LAKEPORT – For nearly five years Lakeport Police have searched for the killer of a local businesswoman who was found murdered in her downtown shop. In the hopes of finally bringing the murderer to justice, they say they're reassigning officers to the case in order to take a fresh look at the evidence.
Police found Barbara LaForge, 43, of Kelseyville shortly before noon on Oct. 8, 2002, on the floor of the Wild Wood Gallery and Frame Shop on North Main Street in Lakeport. She was pronounced dead at Sutter Lakeside Hospital shortly after 1 p.m. on that day, according to original police reports.
An autopsy later revealed that she had been shot four times in the chest with a small-caliber weapon. One of the shots struck her in the heart.
Lt. Brad Rasmussen said Lakeport Police continues to work on the case, with Det. Norm Taylor serving as the lead investigator.
“We're following up on some leads that have recently come in,” said Rasmussen.
The department has devoted significant resources to the case over the years, said Rasmussen, with as many as four out of the department's 12 officers working on the case at any one time.
The District Attorney's Office has been involved in the investigation since the murder occurred, he added. The department is planning to meet with a district attorney's investigator to discuss the case's status.
Lakeport Police Chief Kevin Burke has assigned two Lakeport Police officers to review the LaForge case in its entirely, said Rasmussen. One is a longtime member of the department and the second is a new officer with experience in homicide investigations.
The investigation records include pictures, reports and interviews that take up three large three-ring binders, and which amount to about 1,500 pages, Rasmussen estimated. The officers will review all of that information.
Oftentimes, having someone with a fresh perspective examine a case results in picking up on details that other investigators may have overlooked, said Rasmussen.
They're also looking outside the department for assistance in reviewing the case, said Rasmussen.
“In the past, we have had this case reviewed by outside agency investigators,” he said. “We are in the process of doing that again.”
Rasmussen, who was one of the officers who originally investigated the murder, said Lakeport Police continue to follow up on leads. “It's an active case and we do receive information that needs to be followed up on,” he said.
Any leads they get are investigated, he said.
“It's not uncommon for us to get contacted regarding this case,” said Rasmussen, either people calling in leads or asking about its status.
In September of 2003, the Governor's Reward Program issued a $50,000 reward leading to information leading to an arrest and conviction for LaForge's murder.
Unlike some rewards programs, this reward doesn't expire, said Rasmussen. “It's good forever.”
The Governor's Office reported that the reward program was started in 1967, and since then 169 rewards have been offered, 18 of which have been paid.
The process starts when the Governor's Office receives a written request from a police chief informing them that the agency has pursued all leads and believes that a reward would assist in the effort; that the crime involved “is one for which a reward may be offered under California law” and that the victim's family supports the reward request.
In the LaForge case, retired Chief Tom Engstrom placed the request with former Gov. Gray Davis. The Governor's Office reported that the requests are processed by the governor's legal affairs unit to ensure statutory compliance before they're forwarded to the governor for final approval.
With the reward still active and the case getting a fresh look, Rasmussen said the department hopes they'll be able to solve the case, which is the city's only unsolved homicide.
Anyone with information in the case is urged to call Det. Norm Taylor at Lakeport Police, 263-5491.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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