Family and friends of an Ottawa man murdered nine years ago held a candlelight vigil Monday evening to mark the anniversary of his death.
They are holding out hope someone will be arrested in the unsolved murder of 19-year-old Douglas Stewart.
Stewart was found beaten to death in his apartment on Donald St. in Ottawa’s east end in 2004.
“I know that even if they do find (the killer), it won’t bring my son back,” said Stewart’s mother Linda Beland. “But I need to know who and why.”
Family and friends attended the vigil, held at La Grotte de Lourde near Montfort St. and Montreal Rd., holding candles, reciting prayers and poems and sharing memories of Stewart.
“We always had good times, I lived with him, I took care of him,” said Stewart’s older brother Raymond Beland.
“All I can do is hope something will happen, I can’t wait,” he said. “This person does need to be brought to justice, this needs to end.”
Last summer, police announced cash rewards for information leading to arrests and convictions in several unsolved cases.
A reward of up to $50,000 is attached to Stewart’s case.
“We just really miss him, and I’m really hoping 2013 will be the year where we’re going to solve this case,” said Matt Loyer, Douglas Stewart’s younger cousin.
Earlier this month, 56-year-old Marc Leduc was arrested in connection with the unsolved murders of Pamela Kosmack and Leanne Lawson.
The arrest was an encouraging breakthrough for Linda Beland.
“It gives me hope if it happens for them and it’s been a while now, it could happen to me,” Beland said.
Stewart’s mother says she will keep holding the annual vigils until her son’s killer is brought to justice.
“(It’s) the hope of a mom. I’m his mom, I’m his voice,” she said. “I will keep going until I find out who did that to my son, until my last breath, if I have to.”
Ottawa Police are asking anyone with information on the case to contact their Major Crimes section at 613-236-1222 ext. 5477 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 613-233-8477 (TIPS).
With files from CTV’s Claudia Cautillo
