This Cold Case Went Unsolved For Over 30 Years & Now Vancouver Police Has Charged A Man

A historic sexual assault case in Vancouver was reopened after fresh information came to light, and now a man has been charged.

A news release from the VPD said that the assault occurred in the early hours of February 16, 1989, when a teenage girl was pulled into a car and sexually assaulted near East 16th Avenue and Main Street.

Constable Tania Visintin said that the department never stops investigating violent crimes such as this one.

But there were no leads, until the police received new information in 2017 and started to re-examine the case. With the reopening of the investigation, they identified a suspect.

The report said: "Earlier this year, B.C. Prosecution Service approved charges of sexual assault, assault, uttering threats, forcible confinement and theft under $5,000 against 55-year-old Joseph Richardson."

Richardson was arrested under these charges in Ottawa last month, said the release.

Constable Visintin said, "Crimes against children can cause life-long trauma and stress that may never fully go away.

"Even when a case goes cold, we never give up hope that we will one-day find the missing clue that helps bring closure and accountability."

Richardson now remains in custody.