337: Valentine’s Day Nightmare: The Murder of Betty Hart
On the evening of February 14, 1985, Valentine’s Day, at around 6:00 p.m., Bryan Hart of Colborne, Ontario, came home to a quiet house after work. He looked around the house for his wife, Betty, but could not find her. The couple’s 19-year-old son had already been home for an hour and a half. Michael said he hadn’t seen his mom but had noticed a pair of glasses she wore sitting on the landing leading into the basement. Thinking his mother was out somewhere, Michael picked up the glasses and put them on top of the refrigerator in the kitchen for safekeeping.
On learning about the glasses from Michael, Bryan felt compelled to check the basement. It was the only place he hadn’t checked yet. In the cellar, Bryan discovered Betty lying on her side in a vast pool of blood. She was unresponsive. Bryan raced back upstairs and told his son to call an ambulance.
Marguerite Elizabeth (Betty) Hart, 46, was dead. Among Betty’s many injuries, her throat had been slashed. Early on, the OPP presumed Betty’s wounds to be self-inflicted, but not all was as it appeared.
Sources:
1987 CanLII 124 (ON CA) | R. v. Moran | CanLII
SCC Docket | Donald Philip John Moran v. Her Majesty the Queen
Mar 09, 1985, page 3 – The Toronto Star at Newspapers.com
Mar 12, 1985, page 2 – The Toronto Star at Newspapers.com
Mar 13, 1985, page 2 – The Kingston Whig-Standard at Newspapers.com
Mar 14, 1985, page 2 – The Toronto Star at Newspapers.com
Apr 30, 1985, page 7 – The Toronto Star at Newspapers.com
Jul 23, 1985, page 5 – The Toronto Star at Newspapers.com
Jun 06, 1985, page 2 – The Kingston Whig-Standard at Newspapers.com
Jun 28, 1985, page 6 – The Kingston Whig-Standard at Newspapers.com
Jan 08, 1986, page 7 – The Hamilton Spectator at Newspapers.com
Jan 08, 1986, page 32 – The Expositor at Newspapers.com
Jan 09, 1986, page 15 – The Expositor at Newspapers.com
Jan 16, 1986, page 62 – Waterloo Region Record at Newspapers.com
Jan 16, 1986, page 10 – The Expositor at Newspapers.com
Jan 17, 1986, page 8 – The Expositor at Newspapers.com
Jan 18, 1986, page 8 – Waterloo Region Record at Newspapers.com
http://images.ourontario.ca/Partners/CTPL/CTPL002508964pf_0156.pdf
http://images.ourontario.ca/Partners/CTPL/CTPL002508964pf_0155.pdf
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
336: Murder in Fort Mac: The Case of Robert LeVoir
In November of 2002, friends and family of 25-year-old Fort McMurray DJ Robert LeVoir became concerned that they hadn’t heard from him in over two weeks. Although he’d been a troubled guy, struggling with drugs, cocaine in particular, it wasn’t like Robert to be out of touch for so long. They worried about his welfare and began searching for him, eventually involving the RCMP.
To Robert’s family, the RCMP appeared to be doing little to find their loved one. However, behind closed doors, investigators were working on a tip from a man claiming Robert’s roommate, Dax Richard Mack, also a DJ, had murdered Robert LeVoir and disposed of his body.
Sources:
2006 ABQB 324 (CanLII) | R. v. Mack | CanLII
2007 ABQB 182 (CanLII) | R. v. Mack | CanLII
2012 ABCA 42 (CanLII) | R. v. Mack | CanLII
SCC Appeal File No. 35093 — 2013
2014 SCC 58 (CanLII) | R. v. Mack | CanLII
Supreme Court upholds Fort McMurray murder conviction
Top court upholds Alberta conviction in boost for ‘Mr. Big’ tactics
Mr Big Operations: Innovative Investigative Technique or Threat to Justice?
Mr. Big: Undercover Sting Operations
Revisiting “Mr. Big” Confessions: R v Mack
“Mr. Big” Operation: SCC constrains but doesn’t eliminate the practice.
