Brantford police have identified a suspect in a nearly four-decade-old missing person case.
At a news conference Wednesday, police named Stephen Mudko as the man responsible for the abduction and alleged death of Mary Hammond.
Hammond disappeared on September 8, 1983. She left home that day at about 3:30 a.m. to go to work at a local bakery, where she was scheduled for an early morning shift. She never arrived.
Police said they followed in her footsteps to the field where they found items from her lunch box. They also found a small amount of blood in the area. It was said that after this discovery the trail had cooled down.
At the time of his disappearance, Hammond was 25 years old and a groom.
“I’m afraid we’ll never know what happened to Mary,” said her husband, Larry Hammond. “Her absence leaves a deep wound.”
He and his family have been searching for answers for the past 39 years.
“Those who knew her lost a little sun,” he said.
On Wednesday, they received some closure.
Mary Hammond family members speak at a press conference in Brantford on June 8, 2022 (Dan Lauckner / CTV News)
“We are publishing a historical photo of Stephen Mudko in the hope that it may evoke someone’s memory in order to provide additional information that could help further the investigation,” said the chief investigator from the staff sergeant. Keith Tolar at the press conference.
Police explained that with the help of modern technology they were able to identify the suspect.
“During the initial phase of the investigation, a search warrant was issued on September 11, 1983, at the Memorial Drive residence,” Tolar said. “The evidence seized at that time was examined and remained in custody. It was because of the foresight and efforts of the investigators that this evidence was then available for analysis later, when [new] technology was developed. Through seized historical evidence and advances in mitochondrial DNA analysis, we are able to criminalize Mary Hammond with the man believed to be responsible for her abduction and alleged murder. “
Police believe Stephen Mudko, pictured here, abducted and killed Mary Hammond. (Brantford Police Department / Sent)
Police said Mudko was 36 at the time of Hammond’s disappearance and also lived in Brantford.
He died in 2010, but police said if he were alive today, Mudko would be charged with first-degree abduction and murder.
“We think he may have known the family freely, but there was no intimate relationship between Mudko and the family,” said a staff sergeant. Tolar.
Hammond’s family said they experienced mixed emotions during Wednesday’s announcement.
“We traveled from North Bay and Ottawa to here today to ask anyone with information to come out,” said Hammond’s niece Brenda Wilson. “Even the smallest details could help. Our greatest desire is to make Maria rest with the dignity and love she deserves.”
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