Dark Poutine – True Crime & Dark History – A podcast about notorious Canadian crimes, dark history and other creepy topics as told by real-live Canadians

065 – Colin Thatcher: The Murder of Joann Wilson

March 21, 2019March 18, 2019 by Mike Browne

Episode 65:On a cold night in January in 1983, after hearing strange noises coming from the property nearby a neighbour found a woman’s brutally bludgeoned body on the bloody floor of her open garage. She had also been shot once behind the ear. The body was that of Joann Wilson, ex-wife of Colin Thatcher, Saskatchewan M.L.A. and former Energy Minister and son of the Province’s 9th premiere. The two had divorced bitterly only years before and suspicion fell on Colin right away. The ensuing investigation revealed the shocking facts of the case and led to Thatcher’s downfall.

064 – The Cottage Killer – David Snow

March 11, 2019March 11, 2019 by Mike Browne

Episode 064 – In April of 1992 Ian and Nancy Blackburn did not show for a family get together near their recreational property in Caledon, Ontario. The couple were found murdered and stuffed into the trunk of Nancy’s car outside their home in Toronto. The number one suspect, had allegedly been breaking into properties in the Caledon area throughout the winter and his aberrant behaviour had been escalating toward the dangerous and bizarre.

Although identified as, David Alexander Snow, 37, an eccentric antiques dealer in Orangeville near Caledon, he eluded police. In Vancouver, BC, where he’d fled, Snow went on a two week crime spree of kidnapping, rape, robbery and violence, before being apprehended by North Vancouver RCMP on July 12, 1992.

063 – Mass Murderer: Dale Merle Nelson

March 4, 2019March 4, 2019 by Mike Browne

Episode 063 – In the wee hours of September 5, 1970, after a binge of alcohol and possibly LSD, Dale Merle Nelson, 33, a logger and father of three snapped. In the matter of just over an hour he’d murdered 7 residents, including 4 children, of tiny Creston B.C. He had then absconded with another child into the local wilderness. That child, 8-year-old Cathy St. Amand, would also be found butchered where Nelson stated he’d left her, prior to his capture just a day after the massacre; one of the worst in Canadian history.

062 – Away Game – The North Hollywood Shootout

February 27, 2019February 25, 2019 by Mike Browne

Episode 062 – On the morning of February 28, 1997, two heavily armed men entered the Bank of America Branch on Laurel Canyon Blvd in the North Hollywood area of Los Angeles. Over 44 minutes in a futile attempt at escape, the two men held off police and terrified a neighbourhood with automatic gunfire, all caught live on TV.

061 – The Crimes of Michael Wayne McGray

February 18, 2019February 18, 2019 by Mike Browne

Episode 061 – In the spring of 1985, 17-year-old Elizabeth Gail Tucker went missing when hitchhiking from Dartmouth to Southwestern, Nova Scotia. Tucker was the first of many murder victims, from a very diverse pool, of one of Canada’s coldest and most outspoken serial killers, Michael Wayne McGray. McGray was convicted of 7 murders, one of which happened after years in custody. McGray remorselessly admits to as many as 10 more murders and claims, given the chance, he would do it again and again.

060 – Spaceman: The Disappearance of Granger Taylor

February 11, 2019February 11, 2019 by Mike Browne

Episode 060 – On a stormy evening in November of 1980, Granger Taylor disappeared without a trace. Granger was a shy, gentle giant and eccentric mechanic who had become obsessed with outer space and UFO’s. Leaving all his possessions behind a note was found stating he was off to walk aboard an alien spacecraft for a 42 month long journey. Although, what was assumed to be some of Granger’s remains were found 6 years later, more questions still haunt his friends and family. What happened to Granger?

As well we chat with Jennifer Horvath from Toronto based Alibi Entertainment who Executive Producer of Spaceman, a documentary about Granger’s odd life and disappearance now available, streaming in Canada only, on CBC Gem.

059 – Show Primer, Canadian Myths and Listener Q & A

February 10, 2019February 4, 2019 by Mike Browne

Episode 059 – In a bit of a palate cleansing episode after two of our most brutal, Mike and Scott bring listeners up to speed with a show primer, answering burning questions like, “What is a toque?” and “What’s in a Nanaimo bar?”. We spend some time debunking myths about Canada and then take on listener questions via write in and phone.

058 – The Beast of BC – Part 2: Hell Week and Aftermath

January 29, 2019January 29, 2019 by Mike Browne

Episode 058 – The murders of 7 children had taken place between November 1980 and mid July of 1981. Although evidence had yet to be uncovered, police began to look at one suspect intensely. His name was Clifford Robert Olson Jr. Although surveillance was supposed to be in place, Olson managed to murder 4 more children in the Lower Mainland over the span of just 7 days.

After captured Olson made a ‘cash for bodies’ deal with police, which became one of the most discussed deals with a criminal in Canadian history. Even after conviction, Olson’s behaviour continued to hurt others, especially the families of the victims.

057 – The Beast of BC – Part 1: Murder x7

January 24, 2019January 24, 2019 by Mike Browne

Episode 057 – Starting in November of 1980 children between the ages of 9 and 18 years old began to go missing in Surrey, Burnaby and Coquitlam. A few were found sexually assaulted and brutally murdered, others were written off as runaways, some think due to systemic classism within local police departments. No real connections were made in cases until 7 kids were gone by late July of 1981, almost 9 months later. Police began to look at one suspect intensely, a man named Clifford Robert Olson Jr. But they didn’t have enough hard evidence to arrest him and he was not done killing.

056 – The Crimes of Peter Demeter

January 17, 2019January 14, 2019 by Mike Browne

Episode 056 – In the summer of 1973, 32-year-old, Austrian born model turned wife and mother, Christine Demeter, was found deceased in the garage on the family home in Mississauga, ON. Early on, suspicion fell on Peter Demeter, Christine’s husband and Hungarian born multi-millionaire, jet-setting Toronto real estate developer. The truth uncovered a calculated plan concocted by psychopathic mind, that was just getting started.