Dobson Homicide Investigation - 5 Year Anniversary

UPDATE:
We are announcing a $25,000.00 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the murder of April Dobson.

April Dobson was a 40 year old woman who was a daughter, a mother, and a friend to many. On the night of October 14th, 2005, her life was taken away from her too early as she sat on the front porch of her friend’s house at 300 Browning Trail in the Letitia Heights area of Barrie.

We are confident that there is someone who has information about her murder that will assist us in solving this case. The Barrie Police Service remains committed to catching the killer and providing closure for the family.

We urge anyone with information regarding this murder to contact Barrie Police.

Barrie Police Service Tip Line: (705)725-7025 extension 2160

UPDATE:

The Barrie Police Service is re-focusing their attention on a murder that has remained unsolved after a 5 year duration.

Police in Barrie and Crime Stoppers are pleading for help from the public while they piece together events from the early hours of October 14th, 2005, in the city's Letetia Heights district.

Late on the night of October 13th, April Lynn Dobson, 40, had finished her shift at the Molson Park Swiss Chalet, and had gone to a co workers residence located on Browning Trail, to help work on the colleague's car.

Afterwards, police report, that the two women and a female room mate of the co-workers were sitting on the front porch enjoying Thanksgiving leftovers and drinking some wine, Dobson sitting with her back to the street.

Soon after midnight, there were reports of a shot fired, and Dobson was struck in the head. Despite the best efforts of police and paramedics to revive her, Dobson succumbed to her injuries at the scene.

Moments later, a witness noticed a young man running from the area, getting on a mountain style bicycle, and riding away southward on the catwalk leading from Browning Trail to Bronte Crescent.

The person of interest is believed to be familiar with and or live in the area.

The Major Crime Unit, Barrie Police Service would like to thank the members of the public that have assisted in this investigation to date, but are still appealing for the public's assistance in solving this homicide.

Anyone with information on this homicide is URGED to call the Barrie Police Major Crime Unit Tip line at 705-725-7025 ext#2160, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477(TIPS). Crime Stoppers is anonymous and does not subscribe to call display. You will not be required to testify in court and you may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.

Members of the of the public can watch the re-enactment of the crime done by Crime Stoppers at the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmHu_jJuRRE&layer_token=26efe589c387197f [1]

OR /A\ News "Unsolved Series at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hY_X0ZqIIq8&layer_token=7d8ad8127fdafded [2]

(NOTE: By clicking on this link you will be leaving the Barrie Police Website and entering You Tube)
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On 14 October 2005, at 00:20hrs Barrie Police Service uniform officers responded to the area of 300 Browning Trail regarding numerous persons reporting they heard gunshots and a woman screaming.

Barrie Police officers arriving on the scene observed several people performing CPR on the victim who was on the front porch of 300 Browning Trail. Barrie Police Officers’ continued with CPR efforts until paramedics arrived. Despite attempts by emergency crews to revive the victim, she succumbed to her injuries at the scene. The victim was later identified as, April Lynn DOBSON, age 40.

On the afternoon of Thursday 13 October 2005 April DOBSON was working a shift as a delivery driver for the Swiss Chalet located off Molson Park Drive in Barrie.
April Dobson offered to assist in fixing a co-workers car. After getting off work, April drove to a co-workers house located at 300 Browning Trail. April had never been at the residence before. She worked on the red coloured car that was parked on the street in front of the residence. The two women worked on the car late into the evening with a flashlight and finally got the car started at approximately 11.30pm.

Shortly afterwards April Dobson, the female co-worker and female roommate sat down on the porch outside the house and had a late dinner. They talked while having a glass of wine. April was seated with her back to the street.
Just after midnight witnesses report hearing a single gunshot. A closer examination of April Dobson determined she had suffered a single gunshot wound to the head. Seconds later, a male was observed running east, from 300 Browning Trail. He ran a short distance eastward down the Street looking over his shoulder. He stopped in the driveway of a nearby residence. He then picked up a bicycle, turned it around and got on it. He rode the bike eastward along the sidewalk, turning right at the nearby catwalk. He was last seen riding the bike southward through the catwalk from Browning Trail to Bronte Crescent.

The male person of interest is described as being, white, clean cut, youthful 16-20 years old, thin, lanky build wearing a beige sandy coloured cargo pants and light coloured long sleeve sweatshirt. The bike is described as being a mountain bike, possibly brown in colour, wide tires, and straight handlebars with no accessories.
The Barrie Police Service-Criminal Investigations Unit continues to utilize its resources to actively investigate this homicide.

Police are still attempting to identify the youthful looking person of interest that was observed leaving the area on a bicycle. It is believed that the person of interest may live in the area.

The Criminal Investigations Unit would like to thank the members of the public that have assisted in this investigation to date. However the Public’s assistance is still required to assist in solving this homicide.

The public can contact the Barrie Police Service Major Crime Unit at (705) 725-7025 ext. 2160 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.