LAKEPORT – The ongoing investigation into a local business woman's murder nearly seven years ago is entering a new phase, with Lakeport Police detectives interviewing witnesses and submitting evidence to a state crime lab for evaluation through new testing techniques.
As part of the effort, the Lakeport Police Department is asking anyone with information on the murder of 43-year-old Barbara Gaye LaForge to contact them.
The Governor’s Office has issued a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the responsible persons in the murder.
LaForge was shot four times at close range with a .22-caliber weapon at Wildwood Frame Shop and Inspirations Gallery on Main St. in downtown Lakeport on the morning of Oct. 8, 2002.
Her murder is the city's only unsolved homicide, according to police officials.
In April, the Lakeport City Council approved hiring a part-time investigator to dedicate to the case, as Lake County News reported.
The department hired Lou Riccardi, a retired homicide investigator from San Mateo County who now lives in Lake County, to fill the part-time post, and paired him with Destry Henderson, a Lakeport Police officer recently promoted to investigator.
Henderson gets high marks from Riccardi for his efforts on the case. “He's a real hard charger” who has a good way with people, Riccardi said.
Riccardi said he and Henderson have gone through the evidence and reviewed what had, and what hadn't, been submitted for forensic testing to the California Department of Justice Forensic Laboratory.
“Some of the items that were sent had been tested in '02, so I resubmitted them because they have new technology in DNA that we want try and run it through,” said Riccardi.
Over the last seven years great technological advancements in forensic testing having taken place, which leaves investigators hopeful that new clues to the identify of the person – or persons – who killed LaForge will be revealed.
Riccardi said they also collected and submitted several new items for examination.
“My hopes are that it will be very soon,” he said of the results.
Meanwhile, he and Henderson presently are interviewing witnesses and following up on
newly received information in the case.
Riccardi said they're getting a lot of interest in the case, thanks in part to a new outreach effort that includes issuing flyers around town.
Anyone with information in the case is asked to call Det. Riccardi or Det. Henderson at 707-263-9653, or email
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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