2022 ABQB 522 (CanLII) | Mack v Warden of Grande Cache Institution | CanLII
A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF MR. BIG OPERATIONS BY CANADA’S POLICE by Chanel J.
Mr. Big — Brilliant police strategy, or dangerous and coercive?
Robert Cecil William LeVoir (1977-2002) – Find a Grave
Shocore – Bonecracker | YouTube
Apr 23, 2004, page 6 – Edmonton Journal at Newspapers.com
Jul 06, 2004, page 6 – Edmonton Journal at Newspapers.com
Apr 26, 2006, page 23 – Edmonton Journal at Newspapers.com
Apr 26, 2006, page 7 – The Daily Herald-Tribune at Newspapers.com
Apr 22, 2004, page 3 – Fort McMurray Today at Newspapers.com
Apr 26, 2006, page 3 – Fort McMurray Today at Newspapers.com
May 10, 2006, page 7 – The Daily Herald-Tribune at Newspapers.com
Feb 21, 2008, page 6 – Star-Phoenix at Newspapers.com
Feb 21, 2008, page 23 – Edmonton Journal at Newspapers.com
Killer DJ appeal turfed | Edmonton Sun
High court upholds Mr. Big conviction
Shocking the Conscience: Public Responses to Police Use of the “Mr. Big” Technique
Mr. Big — Brilliant police strategy, or dangerous and coercive? | Edmonton Sun
Gangsters Out Blog | The Dirty Few MC
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
335: Ever a Hero: The 101-Year-Old Who Took Down a Killer
On December 18, 2014, 101-year-old Ernest Côté, a decorated World War II veteran, became the target of a violent home invasion. The assailant, Ian Bush, gained entry to Côté’s secure condo building using fake City of Ottawa identification. Bush proceeded to rob and terrorize the elderly war hero, binding his hands, taping his mouth shut, and leaving him to suffocate with a plastic bag over his head. However, Côté’s remarkable strength and presence of mind allowed him to break free, cut a hole in the bag, and call for help.
Little did anyone know that Côté’s bravery would not only save his own life but would also lead to the resolution of a gruesome unsolved triple homicide from 2007. The evidence Côté preserved, particularly the duct tape used to gag him, provided the crucial DNA link that connected Bush to the murders of retired tax court judge Alban Garon, 77, his wife Raymonde Garon, 73, and their friend Marie-Claire Beniskos, 78. These three victims, all in their 70s, had been found hogtied, beaten, and suffocated in the Garons’ luxury condo, leaving investigators baffled for years.
Sources:
“Alban Garon” – Search – Newspapers.com™
Ernest Adolphe Côté | The Canadian Encyclopedia
Riviera One and Two – 1500 and 1510 Riverside Dr
Remembering the life of Marie-Claire Beniskos
Marie-Claire Beniskos | News, Videos & Articles
Ernest Cote | News, Videos & Articles
D-Day 70th Anniversary: Battle by the numbers | YouTube
Ian Bush Charged in 2007 Triple Homicide | CBC Youtube
Ian Bush – Search | National Post
Gruesome details by pathologist in Ian Bush triple-murder trial
Man guilty in murder of Ottawa tax judge | Calgary Herald
Guilty verdict in ‘brutal, gratuitous’ Ottawa triple murder | CBC News
2017 ONSC 422 (CanLII) | R. v. Bush | CanLII
2017 ONSC 7426 (CanLII) | R. v. Bush | CanLII
2017 ONSC 7627 (CanLII) | R. v. Bush | CanLII
2024 ONCA 245 (CanLII) | R. v. Bush | CanLII
‘I was mad as a wasp,’ says 101-year-old war vet home invasion victim
Ernest Côté: 101-year-old veteran who survived home invasion dies – National
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
334: Forget Me Not — The Murder of Tina Illingworth-Eisnor
Episode 334: In this episode, we look at a tragic case of domestic violence that shook the small community of New Germany, Nova Scotia. On June 30, 2010, the quiet parking lot of a local grocery store became the scene of a horrific crime that would forever change the lives of the Eisnor family. Wayne Paul Eisnor, driven by jealousy and an unwillingness to let go, confronted his estranged wife, Tina Mae Illingworth-Eisnor, as she sat in her van. In a shocking act of violence that unfolded in broad daylight, Wayne shot Tina twice in the head, ending her life and then turned the gun on himself. Wayne, although he suffered brain damage, survived his wound.
