Police in Delta, B.C. said Friday they are sifting through tips but still have few leads to help solve a homicide case involving a teenaged girl beaten to death in a park.
Sgt. Sharlene Brooks told reporters Friday that investigators had ruled out any connection between a pepper-spray incident involving youth and the murder of the young woman.
She also said that police are trying to confirm the identity of a man seen leaving the park where 15-year-old Laura Szendrei was attacked and left for dead.
"We're still trying to confirm if this is the person we are looking for," she said. "He is someone we believe may have information."
Szendrei was attacked at about 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 25 while she walked through Mackie Park, located just outside Vancouver.
She succumbed to her injuries early the next morning in hospital.
A young man, between the ages of 16 and 25, was seen leaving the area either talking or texting on a cellphone. He was wearing cargo shorts, a white T-shirt and a backpack at the time.
Brooks said police still haven't determined whether Szendrei was targeted or was randomly attacked.
"We continue to review assaults against women walking or jogging on pathways to determine if there are any links to this incident," she said.
Brooks appealed to the public to contact police directly if they were in the area at the time the assault took place, regardless of how little they believe they may have seen.
She assured the public that police will remain on the case around the clock even though they will soon pack up and leave the scene of the crime.
"This is no way indicating we're packing up and closing shop. Even though we're concluding with scene investigation our work continues," she said. "We know there is concern in the community. We are asking that you continue to trust the Delta police until the case is resolved."
She reminded local residents to remain vigilant but not to interrupt their daily routines.
