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The Windsor case is distressing for the city.

On Dec. 11, Cassandra Kaake, 31, seven months pregnant, was found dead in her home on Benjamin Avenue after firefighters extinguished a blaze. An autopsy found she died of blood loss — not the fire — and a veteran police investigator described it as “the most disturbing” crime scene he had seen.

Now, seven weeks later, police detectives are returning to the neighbourhood with a mission to speak to every resident.

They are asking what make of vehicle they drive, what their licence plate is, how long they have lived there, whether they rent or own their home and who else lives in the house. They are also asking if they recall seeing Ms. Kaake, perhaps out walking her dog, and about any suspicious vehicles or people they may have seen.

It is the last question asked, however, that is most unusual: Are they willing to turn over a blood sample, at a future date, to help investigators in their probe.

It is a technique dubbed “blooding.”

“The response has been tremendous. We know the community is very co-operative and they obviously feel the same way we do,” said Sergeant Matthew D’Asti, a spokesman for Windsor police.

“The entire community is very empathetic to the victim and her family. She was a vibrant young woman who was seven months pregnant. It is a very terrible tragedy. They see that and realize that and they want us to be able to do our job and do the best job we possibly can.”

Courtney Rivait, like most residents, is pleased with the intense police effort and was quick to agree to the test.