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On January 23rd, 1983, nine-year-old Sharin' Morningstar Keenan vanished from a Toronto park. A desperate search led police to a nearby rooming house and a horrifying discovery that would launch one of Canada's longest and most infuriating manhunts. Welcome to Maple Murders, Episode 5: "The Girl In The Refrigerator And The 40 Year Manhunt."

This true crime documentary delves into the chilling case of Sharin' Morningstar Keenan, a vibrant young girl whose life was brutally cut short. Her killer, Dennis Melvyn Howe, a dangerous predator with a history of violence, disappeared without a trace after the crime, leaving behind a city stunned by grief and a police force committed to finding him.

Howe, born in 1940, was 43 when he murdered Sharin'. His release from prison on mandatory supervision in 1982, despite a revoked parole, proved to be a catastrophic system failure. He rented a room under a fake name, just a block from Jean Sibelius Square, a park full of children. When Sharin' was found in his refrigerator, the hunt for Howe began, becoming one of the most extensive and expensive investigations in Canadian history.

We explore Howe's disturbing profile: a left-handed smoker with bad teeth, a scar under his chin, and a habit of calling people "turkeys." Despite thousands of tips from around the world and decades of tireless work by the Toronto Police Cold Case Squad, led by detectives like Stacy Gallant, Howe has remained a ghost.

The case of Sharin' Morningstar Keenan left an indelible scar on Toronto, shattering its sense of safety and forcing critical reforms in the justice system regarding parole tracking and missing person protocols. It also highlighted the invaluable role of dedicated cold case units and DNA evidence, which remains a silent witness waiting for a match.

Sharin's parents, Brendan and Lynda, were torn apart by the tragedy. Brendan died in 2015, never knowing justice. Lynda continues to honor her daughter's memory, not as a victim, but as the artistic little girl she was.

The question remains: Where is Dennis Melvyn Howe? Is he dead or alive, living out his days in anonymity, or will the 40-year manhunt finally come to an end? This is a story of enduring hope, a family's love, and the relentless pursuit of justice.

If you have any tips related to the case of Dennis Melvyn Howe, please contact the Toronto Police anonymously by phone at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or via the internet at www.222tips.com. Every piece of information, no matter how small, could be the key to bringing closure to this decades-old case.

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