For the perseverance and dedication demonstrated in a Historic (Cold Case) homicide investigation.
Hamilton Police Service
RAVINE TASK FORCE
Murder of Diane WERENDOWICZ
Overview of the Investigation:
· In 1997 the Hamilton Police Service formed a task force to identify and arrest a male who was committing a number of sexual assaults in the east end of Hamilton, an individual was arrested
· During the course of the investigation hundreds of sexual assaults were reviewed dating back to 1980
· The investigation determined there were two sexual predators operating in this area and ten cases were linked
· Ten cases during the time frame of 1980 – 1997 were identified
One included the 1981 murder of Diane WERENDOWICZ
· Diane WERENDOWICZ was last seen walking home from a restaurant shortly before midnight on June 20th, 1981
· The next day she was found dead, face down in a creek with a truck tire on her shoulders and head
· She was a victim of sexual assault
· Cause of death was drowning
A second case was a 1981 Attempt Murder of a female on August 21 1981
· This victim was walking home shortly before midnight when she was confronted by a male who brandished a screw driver
· She was forced into a field where the perpetrator attempted to sexually assault the victim
· The victim was stabbed numerous times penetrating her spinal cord and skull
· The victim survived but suffered permanent spinal cord damage
A task force was formed in 1998
· The linking of the ten cases developed a significant description of the offender
· Two methods of processing evidence not originally used in the original investigation
· These included:
o DNA
o Voice identification – The murderer in the WERENDOWICZ called police 2 days after the murder and left information that only the murderer would have known
· A description of the offender and the recorded phone call were released to the media some 17 years after the crimes
· This media appeal generated 550 tips
· During the investigation of these tips not only was the murderer identified but a second sexual predator was identified who at the time was serving time for sexual assaults in Peel Region
· A number of persons identified the voice as Robert Glenn BADGEROW
· Cast off samples were obtained from Badgerow which matched the sample gathered from Diane WERENDOWICZ
· BADGEROW was arrested for the murder and the attempt murder
- After a nine month trial BADGEROW was convicted of the first degree murder
INVOLVED OFFICERS
Staff Sergeant Steve HRAB
Sergeant Wayne BENNETT
Sergeant Mark Petkoff
Detective Constable Tom McKITTRICK