LAKEPORT — Approximately 40 people attended Tuesday evening”s Lakeport Police Department (LPD) town hall meeting, which focused on cold case investigations with detectives using the unsolved Barbara LaForge homicide to guide the presentation.
Detective Lou Riccardi of the LPD said there can come a time when investigators must decide to stop pursuing a cold case but wanted to make clear that the LaForge investigation has not reached that position. “We are not giving this case up at this point,” Riccardi told the town hall attendees.
LaForge, 43, was shot four times by a small-caliber gun on the morning of Oct. 8, 2002 soon after she entered the back door of her framing shop at 165 N. Main St. in Lakeport. LaForge”s death remains the only unsolved homicide in the city of Lakeport, Riccardi said.
When asked by a town hall guest if he “feels like they”re making progress” on the LaForge investigation, Riccardi said “yes.”
In late December, LPD announced that a 55-year-old Kelseyville woman is a “person of interest” in the LaForge investigation. Linda Ann Mafrice, who was sentenced on Dec. 3 to four years and eight months in state prison for probation violation, remains a “person of interest,” Riccardi said Thursday.
Riccardi generally described the LaForge investigation process during the meeting but acknowledged that he could not discuss many case specifics. He did state that he and investigative partner Detective Destry Henderson have analyzed 234 existing evidence items, listened to 120 pre-recorded interviews and conducted more than 50 follow-up interviews.
The time-consuming nature of cold case investigations can be an obstacle for detectives, Riccardi said during a 30-minute PowerPoint presentation on cold cases. Other obstacles Riccardi discussed included lack of police personnel, cooperation from other local and outside agencies and non-cold case assignments.
Time can also be an ally for investigators working on cold cases because of forensic science advancements, new leads and changing perspectives of witnesses and suspects, Riccardi said.
LPD investigators “believe this case is solvable,” Riccardi said, and the department hopes to have a case filed soon.
LPD is actively seeking public information regarding the LaForge case. Citizens with relevant information can reach Henderson or Riccardi by calling 263-5491 or by e-mailing laforgehomicide@lakeportpolice.org.
There is also a standing $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for LaForge”s death.
“We don”t care who it is that solves it; we just want it solved,” Riccardi said of the LaForge cold case.
The cold case meeting was LPD”s second town hall meeting this fiscal year; the first meeting focused on community-oriented policing.
Interim police chief Brad Rasmussen called both meetings “a great success” and said he has received largely positive feedback about them. Thursday”s turnout was about double that of the first town hall meeting, he said.
LPD will have two more town hall meetings this fiscal year, Rasmussen said. The next meeting will be held in April, and the topic will be gang awareness.
Contact Jeremy Walsh at jwalsh@record-bee.com or call him at 263-5636, ext. 37.
