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DNA evidence leads to suspect 28 years after deadly stabbing in Canada’s capital
Police in Canada’s capital city say they have identified the suspect in a fatal stabbing that happened almost three decades ago. The suspect, a man from Vancouver, British Columbia, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder after advanced DNA testing helped authorities link him to the crime.
Lawrence Diehl, now 73, is accused of killing 22-year-old Christopher Smith on April 12, 1996, according to Ottawa Police. Smith was stabbed to death on the Portage Bridge, which connects Ottawa, the Canadian capital, to Gatineau in the neighboring province of Quebec.
“Advances in forensics and DNA have allowed police to identify the perpetrator and the matter is now before the court,” Ottawa Police said in a statement.
Diehl was arrested in Vancouver on December 10, police said. Investigators returned the suspect to Ottawa within the week, and he made his first appearance in court over the weekend.
Multiple law enforcement agencies from across Canada worked since 2020 to solve Smith’s cold case, including the national police force. Diel was identified through investigative genetic genealogy, where scientists and investigators use a combination of genetic testing and genealogy research to build a family tree for the individual whose sample is being evaluated.
DNA Solves/Othram Inc.
In Smith’s case, scientists used genome sequencing to build a DNA profile for the murder suspect, according to Othram Inc., a labratory that specializes in forensic genetic genealogy to assist law enforcement. Otram’s findings allowed police working the case to develop new leads and pursue a renewed investigation, which culminated in Diehl’s identification.
Diehl’s arrest marked the closure of Ottawa Police’s oldest cold case, and the first time the department used genetic genealogy to solve a crime.
“By bringing these charges, the Ottawa Police Service demonstrates once again that we will never stop working for victims of crime and their loved ones,” said Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs in a statement. “We will continue to embrace innovative techniques to solve cases, and I commend the members of our Homicide Unit for ensuring that no case is ever forgotten, and no effort is spared.”
Stubbs said police have connected with Smith’s family to inform them of the new developments in his case. Investigators have asked anyone to contact the Ottawa Police Service’s homicide unit with information about Diehl and time in Ottawa, as detectives learned he was there for work-related reasons at the time of the murder.
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How Nikki Glaser is drawing inspiration from Tom Brady to prepare for Golden Globes hosting gig
Comedian and actress Nikki Glaser is preparing for one of the biggest moments of her career: Hosting the 82nd Annual Golden Globes. The event will air live on CBS on Sunday, Jan. 5.
Known for her brutally honest style, Glaser’s journey comes after years of hard work in the entertainment industry. She is also making history by becoming the first woman to solo host the Golden Globes.
“It’s been a lot of hard work leading up to this point of, like, a 22-year career where some people are suddenly starting to take notice on this kind of, like, bigger scale,” Glaser said. “I’m at a point in my life where, you know, I’m old enough to kind of handle this kind of attention and not let it go to my head.”
Glaser, widely recognized for her raunchy and relatable standup specials, has built a reputation for turning her personal experiences into comedy. Glaser credits her success to lessons learned and applied over the course of her career.
She also gained widespread attention for her standout performance at Netflix’s “The Roast of Tom Brady” earlier this year.
“The way I prepared for that … was inspired by learning about Tom Brady and how he prepares,” Glaser said. “It’s about the flexibility. It’s about surrounding yourself with people you love. Like, I hadn’t considered that part of my job at all. I always just thought, you just have to work hard.”
During the interview, Glaser also reflected on advice from those who have hosted major award shows before.
“Ricky [Gervais] called me right away to give me advice,” she said. “His advice was, ‘Just be yourself. You’re not one of them. Don’t try to walk out there acting like you’re an A-lister just because you’re invited.'”
The comedian has also earned her own recognition this year, with a nomination of her own.
“It was really cool to get the nomination on top of preparing for this,” Glaser said. “To me, hosting is number one.”
Despite the pressure, Glaser is excited for the experience and eager to perform. And winning isn’t a goal for Glaser.
“I’ll do a bit after my award is given out. I think it’s kind of funnier if I lose.”
The 82nd annual Golden Globes will air live on Jan. 5, 2025 on CBS and stream on Paramount+