Here, we explore the events leading up to this devastating moment, the aftermath of the shooting, and the complex legal proceedings that followed, including Wayne’s claims of amnesia, shedding light on a case that left a community in disbelief and a family deeply torn.
Sources:
Obituary: Tina Mae “Illingworth” Eisnor | Sweenys Funeral Home
Tina Illingworth-Eisnor | Facebook
New Germany, Nova Scotia Canada
Holland’s Carriers Limited | New Germany NS
Alleged Killer in New Germany Shooting Asks for Lawyer | CJHK
2013 NSSC 241 (CanLII) | R. v. Eisnor | CanLII
2013 NSSC 263 (CanLII) | R. v. Eisnor | CanLII
R. v. Eisnor (W.P.), (2013) 336 N.S.R.(2d) 381 (SC) | vLex
2015 NSCA 64 (CanLII) | R. v. Eisnor | CanLII
R. v. Eisnor (W.P.), (2015) 362 N.S.R.(2d) 157 (CA) | vLex
Search Results: Tina Eisnor | Global News
Search Results: Tina Eisnor | CTV News
Search Results: Tina Eisnor | CBC News
Gender Based Violence in Canada | Learn the Facts
Victims of police-reported family and intimate partner violence in Canada, 2021
Intimate partner violence: Experiences of young women in Canada, 2018
Our Work | Funding For Violence Prevention Programs | Getting Women Out Of Violence
Resources: Family and Intimate Partner Violence in Canada
Wayne Eisnor guilty of 1st-degree murder | CBC News
Tina Eisnor’s children ‘deeply conflicted’ after father’s guilty verdict
Atlantic News | Local Breaking | CTV News Atlantic
Appeal dismissed in case of man who shot himself in the head, causing amnesia
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
333: Summer Cut Short: The 1977 Rosedale Murders
Episode 333: On the evening of July 18, 1977, five local teenagers were relaxing, drinking and listening to music near Ferry Island Park on the banks of the Fraser River just east of Chilliwack. It was a beautiful summer night.
At 9:40 p.m., a man appeared from the underbrush armed with a rifle and, without a word, began shooting. Four of the teens were killed: Brothers from Rosedale, Jan Christiaan “John” Den Hertog,16, and Evert “Ed” Den Hertog, 19, Egbert “Bert” Menger, 19, of Clearbrook and Rosedale resident Leola Corrinne Guliker, 16. The killer sped off in Evert Den Hertog’s truck, while the only survivor, fifteen-year-old Adrian “Eddie” Menger, Egbert’s younger brother, fled and sought help.
The terrified community, stunned by the senseless slayings, began burying their dead while police sought a killer. More than a month later, they had their man — 23-year-old Walter Murray Madsen of Chilliwack. Madsen had then dumped all four victims into the Fraser, hoping the water would hide the evidence of his horrific crime.
Madsen’s bizarre motives for the shootings and further plans were revealed at his trial in 1978. Leola Guliker’s body was not found until nine months after the shooting, just days after Madsen was sentenced to life in prison for her killing and the three others.
