Cold Cases 1981

York Regional Police

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Cold Cases 1981 to 1995

Benita Tarantino
Case #: 1985-25327
Location: Teston Road and Weston Road, Vaughan
Date: Sunday, October 28, 1985

Summary: The body of a Benita Trantino was located off of Teston Road, west of Weston Road in Vaughan. At at the time of her death Benita had been working as a prostitute in the Pembrooke Avenue and Gerrard Street area of Toronto. Benita Tarantino was reportedly last seen alive during the late evening and early morning hours of September 27 and 28, 1985 in the Pembrooke Street and Gerrard Street area of Toronto, and is believed to have gotten into a vehicle and driven away from the area. Benita Tarantino never returned to the area that she worked in.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact the York Regional Police Homicide and Missing Persons Bureau at 1-866-876-5423 x 7865, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, leave an anonymous tip online at www.1800222tips.com or text a tip by sending TIPYORK and a message to CRIMES (274637).

Marie Woods
Case #: 1986-73399
Location: Leslie Street and St. John's Sideroad, Newmarket
Date: Tuesday, September 22, 1981

Summary: Marie Woods, a 31-year-old woman, who resided in Scarborough, was reported missing to the Toronto Police Service after she failed to arrive for work on September 21, 1981. An investigation revealed that Marie Woods was last seen alive on Saturday, September 19, 1981. On September 21, 1981 Marie Woods' vehicle, a blue 1980 Subaru station wagon, was located in the parking lot of the Scarborough Town Centre at 300 Borough Drive, Scarborough. On Monday November 10, 1986, a resident of the area of Leslie Street and St. John's Sideroad in the Town of Newmarket, contacted York Regional Police after finding human remains in the area. On November 27, 1986 the remains of Marie Woods were identified using dental records. An investigation into the disappearance of Marie Woods was undertaken by York Regional Police, but her killer remains at large.

Tadayoshi Masuko
Case #: 1987-26176
Location: 50 Alex Avenue, Woodbridge
Date: Sunday, April 1, 1987

Summary: Tadyoshi Masuko was found shot to death inside his buiness, Masuko International, located at 50 Alex Avenue in Woodbridge. Masuko was last seen alive at 5:30 p.m. that day by one of his employees. Relatives became worried when Masuko did not answer the telephone at work and did not come home. As a result of this information, a relative drove to the business and found the the body of Masuko. An investigation showed that he had been shot. An original search of the area did not locate a weapon, but a number of months later a firearm was found in the area of 50 Alex Avenue and it is believed this is the weapon used to kill Masuko.

Francesco Califano
Case #: 1987-89195
Location: 1089 Yonge Street, Thornhill
Date: September 21, 1987

Summary: The body of Francesco Califano was found after York Regional Police were called to a business at 1089 Yonge Street, Thornhill in relation to a fire alarm. Markham Fire Department had originally responded to the call and discovered a body inside one of the businessess. The body of Francesco Califano was found inside his business, Compupronto Mortgage Services. An investigation showed that an attempt was made to cover up the cause of Califano's death by setting fire to the business and body of Francesco Califano.

Eustace Compass
Case #: 1990-117588
Location: 3 Oakdale Road, Vaughan
Date: November 7, 1990

Summary: Eustace Compass was found shot to death in his residence located at 3 Oakdale Road, Vaughan. An investigation revealed that a silver-coloured tea service, jewellery and the deceased's burgundy 1989 Chrysler LeBaron convertible were stolen after the homicide. The vehicle was found abandoned in the parking lot of the Town and Country Mall located at Yonge Street and Steeles Avenue, North York. The deceased was a member of the gay community and was known to frequent gay bars and areas of Toronto.

