LAKEPORT ? Barbara LaForge”s ghost has been wandering Main Street for seven years, since her brutal and tragic daylight murder.
On Oct. 8, 2002, LaForge, 43, was shot and killed inside her downtown Lakeport business. There were no signs of forced entry or robbery, according to the Lakeport Police Department (LPD).
A customer and neighboring business owner found LaForge dead in the back of her shop at about noon that day. Police were told the door was open.
The question mark surrounding the murder has left the community with a “collective wound,” LaForge”s step-brother Tom Gilliam III, said.
“In this small town we still have compassion. We”re not cynical enough to negate one person”s life. There is a family feeling and people take this personally, Gilliam said.
Indeed the Lakeport Police reflect the community cohesion.
“When Chief Kevin Burke took office he had a brief chat with me about this unsolved murder. He told me, ?Gail I can not promise you that I can solve this murder, but I will promise you I will do everything in my power to attempt to do so.” With the hiring of an experienced homicide detective, I place hope and trust that this case will one day be solved and I commend Kevin Burke for keeping his word to me and to our community,” Gail Salituri, LaForge”s friend said. Salituri keeps the memory of LaForge alive every day.
“Trying to find a way to turn a horrific and tragic event into something positive has been a goal of mine, and a healing process. Make lemonade out of lemons has more truth than one realizes. Out of a murder, it seems, evolves an advocate. We now raise money for the LFRC (Lake Family Resource Center) in Barbara”s memory, with hopes that no woman be victimized or brutalized, or worse … murdered ? in her work place,” Salituri said. She says that no one understands the mindset of those affected by an unsolved murder. She says family and close friends live each day victimized as well. “Barbara”s murder remains in the back of one”s mind, with fears and anxiety ever present because no one knows who committed this crime”
Lou Riccardi came out of retirement to assist in the investigation of the unsolved murder. He is now partnered with Destry Henderson of LPD. Riccardi spent 20 years at the San Mateo Sheriff”s Office, 12 of which he worked homicide. Henderson said it is a great benefit to have the experience of Riccardi who came from an urban force of 1,200 to Lakeport”s force of 12.
“This case was done in a professional manner and all leads were followed up on,” Riccardi said.
Henderson and Riccardi are dedicating all of their time to the cold-case murder.
“There are a lot of characters in this play. Part of our job is to bring this together,” Riccardi said. Henderson said it is a common misconception that these cases are solved in 48 hours. He said this case is more of a “Who dunnit?” than a “smoking gun.” With forensic and technological advances there are pieces of evidence that need to be re-tested and reviewed. It will take at least another month for Henderson and Riccardi to read and review the information. Cross-referencing is conducted by two different crime labs.
“We”re in the infancy stages of the investigation at this time,” Henderson said. The public is urged and encouraged to assist police with any information leading to the arrest of LaForge”s killer(s).
There is a $50,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of the party or parties responsible for taking her life. Contact Lou Riccardi at lriccardi@lakeportpolice.org or Destry Henderson at dhenderson@lakeportpolice.org or call 263-5491.