Sources:
https://thereach.pastperfectonline.com/byperson?keyword=Madsen,%20Walter%20Murray
CRIMES ON TEENAGERS IN THE FRASER VALLEY | Victims and Vandals
http://richardislivingwithals.blogspot.com/2013/03/bert-menger.html
CRIMES ON TEENAGERS IN THE FRASER VALLEY | Victims and Vandals
http://pgplweb02.lib.pg.bc.ca:8080/fedora/get/pgc:1978-04-12/ilives:viewerSdef/getViewer
Full text of “The Daily Colonist (1977-09-01)”
https://newspaperarchive.com/medicine-hat-news-sep-02-1977-p-2/
Apr 14, 1978, page 9 – Red Deer Advocate at Newspapers.com
Full text of “The Daily Colonist (1978-04-18)”
http://authormjpreston.blogspot.com/2018/07/the-old-man-in-rain-following-rosedale.html
CRASH INVESTIGATED AS MURDER-SUICIDE | Vancouver Sun
Jenneke Everdina “Jennie” Den Bruin Den Hertog …
Evert “Eddie” Den Hertog (1957-1977) – Find a…
Jan Christiaan “John” Den Hertog (1961-1977) -…
Barend Den Hertog Obituary – Chilliwack, BC
May 20, 1987, page 6 – The Chilliwack Progress at Newspapers.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
332: Out of Sight, Out of Mind: The Leprosy Colony of D’Arcy Island
Episode 332: In this episode of Dark Poutine, we delve into a troubling chapter of British Columbia’s history that reveals the deep-seated racism and fear that plagued our past. D’Arcy Island, a small and isolated landmass off the coast of Vancouver Island, became home to a leprosy colony from 1891 to 1924. But this wasn’t just any colony; it was a place where Chinese immigrants who had contracted the disease were forcibly sent to live out their days in harsh and inhumane conditions, far from society’s view.
Leprosy, now known as Hansen’s disease, has been misunderstood and deeply feared throughout history. The disease, although not highly contagious and treatable today, was seen as a mark of shame and led to the isolation of those afflicted. The establishment of the D’Arcy Island colony was rooted not only in fear of the disease but also in the racist attitudes of the time, which viewed Chinese immigrants as expendable and less deserving of care.
Sources:
W̱SÁNEĆ First Nations: History & Territory
The Creation of Indian Reserves and their Impact On The W̱SÁNEĆ Nation
British Columbia Indian Treaties In Historical Perspective
An introduction to First Nations’ history in the Gulf Islands
Tales from the Vault: The lepers of D’Arcy Island
The Dark Past Of D’Arcy Island • British Columbia Magazine
How a tiny island off Victoria became part of B.C.’s racist history – UBC News
‘Island of Death’: BC’s Forgotten Racist Leper Colony
Health campaigners call for an end to the use of the word leper
Chinese Canadian historic places receive provincial recognition
Chinese Canadian Historic Places | PDF
A Measure of Value: The Story of the D’Arcy Island Leper Colony By Chris Yorath | Google Books
City of Victoria Archives | International Leprosy Association – History of Leprosy
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
331: Inside Out: The Murders of Panagiota Zerbinos and April Peregooda
Episode 331: On November 8, 2012, in a bloody crime scene, police discovered the body of 43-year-old Panagiota “Yota” Zerbinos in her daughter’s basement suite in the Fleetwood neighbourhood of Surrey, B.C. Yota had been brutally stabbed 24 times and left under a blanket; the murder weapon, a kitchen knife, was still in her chest. Two days later, Yota’s 28-year-old daughter, Gloria Crystle Zerbinos, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. She pleaded not guilty, citing her schizophrenia, drug abuse and other complex mental health issues, claiming she was not criminally responsible for her mother’s death. Gloria was held at Alouette Correctional Centre for Women.
However, as court proceedings continued, another inmate, 51-year-old April Peregooda, was found unresponsive in Gloria Zerbinos’s cell.
