via e-mail. Anyone with new information on the case can call the dedicated missing persons hotline toll-free at 1-877-934-6363 (1-877-9-FINDME) in Canada only or 1-705-330-4144 from outside Canada. You can also submit information by e-mail at opp.isb.resolve@opp.ca
BACKGROUND
Nation River Lady is described as being a Caucasian woman, age 25-50 years old, between 5’2″ and 5’8″ in height, average build, approximately 100 lbs with brown hair that was dyed a reddish blond.
Her body was wrapped with two pieces of green cloth, two towels – one depicting an Irish Toast and the second displaying multiple flowers. Additionally, a j-cloth, black coaxial cable and a curtain rod runner were with the body. Her hands and feet were bound with neckties; a blue tie with small Canada flag emblems known as “the Canadian tie”, a blue striped silk tie and a red tie with yellow patterns.
The Nation River Lady was wearing a navy blue body suit which had a collar, buttons ¾ down the front, long sleeves and snaps that secured in the crotch area. Her toe nails and fingernails were manicured and painted with a pink nail polish, an appendix operation scar and wore partial upper and lower dentures. A copy of her fingerprints and DNA profile are on file.
