Barbara LaForge's 2002 murder remains unsolved, but Lakeport Police Chief Kevin Burke will ask the Lakeport City Council to give him extra funds to hire a dedicated investigator to help solve the case. Lake County News file photo.

LAKEPORT – The effort to close the book on Lakeport's only unsolved murder may soon get an infusion of much-needed resources.

At the Lakeport City Council's April 21 meeting, Police Chief Kevin Burke – who also is Lakeport's interim city manager – will ask that the council waive the city's hiring freeze to allow him to hire a part-time investigator to devote to the case.

“The case continues to cast a shadow over the entire community and the Lakeport Police Department,” Burke's report to the council states. “There is a moral obligation to secure whatever resources are necessary to bring this case to a resolution, for the benefit of the victim, her family and friends, the entire community and the police department.”

This coming October will mark the seventh anniversary of Barbara LaForge's murder in her downtown frame shop on the morning of Oct. 8, 2002.

The 43-year-old LaForge was shot four times – once through the heart – with a .22-caliber weapon by a killer who them walked out into broad daylight, leaving seemingly few clues to their identity or motives.

But police have continued to work the case, and believe the killer remains in the community's midst.

Burke, who has been chief for three years, told Lake County News on Thursday that his department began bringing in outside help a few years ago.

Around the time of the fifth anniversary of the murder, the department sent the case for review to Inside the Tape, a homicide and crime management training company that also reviews cold cases.

Inside the Tape came up with a lot of suggestions and pointed to information Lakeport Police already had, said Burke.

“I would say within the last six months is when it began to be apparent to me that, despite our best efforts to do it with our existing staff, we wouldn't be able to do it,” Burke said.

His report to the council outlines the challenges a small department – which rarely encounters homicides – has in addressing a case like LaForge's murder, and moving the investigation forward “at the pace such a serious case deserves.”

The main factor, he said, is the lack of a seasoned homicide investigator who can focus on the case with no other responsibilities. The department hasn't been able to let its investigator work the case exclusively because of other investigations arising. Its sworn officer strength also has been reduced from 14 to 12 with the hiring freeze.

“In addition, I have concluded that one investigator, who has not had the opportunity to work homicide cases in the past will not be able to generate and keep the momentum needed to solve this complex murder case on his own, despite our best efforts to make it happen,” Burke's report states.

So they began actively looking for a retired investigator with the skills to lead the investigation. Burke's report suggests hiring the investigator on a 960-hour annual basis, and paying an hourly salary only of $30 with no fringe benefits.

Burke is asking the council to grant an exemption from the hiring freeze and to authorize spending approximately $35,104 for the investigator over a year's time.

They've found qualified candidates, and Burke told Lake County News he has a person in mind to take the job, but he isn't going to make a formal announcement until after the council makes its decision.

The investigator candidate would then have to go through the mandatory background, and psychological and medical evaluations. Once those hurdles are cleared, Burke said he'll announce the hire.

The investigator won't be micromanaged from the top, said Burke. “We are going to turn over the reins of the investigation to that person,” he said. The expectation is that the investigator will make the appropriate recommendations on how to pursue the case.

A key element will be the investigator's ability to take over the case and run with it, said Burke.

He said the new investigator would be assigned to work side-by-side with the department's current investigator, with both directed to focus only on the LaForge case.

“The ultimate goal would be to bring the case to closure by way of an arrest and prosecution,” Burke tells the council in his report. “Although this outcome cannot be assured, at the very least we will know what best efforts have been made to bring the case to closure.”

The Governor's Office has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of LaForge's killer. The award remains in effect.

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