Fifty-three-year-old Mary O’Donnell, also known as Marie, and occasionally using the names Patricia Marie Rafferty and Marie Patricia Janulus, was a petite woman who lived alone in East Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She had endured significant personal hardships, including the loss of her husband of 14 years to a heart attack the previous year. Mary also faced challenges with mental health, yet she maintained a presence in her community, frequenting local establishments such as the A&W, Dairy Queen, and Church’s Chicken on East Hastings Street. She was a familiar face in the neighborhood, often seen walking along Templeton Street to her home on Adanac Street.
In the early hours of July 28, 1988, Mary left the A&W restaurant at Lakewood and East Hastings Street, heading home as she usually did. Tragically, she never arrived. At approximately 1:40 a.m., her body was discovered on the grounds of Templeton High School. She had been robbed and beaten to death.
Despite efforts by the Vancouver Police Department, Mary’s killer has never been identified. The case remains open and is featured on the Vancouver Police Department’s Cold Cases website, which aims to generate tips and keep unsolved cases in the public eye. The department urges anyone with information to come forward, stressing that justice for Mary is still attainable.
Crime Immemorial 