Lisa Leckie

Lisa Leckie was a kind and loving 25-year-old mother of two sons who was doing her best to raise them. Her oldest child, who was eight at the time of her death, remembers her as someone special, whose sudden loss was a devastating blow to everyone who knew her. At the time of her death, Lisa, also known as Lisa Johnson, lived with her common-law partner, Derek Stacey, and their infant son in a third-floor apartment in London, Ontario.

On the morning of March 24, 2009, Lisa’s partner returned to their home at 390 Southdale Road East shortly before 7 a.m. after working an overnight shift. He made a devastating discovery in the living room: Lisa was dead. Their eight-month-old son was found unharmed in his crib nearby. An autopsy later determined that the cause of death was asphyxiation. Police believe she was killed either on the evening of March 23 or in the early morning hours of March 24.

The London Police Service immediately launched a homicide investigation. Evidence found at the scene strongly indicated that the crime was not a random act. Investigators believe Lisa was targeted by someone she knew, and her son JC Leckie has stated he believes his mother opened the door to her killer, as there were no signs of a struggle. A key piece of evidence left behind by the perpetrator was a note. On the 10th anniversary of the murder, police revealed the note was written on an older, impact-style typewriter with a fabric ribbon, a detail they hoped would trigger someone's memory. The contents of the note have never been publicly released for investigative reasons.

Over the years, the investigation has remained active, with more than 80 different officers working on the case and conducting over 300 interviews. Police also released surveillance footage from a nearby location, recorded at 9:12 p.m. on March 23, 2009. The video shows an unidentified man, described as approximately 5'10" and 200 pounds, walking near the apartment building. Despite the passage of time, police are still seeking to identify and speak with this individual.

The weight of the unsolved murder has been immense for Lisa’s family. Her mother, Cheryl McCullough, was a strong advocate for the case before she passed away. In 2019, on the 10th anniversary, Lisa's eldest son, then 18, released a video statement. "I want to know why someone would want to hurt my mother and everyone around her so badly," he said, pleading for anyone with information, no matter how small, to come forward. He spoke of the milestones his mother missed, saying, "Every time something new would happen, I'd think, 'She's not here.'"

As of May 2025, more than 16 years after the killing, the case remains one of nine unsolved homicides in London since 1956. Determined to find answers, Lisa’s eldest child, JC Leckie, launched a new effort to generate tips by paying for a series of billboards across the city. The billboards feature a photo of his mother and ask, "Who killed Lisa Johnson?" JC said he felt a responsibility to keep his mother's case in the public eye. "I see it as, if I don't, who will?" he told reporters. London Police Detective Sergeant Micah Bourdeau, who assisted with canvassing in the original investigation, confirmed the case is still on investigators' minds. "Lisa was a young, vibrant mother with two young boys, and the details of the case... make me feel sick to my stomach," he stated in May 2025.

Investigators continue to believe that there are people in the community who have information about Lisa's murder and have not come forward. "We firmly believe that someone knows who killed this kind and loving mother, and we are appealing to that person’s conscience," said Detective Sergeant Alex Krygsman.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the London Police Service Major Crime Section at 519-661-5674 or, to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).