Month: July 2023

Episode 278: In this episode, we plunge into the perplexing saga of Grace Marks and James McDermott. Their story, a blend of mystery and controversy, revolves around the savage murders of wealthy Richmond Hill farmer Thomas Kinnear and his housekeeper, Nancy Montgomery, in 1843. This tale continues to ignite debates about guilt, innocence, and the essence of criminality.

We’ll lay out a tangled web of facts and speculations surrounding these infamous figures and their crimes. We journey through Grace’s life, from her hazardous upbringing in Ireland to her immigration to Canada and her involvement in one of the 19th century’s most notorious crimes. We also delve into James McDermott’s role and his complex relationship with Grace Marks, a subject of relentless speculation.

Sources:

Grace Marks | The Canadian Encyclopedia

Life in the Clearings versus the Bush by Susanna Moodie – Free Ebook

The trials of James McDermott and Grace Marks | Digital Archive | Toronto Public Library

An Historical Enigma: the real Grace Marks and Alias Grace | Anna Mazzola

Is ‘Alias Grace’ a True Story? Separate Fact vs. Fiction

Beyond Grace: Criminal Lunatic Women in Victorian Canada

The Trial and Testimony of Grace Marks, Murderess: Gender Performance in a Colonial Courtroom, Upper Canada 1843 by Ashley Banbury

Early Days in Richmond Hill

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Episode 277: On January 26, 2012, Jo Anne Alexander called 911 from her residence in Richmond, B.C., pleading for help and mentioning that she had ingested sleeping pills. Upon arrival, police found Jo Anne and her husband, John Alexander, in their bed with their deceased family dog. John was dead and had suffered blunt-force injuries. His death was ruled a homicide. Jo Anne was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was arrested after a conversation with police and subsequently charged with second-degree murder.

A B.C. Supreme Court jury found Jo Anne Alexander guilty of the second-degree murder of her husband in March. She was sentenced to life in prison with no parole eligibility for 11 years. The court heard that the couple had been in severe financial distress, living off the proceeds from the sale of their home and borrowing from friends and family. In a letter to her family, Jo Anne, apparently suicidal, said the couple was facing “financial ruin” and that her husband didn’t understand.

John and Jo Anne’s son, David, will share his experiences over the past 11 and a half years since his father died in the next part of this episode.

The following episode includes talk of suicide. If you need help, you can contact a crisis responder to get help without judgement, twenty-four / seven, 365 days a year at 1-833-456-4566. For more information, please go to talksuicide.ca. You matter and are deserving of help. 

Sources:

Get Help | Talk Suicide Canada

2014 BCSC 293 (CanLII) | R. v. Alexander | CanLII

2014 BCSC 1306 (CanLII) | R. v. Alexander | CanLII

Richmond woman, 63, gets 11-year prison term for murder of ailing husband – Richmond News

Richmond woman charged with murdering invalid husband of 40 years | Globalnews.ca

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Episode 276: On March 27, 2020, Jacob Sansom, 39, and his uncle, Maurice Cardinal, 57, both Métis, went hunting in Glendon, Alberta. They later began driving along Range Road 484, where they were mistakenly suspected of planning a burglary by Roger Bilodeau, a white property owner. Bilodeau, 58, and his 16-year-old son, Joseph, gave chase, reaching speeds up to 150 km/h. Another son, Anthony Bilodeau, 33, was called to join during the chase. He did and brought a gun. 

After a confrontation at an intersection near Glendon, Alberta, Anthony shot and killed both Sansom and Cardinal. The Bilodeaus fled the scene, offering no aid, nor did they contact authorities. The victims’ bodies were discovered by a passerby hours later.

Sources:

Justice for Jacob and Morris

Obituary of Jacob Christoper Sansom | Northern Lights Funeral Chapel

Obituary of Maurice David Cardinal | Northern Lights Funeral Chapel

Justice For Jake and Morris | Facebook

Métis National Council

2022 ABQB 576 (CanLII) | R v Bilodeau | CanLII

2023 ABKB 13 (CanLII) | R v Bilodeau | CanLII

Global News | Search: Jacob Sansom and Morris Cardinal

Métis hunters’ families reacts to Anthony Bilodeau’s sentence | APTN News

Surveillance footage shows Metis hunters’ deaths | Toronto Star | YouTube

Alberta father and son both guilty in killing of two Métis hunters | The Star

Metis hunter in Alberta says threats not new in province | APTN News

Experiences of discrimination among the Black and Indigenous populations in Canada, 2019

History of Racism in Canada – Anti-Racism Learning Toolkit – Library and Academic Services at RRC Polytech

White Canadian man found guilty of murder of two Indigenous hunters | Canada | The Guardian

Edmonton Journal | Jacob Sansom and Morris Cardinal Murdered

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This historical, true crime podcast hosted by Kru Williams from History Television’s hit original series Deadman’s Curse: The Legend of the Lost Gold investigates the curse and legend surrounding the lost gold mine of Pitt Lake.