Sources:
B.C. woman who killed mother sentenced for second murder while serving time | CBC News
Woman arrested in death of B.C. jail inmate | CBC News
2018 BCSC 2464 (CanLII) | R. v G.C.Z | CanLII
2019 BCSC 584 (CanLII) | R. v Zerbinos | CanLII
“Gloria Zerbinos” – Search – Newspapers.com™
Surrey woman to stand trial for allegedly murdering her mother – Surrey Leader
Surrey woman guilty of murder for stabbing her mother 24 times
Remembering the life of Panagiota Zerbinos
Panagiota Zerbinos Obituary (2012) – Legacy Remembers
From straight A’s to accused of stabbing her mom 24 times
Mom’s body was found in daughter’s Surrey suite, trial hears
Surrey woman was afraid to be alone with her daughter, murder trial hears
Woman sentenced for prison murder in Maple Ridge
2004: Alouette Correctional Centre for Women – Province of British Columbia
Ex-stripper guilty of mother’s murder | The Province
Surrey woman who murdered her mother can apply for parole in 12 years
Integrated Homicide Investigation Team
Former stripper on trial for mom’s murder suffered delusions, court hears
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
330: Graphic Details: The Murder of Iana Kasian
Episode 330: In this episode, we explore a horrific case that shocked both Hollywood and Canada – the brutal murder of Iana Kasian by her fiancé, graphic novelist and filmmaker Blake Leibel.
On May 26, 2016, the mutilated body of 30-year-old Iana Kasian was discovered in the West Hollywood apartment she shared with Leibel. What makes this case particularly chilling is not just the gruesome nature of the crime but the background of the perpetrator himself.
Blake Leibel, born into a wealthy Canadian family, had relocated to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. As a graphic novelist and aspiring filmmaker, Leibel had contributed to a work titled “Syndrome,” which eerily foreshadowed the brutal manner in which he would later take Kasian’s life.
The timing of this heinous act adds another layer of tragedy to the story. Kasian, originally from Ukraine, had given birth to the couple’s daughter just three weeks before her murder. What should have been a joyous time for the new parents instead became a nightmare that would leave a child without her mother and a family shattered.
Sources:
“Iana Kasian” – Search – Newspapers.com™
Canadian Legal Information Institute — Eleanor Leibel
Wayback Machine — Charging Document for Blake Leibel
FULL INTERVIEW – Lorne Leibel Apache 47′ Owner & Driver
May 30, 2016, page 29 – The Vancouver Sun at Newspapers.com
People v. Leibel, No. B291049 | Casetext Search + Citator
Blake Leibel | Additional Crew, Director, Animation Department
Blake Leibel murder | News, Videos & Articles
Son of wealthy Toronto family arrested in L.A. after mother of his newborn found dead in apartment
Filmmaker Blake Leibel Found Guilty of Grisly First-Degree Murder
Canadian Blake Leibel found guilty in California court of murdering and torturing girlfriend
Autopsy report reveals graphic details in 2016 murder of model in West Hollywood
HUNTER: Toronto rich kid killer Blake Leibel gets true crime TV treatment
https://thecrimewire.com/true-crime/the-iana-kasian-hollywood-murder
The Blake Leibel story: Here’s everything you need to know
Hollywood horror story: The inside story of Canadian accused killer Blake Leibel
Graphic novelist ordered to pay nearly $42 million in fiancee’s torture murder
5 horrific details about the murder of Iana Kasian
May 30, 2016, page 29 – The Vancouver Sun at Newspapers.com
Young Developer Buys Reba McEntire’s Former Spread – Hartford Courant
Cody Leibel: Racedriver biography – career and success
Cody Leibel – Stats, Contract, Salary & More
Cody Leibel goes big in Beverly Park with purchase of Reba McEntire’s former home
Katy Perry completes $18-million deal for developer Cody Leibel’s Beverly Crest home
Death by Fame on ID: Where is Blake Leibel Now?
Hollywood Horror Writer Turned Killer: The Blake Leibel Story (True Crime Documentary)
Judge Awards $41.6 Million to Family of Woman Murdered in WeHo by Her Wealthy Boyfriend
https://www.amazon.com/Syndrome-Daniel-Quantz/dp/1932386998/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
329: Radicalized Canadian: The Attack on Paul Pelosi
Episode 329: On October 28, 2022, Paul Pelosi, husband of former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was brutally attacked in his San Francisco home. The perpetrator? A 42-year-old Canadian man named David DePape.
Born and raised in British Columbia, DePape’s journey from a small-town Canadian to an alleged political extremist is a disturbing tale of online radicalization. As we’ll explore in this episode, DePape became immersed in far-right conspiracy theories and extremist ideologies, particularly those aligned with QAnon and other conspiratorial narratives.
