Family still seeking justice for Rowbotham
Last Updated: Friday, October 22, 2004 | 10:07 AM CT
CBC News
On Sunday, it will have been four years since Beverley Rowbotham was beaten to death.
The mother of two was found in the back seat of her car in a Selkirk parking lot. Her killer has never been found.
Her family plans to hold a public memorial Sunday at 4 p.m. in the Women's Grove at the legislature.
There's a plaque there marking the struggle to stop violence against women, an appropriate reminder of Rowbotham's violent death.
It's the first such public memorial they've held.
"We don't want people to forget and we do want some justice for Bev," says her sister Betty Rowbotham. "...and we do want people to own their anger and own their rage and not let it escalate to violence."
Family members also hope the memorial will spark new tips from the public about Beverley's murder.
Last year, Rowbotham's murder officially became a cold case.
RCMP have no new leads, but two cold case officers are investigating the case.
Sgt. Steve Colwell says fresh eyes might bring new information to light.
"The investigators are very confident with the work they've accomplished since they took over over a year ago and they have a high level of confidence it will be solved and charges will be laid at one point," he says.
RCMP say Rowbotham was bludgeoned to death in the backyard of her St. Andrew's home.
Her body was placed in a car and driven to Selkirk, where it was discovered shortly after Rowbotham's husband reported her missing.
Her sister says the family is determined to keep the investigation active.
"Just knowing what happened will bring some peace of mind, I guess. This way, it's some nameless, faceless person out there. You don't know who to trust, who to believe," Betty Rowbotham says.
Beverley Rowbotham's murder is one of 18 unsolved murders involving women in Manitoba since 1968.
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