episodes

Episode 374: On a frigid February night in 2020, the quiet streets of Calgary’s Bowness neighbourhood became the scene of a tragedy that would send shockwaves through the city and beyond. Melissa Rae Blommaert, a loving mother and devoted friend, was found fatally injured—her life stolen in a brutal act of violence. The investigation quickly turned toward someone heartbreakingly close to her: her husband, Ronald John Candaele. As the harrowing details of Melissa’s final hours came to light, so too did the story of a woman who had fought for hope and safety amid years of hardship. In this episode, we explore Melissa’s life, her struggles, and the devastating betrayal that led to her death.

Sources:

The History of Bowness
Melissa Rae Blommaert Obituary 2020 – Pierson’s Funeral Service, LTD
2021 ABQB 332 (CanLII) | R v Candaele | CanLII
2024 ABCA 117 (CanLII) | R v Candaele | CanLII
2024 ABKB 521 (CanLII) | R v Candaele | CanLII
callitfemicide2020
Melissa Rae Blommaert – Search – Newspapers.com™
Ronald John Candaele – Search – Newspapers.com™
Melissa Rae Blommaert homicide | News, Videos & Articles | GlobalNews
Family remembers victim of Bowness domestic homicide as loving mother of 2 who enjoyed the outdoors – Calgary
Calgary man who drove over wife with U-Haul guilty of manslaughter, not murder: court of appeal | CBC News
Calgary husband who drove over wife with U-Haul should spend 15-18 years in prison for manslaughter: Crown | CBC News
‘Benefit of the doubt’: Appeal Court downgrades conviction in moving van death

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Episode 373: In the shadowy annals of North American crime, few names evoke as much dread as H.H. Holmes, a master manipulator, a conman, and a predator who thrived in the chaos of a rapidly changing world and the man often called America’s first serial killer. Born Herman Webster Mudgett, Holmes’s reign of terror began in Chicago, where he constructed his infamous “Murder Castle”—a labyrinth of hidden rooms, trapdoors, and secret passageways designed to lure and dispatch his victims during the bustling days of the 1893 World’s Fair. But Holmes’s evil did not respect borders; his murderous path would ultimately stretch into Canada.

During his murderous career, in 1894, Holmes claimed the lives of his accomplice, Benjamin Pitezel, 38, and three of his youngest victims, Benjamin’s children: Howard Pitezel, 8, in Indianapolis, and, later in Toronto, Pitezel’s daughters, Alice Pitezel, 15, and Nellie Pitezel, 11. Their tragic deaths in a quiet Toronto neighbourhood forever linked Holmes’s legacy to both sides of the border.

Sources:

The Holmes-Pitezel case by Frank P Geyer | Internet Archive
H. H. Holmes: Master of Illusion — Swindler — Crime Library
Holmes’ Autobiogrpahy | Library of Congress
Holmes’ Own Story by Herman W. Mudgett | Project Gutenberg
Depraved: Schechter, Harold | Internet Archive
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson | goodreads
H.H. Holmes: The True History of the White City Devil | goodreads
Forensic-Scholars-Today-1.2-H.H.-Holmes-One-of-Americas-First-Recorded-Serial-Murderers
Benjamin Freelon Pitezel (1856-1893) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree
The Toronto link to America’s bloodiest serial killer – Spacing Toronto
HOLMES – PITEZEL CASE: A History of the Greatest Crime of the Century and of the Search for the Missing Pitezel Children.
H. H. Holmes | by Rebecca Frost
A Book of Remarkable Criminals, by H.B. Irving

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Episode 372: In the spring of 2007, Glen Douglas Race’s violent odyssey escalated from a regional nightmare in Nova Scotia to an international manhunt that spanned two countries and left a trail of devastation in its wake. After the murders of Michael Knott and Trevor Brewster, Race fled Canada, later claiming that he was driven by delusions of a supernatural war against “demons” and “vampires” that only he could see. His flight would lead him to yet another murder at a hunting lodge in upstate New York, that of Darcy Manor, 35.

He was eventually arrested in Texas after a violent confrontation with U.S. Border Patrol, and ultimately faced justice in two nations. Psychiatric experts grappled with the question of whether he was a cold-blooded killer or a man so consumed by mental illness that he could no longer distinguish reality from fantasy. Ultimately, justice on either side of the border looked very different.

