In the early morning hours of a summer day in 1981, the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, was stirring to life. But on a quiet residential street, a disturbing scene was about to be discovered, marking the beginning of a mystery that would endure for decades. The man at the center of it was Vincent Pius Griffin, a 43-year-old male known to some as "Hank." His violent death has left a void in the community and a file open on the desks of cold case detectives.
On Tuesday, June 30, 1981, at approximately 8:05 a.m., a resident of John Street grew concerned about a car that had been parked and left running for some time. Police were called to the scene, and in front of the home at 2454 John Street, they found a maroon 1977 Dodge two-door hardtop with its engine still humming. Inside, slumped across the front seat, was Vincent Griffin. He was deceased, and it was immediately clear that he had not died of natural causes.
An autopsy would later confirm that his death was a homicide, the result of severe injuries to his head and neck.
The initial investigation by Halifax Police established a loose timeline of Vincent's final hours. Witnesses had observed his distinctive maroon Dodge in the John Street area shortly after midnight, about eight hours before he was found. What happened in the intervening hours, who he was with, and why he was targeted remains unknown. The motive and the perpetrator have eluded law enforcement ever since, leaving a painful silence for anyone who knew and cared for him.
For more than four decades, the investigation into Vincent "Hank" Griffin's murder has continued. The case is now in the hands of the Special Investigation Section of the Integrated Criminal Investigation Division of the Halifax Regional Police. Over the years, on anniversaries of his death, police have reissued pleas to the public, hoping to jog a memory or stir a conscience. Investigators have stated their firm belief that there are people who possess information that could be the key to solving the case. In a statement, police expressed hope that "the passage of time will encourage them to do the right thing and come forward with what they know." They emphasize that even the smallest, seemingly insignificant detail could be what is needed to finally move the investigation forward.
The case is listed as a major unsolved crime by both the Halifax Regional Police and Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers. To generate new leads, it is part of the Nova Scotia Department of Justice Rewards for Major Unsolved Crimes Program. This program offers a substantial cash reward of up to $150,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Vincent's murder.
As of June 2026, on the 45th anniversary of his death, Vincent Pius Griffin's case remains an active and open homicide investigation. The questions surrounding his final hours on that June night in 1981 are as pressing today as they were then. Police are urging anyone with information, no matter how minor it may seem, to come forward. Information can be provided directly to the Halifax Regional Police at 902-490-5020 or, to be eligible for the reward, tips must be given to the Rewards for Major Unsolved Crimes Program at 1-888-710-9090.
