Cynthia Davis–Record-Bee staff
LAKEPORT — Tomorrow marks four years of fruitless investigation into the unsolved murder of Barbara LaForge, a Lakeport businesswoman.
LaForge was the managing partner of Wildwood Frame shop, where she was brutally murdered on Oct. 8, 2002, as she arrived at the shop to open it for business.
According to LaForge”s father, Tom Gilliam, LaForge had received telephone death threats and written death threats a year before her murder, but after LaForge installed a caller identification feature on her telephone, the phone threats stopped.
Gilliam said she had received a Christmas card with the printed copy marked out and in rough hand printing: “You will be dead in 2002.” The authorities followed up on this threat after her death, but the information didn”t lead to a break in the case.
Despite a major investigation launched by the District Attorney”s Office and the Lakeport Police Department, Chief Deputy District Attorney Jon Hopkins confirmed Friday that the police investigation has not identified anyone connected by evidence to the murder.
“It”s unfortunately one of those cases where we have to wait,” said Hopkins. “We have reached a point where we can”t charge somebody without evidence.”
Hopkins said this case does not involve interstate or federal issues so the FBI has not been involved. “I”m confident that there is nothing further the FBI could do,” said Hopkins. “We have to rely on the perpetrator making a mistake or someone who knows something to come forward.”
The California Governor”s Office and the Lakeport Police Department are offering a $50,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of LaForge”s murderer.
Anyone with any information in regard to LaForge”s unsolved murder should contact Lakeport Police Department lead investigating officer, Detective Norman Taylor, at 263-5491.
Contact Cynthia Davis at cdavis@record-bee.com
