Valerie Anastacia Drew was a 13-year-old girl living in Kingston, Ontario, in the autumn of 1970. Born on July 28, 1957, she was just beginning her teenage years, a life filled with family and the possibilities of the future. That life was stolen from her in a brutal act that has haunted the city for more than five decades, becoming Kingston's oldest unsolved homicide. Valerie remains the youngest victim among the city's cold case files.
On the afternoon of Friday, September 25, 1970, Valerie was seen walking through a developing subdivision known as Marker’s Acres, now the area around Compton Street. She was not alone; witnesses reported seeing her in the company of two males as she headed in the direction of Highway 401. Later that evening, when it was clear she was no longer with the two individuals and had not returned home, she was reported missing.
The initial hope for her safe return quickly turned to a community-wide fear.
A search was organized, and for two days, family, friends, and concerned citizens combed the area. On Sunday, September 27, the search came to a tragic end. Volunteers discovered Valerie’s body in a wooded area north of Weller Avenue. An autopsy would later confirm the violent nature of her death. She had been killed by blunt force trauma, having suffered multiple skull fractures. Investigators believe the weapon was a heavy stone, and a 10-by-15-inch rock was found nearby that seemed to match a depression in the ground. Though her underwear was found around her neck, police have stated there was no forensic evidence of sexual assault.
The investigation was launched immediately by the Kingston Police. Detectives collected forensic evidence from the scene and from Valerie’s body during the autopsy. From the beginning, investigators have worked the case, pursuing leads and identifying persons of interest. Retired detectives have since stated they believed Valerie likely knew her killer and even had a primary suspect, but there was never enough evidence to secure a conviction and lay charges.
Over the years, the case has never been closed. The Kingston Police Major Crime Unit continues to actively investigate Valerie's murder. The physical evidence gathered in 1970 has been carefully preserved and remains in the custody of the police. As forensic science has evolved in ways unimaginable at the time of the crime, these exhibits have been subject to ongoing testing. Investigators hold out hope that advancements in DNA technology may one day provide the breakthrough needed to finally identify the person responsible for Valerie's death.
The passage of time has not erased the memory of Valerie Drew or the profound loss her family endured. The case remains a priority for Kingston Police, who periodically appeal to the public for information. They operate on the principle that someone, somewhere, knows something that could be the key to solving the mystery. The case was most recently highlighted in January 2026 reports, confirming it is still an open and active investigation.
More than half a century after her death, Valerie’s killer has never been brought to justice. The two males she was last seen with have never been publicly identified. The questions of who they were, what happened in those final hours, and why a 13-year-old girl was so violently killed in a quiet wood remain unanswered. Kingston Police continue to urge anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward. Tips can be directed to the Major Crime Unit at 613-549-4660 or via email at [email protected]. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers.