The attack on Paul Pelosi serves as a chilling reminder of how online misinformation and conspiracy theories can lead to real-world violence. We’ll examine how DePape’s beliefs evolved, the role of social media echo chambers in his radicalization, and the broader implications of this case for Canadian and American society.
Join us as we unravel the events leading up to that fateful night in San Francisco and explore the dark undercurrents of extremism that can turn an ordinary Canadian into a violent offender on the international stage.
Sources:
TIMELINE: Latest updates after Paul Pelosi attacked inside San Francisco home
Paul Pelosi 911 call transcript: Read what he told SFPD
What to Know About Agonal Breathing
SFPD says Pelosi attack ‘not random’
Nancy Pelosi (@TeamPelosi) on X
Search: David DePape | The Star
START QAnon Research Brief_5_26
David Depape | News, Videos & Articles | Global News
Accused in assault on Nancy Pelosi’s husband grew up in B.C. | Globe and Mail
Man Accused of Attacking Nancy Pelosi’s Husband Left Trail of Far-Right Hate | Vice
Who is David DePape? Pelosi attack suspect revelled in conspiracy theories
911 call from Paul Pelosi during attack released | YouTube
SFPD Body Camera Footage of Attack on Paul Pelosi (Oct. 28, 2022) | YouTube
United States vs. David Wayne Depape
Accused in assault on Nancy Pelosi’s husband grew up in B.C.
Election denial movement in the United States | Wikipedia
Testimony on American Confidence in Elections
Deep state in the United States | Wikipedia
Attack on Paul Pelosi | Wikipedia
Alleged Paul Pelosi attacker posted multiple conspiracy theories | CNN Politics
Pelosi attacker was immersed in 2020 election conspiracies
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
328: Honourless: The Shafia Family Murders
Episode 328: On June 30, 2009, the serene waters of the Rideau Canal in Kingston, Ontario, revealed a dark and tragic secret. A submerged car discovered that day contained the bodies of three teenage sisters—Zainab (19), Sahar (17), and Geeti (13) Shafia—along with their father’s first wife, Rona Muhammad Amir (52).
What initially appeared to be a tragic accident soon unravelled into a chilling tale of premeditated murder. The perpetrators, Mohammad Shafia, his second wife, Tooba Mohammad Yahya, and their son, Hamed, were arrested on July 23, 2009, and later convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
Shockingly, the victims were Mohammad Shafia’s daughters and his first wife. This heinous act, driven by twisted notions of family honour, shocked the nation and highlighted the grim reality of honour-based violence. Join us as we delve into the harrowing details of the Shafia family murders, a case that not only captivated Canada but also sparked crucial conversations about domestic violence and the challenges faced by immigrant families in preserving their cultural values while integrating into a new society.
Sources:
2016 ONCA 812 (CanLII) | R. v. Shafia | CanLII
2013 ONCA 248 (CanLII) | R. v. Kailayapillai | CanLII
2004 BCSC 998 (CanLII) | R. v. Atwal | CanLII
2002 BCSC 928 (CanLII) | R. v. Nahar | CanLII
2004 BCCA 77 (CanLII) | R. v. Nahar | CanLII
Chronology of events in the Shafia murders
Inside the Shafia killings that shocked a nation
Portrait of Hamed Shafia, a young ‘honour killer’
The Shafia case’s abandoned minivan, submerged car and damaged SUV
Honour based Violence – Indo Canadian Women’s Association
Man who murdered family in ‘honour killing’ became jailhouse religious tyrant
Preliminary Examination of so-called “Honour Killings” in Canada – Open Government Portal
Gendered Violence, Cultural Otherness, and Honour Crimes in Canadian National Logics on JSTOR
Honour-based violence | Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Domestic Violence Resources | Canadian Association of Social Workers
Honour Killings | Canada Commons
Types of Femicide | Femicide in Canada
Honour Based Violence & Forced Marriage – Canadian Police Knowledge Network
Problematizing “Honour Crimes” within the Canadian Context
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices