It was six years ago today that Victoria “Tori” Elizabeth Marie Stafford was abducted while walking home from school in Woodstock, sexually assaulted and murdered.
Tori’s disappearance and the subsequent investigation and search were the subject of massive media coverage across Canada.
The search for the eight year old’s body ended on July 19th of that year — when a child’s remains were found in a wooded area South of Mount Forest.
Police charged 28 year old Michael Rafferty with first-degree murder and 18 year old Terri-Lynne McClintic with being an accessory to murder.
McClintic’s charges were altered to a first-degree murder charge and an unlawful confinement charge.
McClintic had pleaded guilty to first-degree murder.
She was sentenced to life in prison.
Rafferty was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.
Family members, friends and supporters will gather tonight in Woodstock for a memorial for Tori Stafford.
People will gather at Museum Square to pay tribute to the young girl by releasing purple balloons into the air.
Purple was Tori’s favourite colour.