Holly’s Legacy Lives On

Hundreds of current and retired police officers and community partners joined in supporting kids and the legacy of a 10-year-old girl lost to an unthinkable murder.

The inaugural Holly Jones Memorial Golf Tournament on September 24 raised money for a toy drive for the BGC Dovercourt Club where the little girl was a member.

Holly’s mother Maria Jones, who attended the event with her husband George Stonehouse and their son James Stonehouse, was touched by the police support.

“Even to see some of the officers from back in the day here today to support this great cause is unbelievable,” she said, of being reunited with police officers who supported her family and investigated the 2003 case. “It is very kind and generous of the police to do this. I also want to thank Deborah (Vittie) who has been there with me from day one. We turned the tragedy into this beautiful friendship.”

Months after the young girl’s tragic death, her family started a toy drive to benefit kids in the community.

“The funds raised from this golf tournament will augment what we are doing and help families in need, especially children,” Jones said. “They can wake up on Christmas morning expecting to get a gift.”

Holly, was walking home from a friend’s house when she was abducted and murdered a block from her home in the Junction Triangle neighbourhood.

Vittie, who retired in 2012 after 31 years with the Service, has had a close relationship with the family in the last two decades.

“I had to be here today because I was the Family Liaison on the Holly Jones Task Force, among other duties,” she said, noting that the case affected everyone involved deeply. “I became very close with the family in this case that rocked the city at the time. It affected a lot of people, including me who had a six-year-old son at the time. I held him a little tighter. This case resonated with all of us in the city and there was a lot of pressure to solve it. I have remained in touch with the family regularly.”

The day after the Grade 5 student vanished in May 2003, some of her body parts washed up on Ward Island shore.

Retired Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders and Inspector Ken Taylor were working as detectives in the 11 Division Major Crime Unit at the time and were deeply involved in the case.

“Everyone in the neighbourhood in the immediate area was hyper-sensitive at the time, seeking reassurances,” said Saunders, of the case that left everyone a suspect. “The effect was also devastating for students attending some of the schools in the neighbourhood. With all that coordination and assistance from everybody, we were able to solve the case in a relatively short period when you consider the magnitude of the evidence we had to comb through.”

The former top cop said the case stood out for him because the public and law enforcement were aligned leading police to ask people in the area to volunteer DNA samples.

“This was the first time we ever used an investigative canvass where we informed every canvasser that specific questions needed to be asked that was consistent with some of the evidence we gathered from the investigation,” he said, of the investigation, which left no stone unturned. “With that knowledge, the officers were able to ask direct questions and observe certain things because they wanted to obtain entry into homes to look at the kitchen and bathroom areas. Those factors led to the apprehension.”

Two Drug Squad officers canvassing the neighbourhood sounded the investigative alarm after interviewing Michael Briere, who refused a DNA sample and had other elements to his apartment that tied him to the case.

“Because of their hard work and observation when they did the canvass, we got a DNA sample from the suspect that was a match,” Saunders said. “That was six weeks after Holly’s murder.”

Superintendent Andy Ecklund, the 11 Division Unit Commander, thanked the golfers, corporate partners and 20 volunteers for supporting the initiative that originated with officers from the Division.

“Holly’s family were very supportive of the tournament and happy to work with officers and the club,” said Ecklund.  

The tournament was organized by Sergeant Jeremy Moed, Detective James Brons, Constable Steve Moniz and Booker Michael Parrinton.