On Sept. 2, 1987, 83-year-old Lillian Berube was brutally beaten when she confronted a burglar in her home. She died a few days later. DNA has helped police scoop up a B.C. man who is now charged with second degree murder.
EDMONTON – Police have scooped up a 41-year-old B.C. man for allegedly murdering an elderly woman 22 years ago.
83-year-old Lillian Berube was brutally beaten to death during a break-in at her Edmonton home at 116 Avenue and 90th Street on Sept. 2, 1987.
“Charles William Abou has been charged with second degree murder along with break and enter and commit,” said an Edmonton Police statement.
“EPS Homicide Section detectives delivered documents to Edmonton’s provincial courthouse last week listing pending charges against a man in his 40s living in British Columbia. He is scheduled to appear in an Edmonton court room tomorrow (Thursday) morning.
“Lillian BERUBE was found in her residence near 116 Ave and 90 St on September 2, 1987. It appears the victim’s death happened during the course of a break and enter at her residence,” police said.
“Lillian died in hospital as a result of the trauma she suffered,” police said.
“An earring was located at the scene which is believed to have been lost by the suspect. It is a gold earring with 3 dangling chains, each one with a gold heart on the end,” police added.
There was a reward of $43,000 for the murder but it is not clear if this helped.
“Extensive investigations, including DNA testing have been conducted over the years. While the original investigators retired many years ago, EPS detectives continued to examine possible leads in the case and received a break when further forensics testing was recently conducted,” said police.
Police said Berube was beaten when she confronted a burglar.
