north shore news UNDAY FOCUS The case of Nick and Lisa Masse remains unsolved THE followtna is the fourth iat a sevies of stavtes by reporter Anna Marie Di Augelu relating to 1~ unsolved murders in North Vancouver that occurred fram 1964 ta 199-4. The series bas run sporadically this year at a pace determined by the North Vancouver RCMP sevi- ous crime investigators. After cach unsolved murder story was published, police were busy following tips, some of which have led to new suspects. Future unsolved murder sto- ries will likely be published further and further apart because there is currently an RCMP ban on overtime due to federal budgetary restraints, According to a police spokesman , many so- called historical murder investigations often require considerable police overtime. Anyone with information about the murdevs is asked to contact the North Vancouver RCMP at 985-1311, Callers may bean OnyVMNONS. NICK Masee and his wife Lisa sat in a lounge in the Westin Bayshore long after they were supposed to have gone to dinner in the hotel’; restaurant on Aug. 10, 14-4. The erth Vancouver couple were supposed to have dined with an investor planning te do Business with Nic The iv estor never showed. Nick, 53, was oa former banker who was part of the Vancouver Stock Exchange (VSE) scene. He had an anxteus look on his ee while sharing a bortle of wine with his wife in the lounge, lerhaps it was disappointment. Hotel staff would be the last known people te see the cou: ple alise. North Vancouver RCMP homicide investigators believe Nick and Lisa were abducted and killed a short time later Their bodies have never been found. “There is defines organized crime involvement in this dou- ble homicide.” said North Vancouver ROMP Set. Fred Pinnock. Pinnock heads the homicide section. The North Vancouver ROMP have four officers who cur- rently work fal-time on homicide cases. Police investigators have beard all the “recreational theories and speculation™ about the case. These include money laun- dering schemes, arms smeggling deals and associations with nefarious Howe Street types. Police are not, according to Pinnock, “inclined to chase cur tails” checking out the gossip, Bat homicide investigators believe with a “degree of comnti- dence” that the reason for the murders was simple. Nick was killed because somebody lost a great deal of LISA and Nick Masee were last seen on Aug. 10, 1994. Police believe the North Vancouver couple were kidnapped and killed a short time later. Their bodies have not been found. money. Visa, 89, was an “innocent victim” of the murder plot. “We believe that there are a number of people front Nick's professional circle that know what happened to Nick, why it happened and who did it, bur they are all atraid,” said Pinnock, Pinnock added that police investizators have imerviewed “numerous associates” from the VSE Howe Street: scene. None of those people interviewed assinted the police investiga tron, “Ht is the investigators’ perception thar those who know, and there are some who know the actual story ave reluctant to cooperate with this investigation because they fear tor their awn sateny” said Pinnock After four years, there are currently no niere tips to follow in the case, Scores of tips were received at the beginning. The investigation, so far, bas invelved thousands of hours of police work, Pinnock emphasized that anvone coming forward with information could do so with strict confidentiality, He added that he would preter chat tipsters not remain anonymous to him in case the sergeant needs to contact then ras sheory ‘sister, Doretta Peung. North Vancouver reparted the ceiple Neeth Van Mountie accompa Med Evang ta her sists: North Vinvonser home at 4420 Monten Asc. near the top at Deibrook Avenue. Phe Masces bad lived) in hease for abeut EO vears. (Phe house has since been sold. Vie house was unlocked. Nick's unlewaed Chryosder LeBaron con- verte was parked mn the drnveway, Nick was Knew to be meticu lows about home security. Inside the house, the Mayees’ cat was tound Jett umed for abour nine adans. There was no sign of a struggie. “Ma feeling ts that they were abducted trom home otherwise the home and car would) have been docked.” sail Pinnock, Police beheve the Masees were killed a short tae after they were abducted, Pohce tean towards this beliet’ based on interviews “or persons close v6 Nicholas in particuiar.” At the time of their ovurders, Nick and hits scconmd wife Lisa had ASSETS dong witha mortgage on the house, Nick ennoved running in the nist Janes Dasa war fess flamboyant than her fueband, Nick was born in Holland. He was described as an amiable, secial, NOH-ARETESSIVE Person. Heo worked as an) exceutive Account manager for wealthy clients tor the Bank of Montreal. He quit his bank job of 37 years in’ the spring of 1994. Nick then became a VSE pro- moter in a company called Cemrepeinte Enterprises. and promoted a number of VSE- listed companies. He was killed several months after starting work promoting stocks with Howe Street high-rollers, Nick also was involved) ins a business venture called ‘Turbodyne ‘Technologies Inc. The publicly traded company was involved in the development of diesel engine technology. At the time of her death, Lisa (nee Leung) worked as a har: dresser at the Yokoi hair safon on Cambie Street in Vancouver. Nick and Lisa had no children. Nick had two grown chil- dren froma previous marriage: ason, Nick Tr, who is a busi- nessman in Asia and a daughter, Tanya, ¥ io lives in Europe. Pinnock said the Masce homicides remain a solvable, top priority investigation. Bat said Pinnack, "We feel this won't be solved in the near future primarily due to (ROMP) budgetary restrictions.” Pinnock was referring to the current budget crunch which is affecting police investigations of organized crime nation- Wide. Meanwhile, a $25,000 reward has been set up by Nick Jr. ior information leading to a charge and conviction in the Masces’ homicides. A Crime Stoppers reward is also available. Masec family photo RCMP wresties with budget deficit THE RCMP in B.C. spent $8.5 mil- lion more than its $380 million budget allowed for in the 1997-98 budget year. The deticit is 2% of the police department's budget. RCMP spokesman Sgt. John Ward of the B.C. RCMP head office in Vancouver said the RCMP is nor allowed to have any deficit under federal legislation. The budget deficit has prompted RCMP assistant. commissioner Murray Johnston. to ground police boats, helicopters and airplanes. On top of that, federal RCMP overtinie was banned. The ban aftects officers working in drug entorcement and immigration and pass- port crime sectians. Standby overtime was “curtailed” for emer- gencies only, This affects small police deparr- ments where officers used to receive one hour’s worth of overtime pay for cach eight hours spent on standby (on call.) Ward said he didn’t know how long the cost-cutting measures would be in effect. The sergeant said the overtime ban and other cost-saving measures were approved internally by the ROMP and made public by some frustrated Mounties. “All sections.” said Ward, “are obliged to prioritize what needs attention now and what can wait... Alot of people have assumed thar we've closed our doors for business. We have nor done that.” Ward said the RCMP deficit in B.C. was attributed to: @ receiving 300 cadets out of RCMP training that were to be used for job attrition, but weren't needed; @ the RCMP raise and “market adjustments.” Mounties were under a federal government wage freeze for five years. The wage freeze was lifted this vear. Meanwhile Reform MP Randy White, who is a deputy justice critic, said it took him less than 29 minutes to come up with more than $60 milion worth of federal spending that could be cut and given to the RCMP. White said the government spent $2.6 mil- lion on polling, $1.4 million for “professional and technical support: of Czech) Municipal Authorities,” S14 million in a grant to provide Canadian-built: locomotives to Senegal, $2 million ta promote electrical energy use in Brazil and $1.3 million to develop more dis- case- resistant bananas in Honduras. White pointed out that the federal govern- ment also boasted about a budget surplus. -~ Anna Marie D'Angelo