VICTORIA "TORI" STAFFORD POLICE NEWS CONFERENCE 4/17/09 OXFORD POLICE DEPT

Raveena Aulakh
Staff Reporter, Toronto Star

WOODSTOCKOntario Provincial Police are now heading up the investigation into the disappearance of eight-year-old Victoria Stafford and are treating the case as a child abduction.

Oxford Community Police Chief Ron Fraser told a news conference this morning OPP Det. Insp. Bill Renton would become case manager, coordinating efforts of local and provincial police in the investigation.

Renton said the case, which until now was considered a missing person, was now officially an abduction.

Victoria, who is known to friends and family as Tori, disappeared on April 8 after leaving Oliver Stephens Public School, where she is a Grade 3 student.

She was last seen on surveillance video walking away from the school with an as-yet unidentified woman.

Efforts to find the girl have included an extensive air and ground search and a massive poster campaign.

Tori's parents have maintained they do not know the identity of the woman their daughter appeared to willingly walk away with.

Police received hundreds of tips after releasing an enhanced version of the surveillance video, but said many were vague.

The case of the missing girl has caught the attention of America's Most Wanted, the U.S. television program dedicated to tracking down dangerous fugitives and missing children. Victoria's photograph and the story of her disappearance is posted on the TV show's website.

In addition to drawing international media attention, the case has spurred speculation among residents of Woodstock, a town of about 36,000 people located 145 kilometres southwest of Toronto.

Earlier this week, Victoria's mother firmly denied rumours that her daughter was abducted because of a drug debt.

"I don't owe anyone anything," Tara McDonald said. "If there is anyone who says I owe him money, bring him to me here and I'll answer all questions."

McDonald has acknowledged that she and other family members underwent polygraph tests as part of the police investigation.

McDonald had also been critical of local police for treating the case as one of a missing person, rather than an abduction.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• tori stafford
• victoria stafford
• missing woodstock girl
• tori mcdonald's daughter
• crimestoppers

[mchecky12345]

these people will hopefully be killed by other prison inmates. child killers dont do to well in prison. If it were up to me, Id just let the dad have 10 minutes in a room with that sick bastard. RIP TORI

[fraudspotter]

I hope she is returned to her loving family. If this story becomes tragic because the kidnapper was tipped off to what the police know or dont know, I HOPE CITY PULSE 24 IS PARTIALLY HELD RESPONSIBLE. Yesterday they said on air "the police are not saying whether they do or do not have a suspect in the case" THIS IS RIDICULOUS, A SICK WAY TO GET RATINGS. If the police are not saying then THERE IS NO NEWS IN THE STATEMENT so shut the frig up! Who knows how the criminal takes that comment. WAKE UP!

[1988scottcarey]

shame on the police for taking to long.OPP and woodstock police!

[BoredomCorner]

There has been a body found, but good question.

After all, these are the same "cops" who don't know what an abduction is.

[097babygirl]

How do they know its murder, with no body. have you checked under the suspects home or the ladys home. she has to be somewhere, no child deserves that, she is a beautiful little girl, she looks sweet and full of life, people shouldnt make rude comments, show some respect! bless tori. god protect her!

[gamesupcocksucker]

YES I AGREE cne08!

mrsugercrisp (and a few others) need to watch wat they write and how they comment cuz its disgustingly sick and the more u(sickos) post, the more the cops are watching u, so unless u want ur ass bumped by bubba too, I suggest u SHUT UP with the comments!

ignore the assholes...

GOD BLESS U TORI!

[jarvisingramm]

there was another person posting comments on here 4+ weeks ago, and every comment got removed. but befor they did, I read them all, and he/she said VERY similar things with VERY similar phrasing, The other " user' went under the " user name" wmicheal.

[cne08]

mrsugercrisp needs to stop making excuses for Tori's killers.

[jarvisingramm]

He said many strange things reguarding her where abouts, her Grandfather, how God loves.. even though the ' person' has a pain in their head and a cancer eating them.Ridiculas things. I just thought the person was looking for attention which is why I did,nt respond to any thing he/she said. This person seemed to know alot, I just assumed it was a distant family member wanting the spotlight. I see now all comments have been removed. I will say. something about him/her did,nt seem right.