For nearly four decades, Morag Davies’ family has lived without knowing who killed her - but Sarnia Police hope advances in DNA technology could bring them closer to an answer. Davies was 45 years old when she was found dead in her Sarnia, Ont. home on Aug. 25, 1988. Investigators determined she had been stabbed to death. No one has ever been arrested or charged in connection with her murder. The Sarnia Police Service said the investigation remains open, with dedicated investigators reviewing evidence and tips. Discovery of Morag Davies Davies was originally from Scotland, U.K., and had previously worked as a nurse in the emergency department at the former St. Joseph’s Hospital in Sarnia. At the time of her death, she was working as a real estate agent with Canada Trust Realty. Police said she had moved into a residence on Retlaw Drive about a month before she was killed, after previously living at 501 Errol Road West. A friend and co-worker went to check on Davies on Aug. 25 after being unable to reach her by phone for about two days. “[The friend] became concerned,” Det. Const. Sam Sulaiman of the Sarnia Police Service told CTV News. “So, the friend and a co-worker came to check on her. They did gain entry to the house, and later found Morag deceased in the house. She was stabbed to death and the police investigation ensued.” The original investigation included efforts to gather forensic evidence, speak with neighbours and establish what had happened inside the residence. “The traffic was blocked to the east and the west of the house, so no vehicles or people were going nearby,” Sulaiman explained, describing what the scene had looked like back on Aug. 25, 1988. Despite extensive investigative work, no one has ever been arrested or charged in connection with her death. “The investigators who have worked on this case have left no stone unturned. But unfortunately, that hasn’t led to the identification of the suspect,” Sulaiman said. He said investigators have explored different possibilities, including whether Davies may have had a dispute with a client or co-worker, but those avenues did not lead to an identification. “We don’t want to make assumptions, but at this time, there’s no evidence of forced entry.” A fresh look at the evidence Sulaiman said he was asked to review the case with a fresh perspective. That has meant going back through police reports, witness statements and officers’ notes, while building timelines and chronologies to help identify details that may warrant another look. Investigators have also recently reviewed exhibits collected during the original investigation. Sulaiman hopes some of those items may be suitable for further testing using modern forensic technology. “We went through the exhibits, and we’re hoping that there will be items there that can be re-tested with modern day technology, at least.” He said the DNA profile developed during the original investigation still exists. “That profile, to the best of my knowledge, still exists,” Sulaiman said. “But we’re hoping that with today’s technology, we can do more with that profile.” He noted that forensic scientists can now work with smaller amounts of DNA than they could in the past, although the condition of the original samples remains a consideration. Police have not said that investigative genetic genealogy is underway or that a new DNA match has been found. Investigators still trying to establish a timeline Beyond the forensic evidence, police are still trying to answer a basic question: what happened in the hours before Davies was found? Sulaiman said there is a roughly 30-hour period between Davies’ last known sighting and the discovery of her body that investigators would like to account for. “We’d love to account for that time, but unfortunately, we don’t know what happened in that period of time.” Investigators are also asking anyone who lived in or visited the neighbourhood in 1988 to think back to anything unusual they may have seen or heard. Sulaiman described the area as a quiet neighbourhood in Sarnia’s north end, and said even details that seemed insignificant at the time could now be important. “We’re hoping that if [people] did have fear back in 1988, that fear would be subsided by now, given the passage of time,” he said “Then they would be more willing to provide the information.” ‘The pain and horror’ never goes away Davies’ sister, Sandra, lives in Scotland and is still looking for answers about what happened to her sister. In a statement released by Sarnia Police, Sandra described Morag as “a truly kind, thoughtful and gentle soul” who was respected in both nursing and real estate and “loved by everyone who knew her.” “That day changed our lives forever. The pain and horror of what happened to Morag never goes away,” she said. Sandra said her sister had been planning to return to Scotland. “I don’t just grieve Morag. I grieve the future I imagined with her. She was planning to return to Scotland,” she said. She believes someone may still have information about the killing, even if the person responsible has since died. “Someone in Sarnia is harbouring the truth in silence. The person responsible may be dead now, but we still need to know why. Why Morag? Not knowing is unbearable,” Sandra said. She is urging anyone who may know something to come forward. “Please come forward and don’t let Morag become another cold case statistic. Someone may know something but may have been too afraid to come forward at the time. It’s never too late,” she said. It is not too late to come forward: police Sulaiman said the case can be difficult to revisit after so many years, but he remains committed to finding answers for Davies’ family. He acknowledged there are times when the lack of progress can be discouraging, but said he remains cautiously optimistic that investigators can bring some closure. “Morag is not forgotten by the Sarnia Police Service. And I personally will do my best to bring closure to this case,” Sulaiman said. His message to the person(s) responsible is direct: “Ease your conscience, please. Reach out to us. Let’s talk.” Anyone with information about Morag Davies’ death, or anything they remember from the days surrounding Aug. 25, 1988, is asked to contact the Sarnia Police Service. This story is part of Unsolved 519, a series examining cold cases and unsolved crimes in southwestern Ontario.