Sources:
2014 NSSC 6 (CanLII) | R. v. Race | CanLII
Glen Race Hearing’s Agreed Statement of Facts | PDF | Psychosis | Psychiatry
Halifax Rainbow Encyclopedia: 2007-05 Murders
Halifax Rainbow Encyclopedia: Michael Paul Knott
Halifax Rainbow Encyclopedia: Trevor Charles Brewster
Halifax LGBTQ2S+ history: Cruising Citadel Hill – Nova Scotia Advocate
Before the parade
Michael Paul Knott | Obituary
Man charged with murder of Halifax-area gay men
Nov 2013: Details of Halifax stabbing deaths told
‘I will always need you, Daddy’
Nov 2013: Details of Halifax stabbing deaths told

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Episode 371: In early May 2007, Nova Scotia was shaken by a series of brutal murders that would eventually be linked to a single man: Glen Douglas Race. Over the course of just over a week, two well-liked men — Paul Michael Knott and Trevor Charles Brewster — were killed in separate, violent attacks. The case would expose not only the horror of the crimes but also the tragic intersection of untreated mental illness, the vulnerability of marginalized communities, and the failures of the system meant to protect both the public and those suffering from severe psychiatric disorders.

This episode will delve into the lives of the Nova Scotia victims, the chilling details of their deaths, and the complex psychological landscape that shaped Glen Race’s descent into violence and his subsequent flight across the border into the United States, where he killed again before being caught.

Sources:
2014 NSSC 6 (CanLII) | R. v. Race | CanLII
Glen Race Hearing’s Agreed Statement of Facts | PDF | Psychosis | Psychiatry
Halifax Rainbow Encyclopedia: 2007-05 Murders
Halifax Rainbow Encyclopedia: Michael Paul Knott
Halifax Rainbow Encyclopedia: Trevor Charles Brewster
Halifax LGBTQ2S+ history: Cruising Citadel Hill – Nova Scotia Advocate
Before the parade
Michael Paul Knott | Obituary
Man charged with murder of Halifax-area gay men
Nov 2013: Details of Halifax stabbing deaths told
‘I will always need you, Daddy’
Nov 2013: Details of Halifax stabbing deaths told

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Episode 370: In this episode, we journey into the chilling case of Jesse Imeson—a man whose troubled past and violent crimes left a deep scar on Southwestern Ontario. In the summer of 2007, Imeson’s name became synonymous with fear as he embarked on a deadly spree, taking three innocent lives. The victims were Carlos Rivera, 25, of Windsor and Helene Regier, 72, and her husband, Bill Regier, 73, near the community of Grand Bend. The discovery of the murders sparked a 12-day nationwide manhunt and led to the capture of the killer in Portage-du-Forte, Quebec, near the Ontario border.

However, behind the headlines lies a story of trauma, addiction, and claims of childhood abuse that may have shaped the path to his horrific acts.

Sources:

⁠Man who killed elderly couple and bartender has appeal rejected by Supreme Court | CBC News⁠⁠

Carlos Rivera – Search – Newspapers.com™

⁠⁠Family of victims lash out as smirking killer gets life sentence⁠⁠

Supreme Court of Canada | 38467⁠⁠

Windsor murderer’s claim of sexual abuse hits legal setback⁠⁠

2021 ONSC 5289 (CanLII) | Imeson v. Maryvale | CanLII⁠⁠

2018 ONCA 888 (CanLII) | Imeson v. Maryvale (Maryvale Adolescent and Family Services) | CanLII⁠⁠

2017 ONSC 1906 (CanLII) | Imeson v. Maryvale | CanLII⁠⁠2016 ONSC 6020 (CanLII) | Imeson v Maryvale | CanLII⁠⁠

Murder suspect Jesse Imeson captured in Quebec⁠⁠Suspect in 3 Ontario slayings appears in Windsor court | CBC News⁠⁠

Ont. man pleads guilty in 3 ‘savage’ slayings, sentenced to life | CBC News⁠⁠

LFP Archives: The hunt for, and truth about, spree killer Jesse Imeson⁠⁠

Inadmissible evidence could lead to new trial⁠⁠

Obituary of Helene Marie Regier | T. Harry Hoffman & Sons Funeral Home⁠⁠

So, why did he do it? – Grand Bend Strip community newspaper⁠⁠

America’s Most Wanted joins hunt for Ontario fugitive | CBC News⁠

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Episode 369: In the quiet city of Jonquière, Quebec, the brutal 2000 murder of 19-year-old Guylaine Potvin sent shockwaves through her community and left investigators baffled for over two decades. For years, the case grew cold, with few leads and little hope for justice. But in 2022, a remarkable breakthrough in forensic science and persistent detective work finally led to the arrest of Marc-André Grenon, a man whose name had lingered on the periphery of the investigation for years. This episode takes you inside the investigation, the science that cracked the case, and the long-awaited trial that brought answers to a grieving family.

