Toronto police have made an arrest in the death of a Toronto woman more than 25 years after her murder, police announced Monday. Barbara Brodkin was found dead in her apartment on March 19, 1993, after her six-year-old son called 911 when he found her body. She died of a stab wound to the chest.Toronto resident Charles Mustard, 63, was arrested on Friday and charged with first-degree murder.Police initially believed Brodkin might have been the victim of a robbery, as some cash and cannabis was missing from her home after she was killed.An “extensive” investigation took place, Det. Sgt. Stacy Gallant told reporters Monday morning, including canvasses for witnesses, examination of evidence, photos, polygraph tests, banking and phone records, and over 100 interviews — but Brodkin’s killer was never found and the case went cold.After 24 years, the case was reviewed in August and Gallant said new DNA examinations revealed a connection to Mustard. The two were “not strangers,” Gallant said.“Now, 25 years later, the boy who found his mother murdered in their apartment can have some answers,” Gallant said. “Although there will be a process for this case to work its way through the justice system, at the very least he can know that we never gave up.”Mustard was previously known to police, Gallant said.Gallant asked those who knew Mustard and Brodkin to call the police if they have not yet been in contact — specifically, two people named Dirk and Linda.Brodkin’s first cousin, Herb, also spoke at the press conference, thanking the homicide team for their persistence.“I was so impressed by the diligence that went into this effort to now bring this matter before our courts,” he said. “Up until recently, I thought cold cases was just something that happened in a TV series in the States.”Mustard will appear in court on Wednesday.Jack Hauen is a breaking news reporter, working out of ...
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