Beverly Lynn Smith

On the evening of October 14, 1974, 22-year-old Beverly Lynn Smith was home alone at the farmhouse she shared with her husband David near Woodstock, Ontario. David was attending a church meeting. When he returned around 11:30 p.m., he found Beverly dead on the kitchen floor, shot once in the chest with a .22 caliber firearm.

There were no signs of forced entry, and nothing appeared to have been stolen. Beverly's purse and valuables were untouched. The scene suggested she had opened the door to someone she knew. A neighbor reported hearing what might have been a gunshot but did not investigate.

The Ontario Provincial Police investigation was extensive but hampered by limited forensic technology of the era. Over the decades, the case was reviewed multiple times. In 2020, the case was featured in the CBC documentary series 'The Death of Beverly Lynn Smith,' which brought renewed attention and new theories about potential suspects.

Despite advances in forensic science and DNA technology, no arrest has ever been made in Beverly's murder. Her case remains one of Ontario's most enduring cold cases, and her family continues to seek answers nearly fifty years later.