Wendy Ladner-Beaudry was a joyous, wise, and dedicated community leader, a loving mother to two daughters, and a beloved wife to her husband, Michel Beaudry. Remembered as an inspiring and energetic woman, Wendy, 53, was a tireless advocate for women in sports and served as the co-chair of the B.C. Games Society. Her brother, former Vancouver city councillor Peter Ladner, described her as a "trusted sister, a loving mother, a strong wife, a cheerful aunt, a dear friend, a dedicated mentor or a smiling neighbor." She was an active, healthy person who had run the trails of her local park for decades, a familiar and friendly face in her community.
On the afternoon of April 3, 2009, Wendy went for a jog in Vancouver's popular Pacific Spirit Regional Park, a route she knew well. When she did not return, her body was discovered on St. George's Trail, near 41st Avenue and Camosun Street, just nine blocks from her home.
Police described the attack as brutal, senseless, and violent, but have never publicly released the specific cause of her death. The attack happened on a sunny day in a well-used park, yet there were no known witnesses to the crime.
The murder launched a massive investigation, initially led by the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT). For days, dozens of officers, including canine units and air services, meticulously searched the 763-hectare park for evidence. Investigators canvassed hundreds of nearby residences, and over the years, they identified and investigated more than 300 persons of interest, all of whom were eventually cleared. Despite the extensive effort, no suspects were ever arrested and no clear motive was established. In April 2014, five years into the investigation, the case was transferred to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Major Crime Section – Special Projects Unit, which continues to pursue any new information.
The loss devastated Wendy's family and sent a shockwave through the city. Hundreds of mourners gathered at the University of British Columbia for her memorial service. Her husband, Michel, later shared the deep and lasting pain of his loss. "My children's mother, their mentor, my life partner, my best friend, she is gone forever," he said in a statement. "The toll on our lives is terrible... But the biggest torment for our family is that there's been no closure." On nearly every anniversary of her death, Wendy's family has made emotional public pleas for information, hoping to break the silence surrounding the case.
Over the years, the family has remained hopeful that her killer will be found. On the seventh anniversary of the murder, they announced a $30,000 reward for new information that would lead to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible. Peter Ladner spoke of the lingering fear the unsolved crime left on the community, stating, "Until this murder is solved, this park is not safe."
As of April 2026, seventeen years after her death, Wendy Ladner-Beaudry's murder remains unsolved. The RCMP maintains that their commitment to finding the person responsible has never wavered and that they continue to pursue every lead. Investigators believe it's possible the killing was a random act of violence and that someone still holds the key information needed to provide answers. "Seventeen years is a long time, but our commitment to finding the person responsible for Wendy's death has never wavered,” said Superintendent Bal Hansra in a 2026 statement. “We believe someone out there still holds information that could help move this case forward.”
Anyone with information, no matter how small it may seem, is urged to call the RCMP at 778-290-5291 or 1-877-543-4822. To remain anonymous, tips can be provided to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
