Police Arrest Man For Teenager’s Murder Town Terrorized By Killer Who Taunted Police For 7 Months

Relief is slowly taking root in this farming community after a man was charged Saturday in the case of a killer who taunted police after bludgeoning a young girl and defacing her gravestone.

Police charged city resident Terry Driver, 31, with first-degree murder in the death of Tanya Smith, 16, who was beaten with a baseball bat and dumped in a river seven months ago.

Driver also was charged with attempted murder in connection with the beating of Smith’s friend, 16-year-old Misty Cockerill.

Driver was arrested Friday night in the police station after he went there with his lawyer.

Abbotsford police said Driver, the son of a retired Vancouver police sergeant, will appear in court Monday.

Susan Einarsson, an editor at radio station CKMA where the killer brought Smith’s headstone and dumped it in her parking spot in broad daylight, was relieved after the arrest.

“But I still wouldn’t let my guard down,” said Einarsson. “We’ve been through this once before where they had a suspect in custody and DNA testing proved he was not the guilty party.

“I don’t think anyone should let their guard down too much until it is proven they have the right person.”

Scrawled among the obscenities on the gravestone was “I’m looking for more” and “I’m still out there.”

Police have not said whether Smith was sexually assaulted, but they do confirm that whoever killed her may be linked to several other attacks on women.

Scott Zulnyiak, who used to live near Driver, his wife and two toddlers, said he fished with him.

“He was really high strung. He was always buying police scanners,” Zulnyiak said.

He said Smith used to visit his apartment. She may have met Driver there.

Judy McInnes, who lives around the corner, could barely blink back tears. Her 16-year-old daughter attended Smith’s funeral.

“I certainly hope that this is the right person,” she said. “It’s just scary knowing he was living so close to you.”

The arrest came after a new composite drawing of the killer was released this week, along with information he had an anchor tattoo. Gail Smith, Tanya’s mother, pleaded on television for someone to “make the call.”

Police wouldn’t confirm that a family member turned him in.