A Vancouver man was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection to the historical stabbing death of Christopher Smith.
In the early hours of April 12, 1996, Smith was stabbed on the Portage Bridge between Ottawa and Gatineau. In a review of the cold case, police used advanced DNA testing to lay charges in the 22-year-old’s death.
Lawrence Diehl, 73, was arrested in Vancouver on Dec. 10 and returned to the nation’s capital on Dec. 13. Ottawa police charged Diehl with second-degree murder.
According to a press release, officials have been working on the case since 2020 with the RCMP and Toronto Police Service. Police offered a $50,000 reward for any information that led to an arrest.
By using DNA testing that includes investigative genetic genealogy, the suspect was identified. This is the first time police in the nation’s capital have used this technology.
“Investigative genetic genealogy involves using genetic data from databases to trace potential family lineages as part of criminal investigations,” the press release reads.
Ottawa Police Chief, Eric Stubbs thanked the Vancouver Police Service for its assistance.
“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 no effort is spared,” Stubbs said. “We have spoken to the family of Mr. Smith to advise them of this development in the case.”
Investigators are asking anyone with information regarding Diehl and his time in Ottawa to come forward. The Ottawa Police Service Homicide Unit can be reached at 613-236-1222, ext. 5493.
There are 63 unsolved homicide cases that Ottawa police are looking at, some have rewards available.
A photo of Christopher Smith. (OPS)