Ross McAVELLA - Murder - Burlington (4/26/1976)

[Chris]

Donald Ross McAVELLA
Case Number - 14611-76
Date of Birth: 12March21
Address: 2132 Harris Crescent, Burlington, Ontario 


On April 26, 1976 the body of 54-year-old Donald Ross McAvella was discovered in his apartment. The victim died as a result of mulitiple stab wounds.

Information obtained during the course of the investigation revealed that at approximately 2:30am on April 25th, an argument took place between 2 persons in Mr. McAvella''s apartment. At approximately 5:00 a.m. screams were overheard coming from the victim?s residence, and a male suspect was observed leaving the apartment. It is believed that the male was picked up by Taxi and driven to the area of Queen and Main Street in Hamilton.

Suspect:
 The suspect is described as: Male, white, early 20s, 5'8", 150 lbs., thin build, dark mustache to the corner of lips, dark collar-length hair over the ears, bangs, no parting, medium complexion. Wearing whitish beige leisure suite, with breast patch pockets, lightweight material; white shirt with brown pattern on it; possibly carrying a cloth shoulder bag, thin, light colour, with thin shoulder straps and two buckles on it approximately 10" x 8". He also had a slight French accent

Supect -

If you have any information on this case please call the Major Crime Bureau at 905-825-4747 Ext.5082 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.



Please quote the case number and victim's name when calling. Thank You

[BCID]

Partial news


The Hamilton Spectator - Hamilton, Ont.

Author:
Paul Legall
 
Date:
Jun 14, 1993

Start Page:
B.2
 
Section:
Metro
 
Text Word Count:
1482

She recalled Mr. [ROSS McAVELLA] had gone out at about 10.30 the evening before and had returned with a guest four hours later. She could tell by the sound of footsteps there was a second person in his apartment. (She heard Mr. McAvella's death screams at about 4.45 a.m.)

 The detectives also found a red D Jeep lighter with the 1976 Olympic logo under the victim's body. They assumed it belonged to the killer because Mr. McAvella didn't smoke. It had been manufactured in France and there were only a few sold in Ontario. The police enlisted Interpol in an effort to find the owner. But that track led nowhere because there were no serial numbers or records to link the lighter with any particular owner.

 For the Burlington detectives, the nether world Mr. McAvella had fallen into was foreign and bewildering. But Insp. [John Vanderlelie] said he has since gained a better understanding of the case as a result of other homosexual slayings, such as the murder of Brian Kenney on Sept. 20, 1987.

[nightmoves]

I heard on the Toronto news that they had just arrested someone in this murder.  Always amazes me when the cold cases are solved.  I will try to look for a link to add.
Yeah!!  If someone else sees one, feel free to add, cause I am unsure on how to do it, but will try!!

[nightmoves]