SASKATOON – A criminal profile has been done on the person who killed a beauty queen nurse more than six decades ago, say police.
Alexandra Wiwcharuk, 23, was last seen leaving her home at 1223 – 7 Ave. North in Saskatoon’s City Park neighbourhood on May 18, 1962. Her body was found 13 days later and her murder remains unsolved.
“A criminal profile was completed, however, due to the ongoing investigation we are unable to comment further,” Easton Hamm, spokesperson for Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) told SaskToday.ca in an email Monday.
Throughout the investigation there have been hundreds of witness statements taken and SPS had more than 50 persons of interests or suspects, many of whom have been excluded through DNA analysis, said Hamm.
“Larry Fischer has been excluded as a suspect,” said Hamm.
Fisher was convicted of raping and killing Saskatoon City Hospital nursing assistant Gail Miller in 1969.
In 1962, police released a sketch of a boy they believed had "valuable information" about Alexandra Wiwcharuk's death.
"Police feel the lad, believed to have been fishing in the area of the dam on the night of the murder, may not be aware of the fact that he is object of a search," reported the media. The story went on to say that the boy was about 13-years old and the sketch may give the impression of an older person but the features were said to be accurate.
In 1962, serial rapist Larry Fisher, who was later convicted of raping and killing Saskatoon City Hospital nursing assistant Gail Miller in 1969, would have been 13 years old at the time of Alexandra Wiwcharuk's rape and murder.
Warning: Some readers may find details disturbing
Wiwcharuk, a nurse at Saskatoon City Hospital, was working the night shift and was scheduled to start at 11:30 p.m. on May 18, 1962. One of her roommate’s reported her missing at 10:15 a.m. on May 19, 1962, said Hamm.
Her body was found almost two weeks later in a shallow grave.
“A group of children found her body and notified their father who was fishing on the west bank of the river on May 31, 1962,” said Hamm.
According to 1962 media reports, her body was found partially nude and decomposed. Her face had been battered with possibly a concrete slab and she had been savagely attacked, police told reporters.
An autopsy report revealed that she was raped and still alive when she was buried. Her skull was broken in two places. Because her skull was fractured, the pathologist, Dr. E. J. Andres, believed she was unconscious when she was buried. She died of suffocation between 8:30 and 11 p.m. Sand and dirt were found in her windpipe, according to 1962 media reports.
Earlier this month, SPS renewed their appeal to the public for tips and said they continue to investigate this file using all investigate tools.
“In releasing this renewed request, we are hoping that someone who knows what happened will come forward,” said Hamm.
Your information might help bring answers to Alexandra's family, say police.
Investigators believe members of the public may have information helpful in solving the case. Anyone with relevant information to offer is asked to contact police directly at 306-975-8300 or submit a tip anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
