More than 18 months after Li-Yuan Liu was killed in her Scarborough dry-cleaning shop, Toronto police are offering a $50,000 reward for information that leads to her killer.
In an emotional press conference Thursday afternoon homicide detectives formally announced the reward.
The victim's husband Michael and daughters Michelle and Denise also addressed the media, asking for their help finding the woman's killer.
Liu, also known as Rose, was 61 years old in May 2010 when she was found dead in her shop. She ran Top A Drycleaners with her husband, located at a plaza near Finch and Warden Avenues. The family stopped running the business shortly after her funeral.
"Our mom's killer is still out there. Please help us take this person off the streets so we all can be safe," Michelle said through tears.
"The police have been working tirelessly on this investigation. Any tip is helpful and can change the outcome of this case. We will not give up hope that the person responsible for murdering Rose will be found. Please help us."
Michael Liu also appealed to the killer to surrender to police. The murder took place on the couple's 35th wedding anniversary.
"Tell me for what reason you killed my wife," he said through broken English. "Otherwise you will be the enemy of my heart."
At the time, police released a video and an image of a woman they said was a suspect, although no further announcements were made in the case.
Homicide Det. Scott Whittemore updated the description of a suspect caught on the video on Thursday. They now describe the woman as Asian or of Middle Eastern descent, in her late 20s to early 30s. She was seen wearing a long flowing gown to her mid-calf, black shoes with a white design, and her hair was tied back in pony tail. She was carrying a re-usable shopping bag.
Police have speculated that a botched robbery may have led to the killing.
"We just need a couple of people to come forward and give us a nudge in the right direction," Whittemore said.
