A Niagara Falls woman killed over the weekend has been identified as a prostitute, but police don't believe her death is connected to those of six other sex workers killed in the Niagara Region since 1996.
Niagara Regional Police said Shari Bacon, 36, died Friday night after an altercation with a 22-year-old man in his apartment. Police found out about her death when the man and a relative showed up at a police station and directed them to her body at about 9:30 p.m.
Bacon, who was "known to police," is described as having lived a "high-risk lifestyle." Police don't believe anyone else was involved in the murder. An autopsy on her body was scheduled for Sunday.
Bacon's murder makes her the seventh sex worker to be killed in the region since 1996. Police said three of these homicides, which are being investigated by a special task force, remain unsolved.
Niagara police Staff Sgt. Cliff Sexton said he doesn't believe Bacon's murder is connected to the others. He said the special task force is working closely with the Major Crime Unit and will be able to identify any similarities between Bacon's case and the others under investigation if any arise.
Shaun Paul Christie, 22, is charged with second degree murder. Christie is in police custody and is scheduled for a bail hearing in St. Catharines on Thursday.