On their quest they’re joined by members of the Stó:lō and Katzie First Nations, historians and cultural experts of diverse backgrounds, as they sort fact from fiction and give Slumach a voice from the other side of the veil.

You’ll hear about how an Indigenous prospector, accused of murder set a curse on anyone who searched for his hidden gold just before he was hanged. Over a century later, a prospector, a mountaineer, a truth-seeker and a way-shower band together to walk the same paths of those who went looking for Slumach’s cursed gold and never returned find how a single bullet was the catalyst for a 150-year-old mystery.

Click here to find it on your favourite podcast app.

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Episode 275: On May 8, 1984, a man with a beard, dressed in Canadian Forces camouflage attire and wearing a beret, entered the studios of CJRP, a radio station in Quebec City. Employees at the station noticed the man had a knife secured to his leg. The man approached the assistant to radio host André Arthur’s assistant, presented her with an envelope while introducing himself as “Mr. D.” and promptly left.

The man was later identified as Denis Lortie, a 25-year-old disgruntled Canadian Forces corporal who then entered the Citadelle de Quebec to commit a mass shooting of members of the National Assembly of Quebec. He opened fire, killing three unelected legislature employees, Georges Boyer, 61, Camille Lepage, 54, and Roger Lefrançois, 57. He injured thirteen others before being apprehended, thanks to the heroism of René Marc Jalbert, a retired Canadian Forces officer and the sergeant-at-arms of the National Assembly of Quebec. Lortie’s actions shocked the nation and prompted discussions on security measures and political extremism. Jalbert’s earned him the Cross of Valour, Canada’s highest civilian bravery award.

Sources:

Home – La Citadelle de Québec – Musée Royal 22e Régiment

This is the story of how one lock and key, unlocked terror. | Diefenbunker.ca

Dramatic video: 30th Anniversary of National Assembly shootings | CBC.ca

“Mr. D.” – TIME

The Père-version of the Political in the Case of Denis Lortie

Canadian Parliamentary Review – Article

Il y a 20 ans, la fusillade de l’Assemblée nationale | Radio-Canada.ca

Le Soleil > Itinéraire d’un tueur

1990 CanLII 3485 (QC CA) | R. c. Lortie | CanLII

1986 CanLII 7293 (QC CA) | Lortie v. R. | CanLII

Lortie, Re, 1985 CanLII 3637 (QC CA) | Lortie Re. | CanLii

Rampage: Canadian Mass Murder and Spree Killing by Dr. Lee Mellor | Scribd

Mr. René Marc Jalbert | The Governor General of Canada

Canadian Parliamentary Review – Article

Lortie Released | The Canadian Encyclopedia

Plaque to honour victims of 1984 National Assembly shooting unveiled | Montreal Gazette

J’étais la femme du tueur: le récit de Lise Levesque, épouse du caporal Denis Lortie: Dominique Fournier: 9782920839052: Books – Amazon.ca

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Episode 274: Trina Hunt, a 48-year-old woman from Port Moody, B.C., was reported missing on the evening of January 18, 2021. Her husband, Iain Hunt, claimed to have seen her at her home that morning. Her whereabouts remained unknown for weeks despite extensive search efforts by authorities and volunteers. Tragically, Trina’s body was discovered near Hope, B.C., South of Silver Creek on March 29, 2021. Her death was determined a homicide.  The investigation into her murder is ongoing, and her killer has yet to be apprehended.

Sources:

TrinaHunt.com

40 Hawthorn Drive – 40 Hawthorn Drive, Port Moody, BC

38 Hawthorn Drive, Port Moody, BC – 5 Beds for sale for $1,950,000

For sale: 38 HAWTHORN DRIVE, Port Moody, British Columbia V3H0A4 – R2732834 | REALTOR.ca

Missing Person – Port Moody Police Department

Family of missing Port Moody woman Trina Hunt makes a statement | GlobalNews

Trina Hunt’s family speaks out following the identification of her body | GlobalNews

Trina Hunt $50,000 Reward Offered | YouTube

IHIT – Trina Hunt investigation continues

IHIT – IHIT appeal to the public on the two-year anniversary of Trina Hunt investigation

Vancouver Sun | It has been two years since Trina Hunt was killed, and still no charge in the case

Facebook Page | Justice For Trina Hunt | Port Moody BC

JUSTICE FOR TRINA HUNT (@justicefortrina) | Instagram

GoFundMe | JUSTICE FOR TRINA

Unofficial Reddit Sub | r/MissingTrinaHunt

Twitter | @findtrina

The Murder Of Trina Hunt | Unofficial Facebook Discussion Group

Man arrested in connection with Trina Hunt killing released without charges | Globalnews.ca

Death of Chilliwack’s Shaelene Bell classified as ‘undetermined’: coroner – Hope Standard

Pinterest | Iain Hunt

Reddit | r/MissingTrinaHunt | Iain confronted at Dairy Queen

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