Albert Peacock
Case #: 1991-135814
Location: Durham Road 23 and 3rd Concession, Town of Georgina
Date: Monday, December 2, 1991

Summary: The body of Albert Peacock, age 76, was located by hunters in a heavily-wooded area west of Durham Road 23 on the 3rd concession, in the Town of Georgina. Clarence Albert Peacock was a resident of Toronto's East End district. An autopsy determined that he had been strangled. At the time his body was discovered, he was clothed in a beige raincoat, pink dress shirt and beige checked polyester dress pants. He is described as a male, white, 5'8", 166 lbs., no teeth, glasses, and bald with a slight fringe of white hair. The deceased was an active member of the Second Mile Club of Toronto, a senior's social club, and frequented their premises located at 192 Carlton Street, Toronto. He also frequented a bar known as Noah's Arc Tavern at 277 Danforth Avenue, Toronto. The deceased was last seen alive on November 25, 1991. On this date, he was taken to Toronto East General Hospital, by ambulance from Noah's Arc Tavern. At 9:30 p.m., Mr. Peacock was seen walking out of the hospital and was never seen alive again.

Ignazio Drago
Case #: 1992-7511
Location: 4190 Steeles Avenue West, Vaughan
Date: January 21, 1992

Summary: The body of 53-year-old Ignazio Drago was located at the rear of an industrial plaza located at 4190 Steeles Avenue West in the Town of Vaughan. An investigation revealed that Ignazio Drago was abducted from his home by a white man described as 5'10", 190 lbs. with short dark hair. It is believed the suspect was portraying a Toronto police officer. The suspect was driving a blue Chevrolet Malibu, which was later located near the area where Ignazio Drago's body was found and was similar in appearance to an unmarked police car. This man apparently took Drago to the area where he was body was found and shot him.

Unknown Female Unknown Female
Case #: 1994-96781
Location: 391 Bradwick Drive, Vaughan
Date: September 1, 1994

Summary: On September 1, 1994 at 3 a.m., a patrolling York Regional Police officer was driving west along Highway #7, near Bradwick Drive in the City of Vaughan. The officer located a fire at the back of an industrial building at 391 Bradwick Drive. The officer attempted to extinguish the fire, which required the assistance of the City of Vaughan Fire Department. Once the fire was extinguished, the body of a young woman was found inside a suitcase. Two tires and gasoline were used to accelerate this fire. Photographs of clothing found at the scene, a black dress, a floral white top, and purple nylon pants, were released to the public through the media on September 3, 1994. Information gained as a result of tests completed by forensic experts indicated to investigators that the victim was estimated to be somewhere around 17 to 18 years of age. The victim had protruding front upper teeth, which were food stained, was approximately 5'5", very slim build, weighed between 85 and 100 lbs., and had dark curly hair, which may have been dyed a reddish colour. Experts believe that victim was likely of North African origin, was light-skinned, was of mixed race, had a single resin filling in the upper left lateral incisor, a class two overbite, and an untreated cavity on the upper right first molar. The cause of death is known but is being withheld by investigators.

In September 2004, a forensic anthropologist examined the skeleton of the girl found in a suitcase. It was found that she had sustained numerous injuries, believed to be as a result of a fall from a height, or a result of a motor vehicle accident, which resulted in fractures in the lower back, including a number of vertebrae and ribs, the pelvic area, the left knee, and right ankle. She would have been immobile, and would not be able to walk and was likely in pain all of the time. Due to the apparent lack of any medical intervention, this young woman was not given treatment for these injuries. These healing fractures were reported to have taken place three weeks to six months prior to this teen's death.

Wendy Rene Smith (a.k.a. Wendy Rene Laughlin)
Case #: 1995-39764
Location: 10097 Yonge Street, Richmond Hill
Date: April 13, 1995

Summary: On April 13, 1995 at 10 p.m., Wendy Smith, 33, of Toronto started work as an exotic dancer at the Fantasia Night Club, formerly located at 10097 Yonge Street Richmond Hill. Smith was supposed to have returned to her residence after finishing work the following morning at 3 a.m., but never arrived. On April 16, 1995, Wendy Smith was reported missing by a roommate. Wendy Smith was last seen at her place of business wearing a black skirt, a black sweater, and black shoes. Wendy Smith was described as 5'3", and 122 lbs., with brown hair and green eyes an an earring in her left nostril.