The Mysterious Disappearances of Four Seniors From the Laan Farm

Joan Lawrence, a 77-year-old known as Cat Lady, disappeared in 1998 from a farm in Huntsville, Ontario, Canada. Investigators handling Lawrence’s disappearance learned three other elderly people had disappeared from the same farm: 90-year-old John Semple, 71-year-old John Crofts, and 70-year-old Ralph Grant.

Lawrence disappeared while in the process of reporting her landlord for "Fraud, theft, mistreatment, and neglect.” Her case was listed as a "Missing Person."

Journalist and Poet Turned "Cat Lady"

As a young woman, Lawrence worked as a journalist and poet. She married a military man, although divorced by 1949.

As Lawrence aged, she lived a solitary life with little contact with people. She preferred life with her cats. She took in strays and unwanted cats from around town, amassing dozens of cats she faithfully cared for.

After Lawrence lost her home in a fire in 1994, she lived at a local Salvation Army and in boarding houses until 1997. Despite her situation, Lawrence continued feeding all the cats she had taken in.

Lawrence Moved Into a Shed on Laan Farm

In 1997, Lawrence moved to Cedar Pines Christian Retirement Lodge, a facility owned by Kathrine Laan. The same year, Kathrine’s brothers offered her shelter in an 8x10 shed on their farm.

Lawrence paid $600 per month to live in a decrepit 8x10 shed on the Laan farm She could have her cats at the farm, although did not have running water, the shed was uninsulated, and there was only minimal heat.

A social worker learned about Lawrence’s living conditions in September 1998. She immediately contacted the police. Authorities found Lawrence in the shed and contacted Adult Protective Services. She was moved from the shed into a decommissioned van on the Laan farm.

Lawrence Reported Missing

Allan Marshall, another resident at the farm and close friend of Lawrence, reported her missing in November 1998. He told police he heard gunshots and the brothers operating a backhoe the night Lawrence disappeared.

Police obtained a search warrant, although failed to locate Lawrence’s body on the farm. They did find six cats fatally shot. Ron Allen, the Laan brothers' uncle, claimed he shot the cats.

No one seemed to have information about Lawrence’s whereabouts.

Three Elderly Men Missing From Laan Farm

Police continued to investigate Lawrence’s disappearance. In June 2000, police learned three other residents residing at the Laan farm were missing. John Semple, John Crofts, and Ralph Grant received pension checks that were cashed each month, although the men had not been seen anywhere in months. Like Lawrence, all three men were brought to the farm from homeless shelters.

Police listed the cases as "Missing Persons."

Guilty of Pension Check Fraud

David, Walter, Walter’s wife Karen, Paul, and Kathrine were all charged with defrauding the government in a ‘pension check fraud,’ taking the money provided to the three missing men. During the investigation, authorities learned the family had cashed pension checks of other deceased residents.

Walter, Kathrine, and Paul pleaded guilty to the charges, while the charges against David and Karen were dismissed.

The Laans served conditional sentences, after which Paul, Walter, Kathrine, and David moved from Muskoka.

Authorities investigating the case learned many residents died at the Laan retirement home. Most of the residents were formerly homeless, mentally ill, or did not have any family. Authorities shut down the Laan retirement home.

Individuals Disappeared "Under Mysterious Circumstances"

Two decades later, police say the four individuals disappeared under mysterious circumstances and have reason to believe they were murdered.

The Laan family has refused to cooperate with the investigation. No charges have ever been filed in the case.

Sources:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/muskoka-mystery-missing-seniors-1.5342454

https://www.muskokaregion.com/news/crime/opp-give-update-into-1998-99-disappearance-of-4-seniors-in-muskoka/article_dde729c7-ce15-52cb-a14f-9e7c34730bc6.html