Sources:⁠2024 QCCS 551 (CanLII) | R. c. Grenon | CanLII⁠⁠2023 QCCS 5152 (CanLII) | Grenon c. R. | CanLII⁠⁠Indigenous Tourism Quebec – Region – Saguenay, Lac-Saint-Jean⁠⁠Jonquière | Saguenay River, Fjord, Pulp & Paper | Britannica⁠⁠Jonquière, Québec, Canada genealogy project⁠⁠Jonquière | Wikipedia⁠⁠Crown, defence agree accused killed teen in cold case from 2000 but disagree on intent | CBC News⁠⁠WyndhamForensic_Presentation_DNAAnalysis⁠⁠The scientific reinvention of forensic science⁠⁠The False Promise of DNA Testing⁠⁠Procès de Marc-André Grenon : l’accusé ciblé en raison de son nom de famille⁠⁠Quebec cold case murder trial: Crime scene photos show 19-year-old victim’s life⁠⁠Quebec police officer sat beside cold case suspect in movie theatre to get his DNA, trial hears | CBC News⁠⁠Crown says suspect in Quebec cold case murder tracked down by Y chromosome project⁠⁠Après 22 ans, un homme sera accusé du meurtre de Guylaine Potvin à Jonquière⁠⁠Project Surname | The Canadian Encyclopedia⁠⁠35 ans après Polytechnique : la sœur de Guylaine Potvin veut qu’on se souvienne⁠⁠Marc-André Grenon admet avoir causé la mort de Guylaine Potvin⁠⁠Meurtre de Guylaine Potvin | Marc-André Grenon a sévi une seconde fois en 2000⁠⁠Condamné pour le meurtre de Guylaine Potvin: Marc-André Grenon reconnaît avoir frappé une deuxième fois en 2000⁠

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Episode 368: Here, we delve into the life and crimes of Brigitte Denise Cleroux, examining how she repeatedly evaded regulatory scrutiny, the suffering she caused, and the systemic failures that enabled her persistence for so long. This story is a chilling tale of deception, exploitation, and the profound breach of trust within Canada’s health-care system. Cleroux masqueraded as a nurse for years in multiple provinces — British Columbia, Ontario, Alberta, and Quebec. She treated hundreds of patients, administering drugs and even performing medical procedures, all without a single legitimate credential. Her actions left a trail of traumatized patients, betrayed colleagues, and a health system forced to reckon with the vulnerabilities she so ruthlessly exploited.

Source:

⁠She worked as a nurse for decades. She wasn’t who she said she was.⁠⁠2024 BCSC 2435 (CanLII) | R. v Cleroux | CanLII⁠⁠2023 BCSC 1275 (CanLII) | Massie v Provincial Health Services Authority | CanLII⁠⁠2022 ONCJ 188 (CanLII) | R. v. Cleroux | CanLII⁠⁠2022 QCCQ 8569 (CanLII) | R. c. Vallée Baillargeon | CanLII⁠⁠2011 ABPC 182 (CanLII) | R. v. Marier | CanLII⁠⁠Unlicensed BC Nurse Class Action⁠⁠Cleroux (PHSA) BC | Class Action | Murphy Battista LLP⁠⁠Bogus nurse lawsuits continue to mount against B.C. health authorities⁠⁠Assault with a weapon: Fake nurse pleads guilty to assaulting B.C. patients by IV injection | CBC News⁠⁠West Shore RCMP – Nurse impersonator sentenced to 7 years in prison⁠⁠Fake nurse sentenced 7 years for impersonation, using needles on patients in Ottawa | CBC News⁠⁠B.C. ‘fake nurse’ Brigitte Cleroux sentenced to 7 years in prison⁠⁠Fake nurse Brigitte Cleroux apologizes in court | CBC News⁠⁠Woman who worked as a fake nurse in B.C. makes tearful statement in court⁠⁠Dozens of B.C. civil lawsuits filed in alleged bogus nurse case⁠⁠Public advisory: Melanie Smith is not a registrant of BCCNM⁠⁠Fake nurse’s ’deep seated dishonesty’ adds four more years to prison term: B.C. judge⁠⁠Serial Imposter Works as a FAKE Nurse For Two Decades | The Case of Brigitte Cleroux⁠⁠Alleged B.C. nurse impersonator needs yet another lawyer⁠

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Episode 367: In the early hours of Valentine’s Day 2013, the world awoke to the shocking news that South African Olympic and Paralympic hero Oscar Pistorius had shot and killed his girlfriend, a 29-year-old paralegal and model Reeva Steenkamp, inside his Pretoria home. Pistorius, celebrated for overcoming the loss of his legs to become a global sporting icon, now stood accused of a crime that would grip and divide a nation. The ensuing investigation and trial, marked by intense media scrutiny, conflicting testimonies, and a dramatic courtroom battle, would raise questions about celebrity, violence, and the quality of justice in South Africa.

Sources:

Reeva: A Mother’s Story | Indigo.ca
Remembering Reeva Steenkamp: Her inspiring life and tragic death
Reeva Steenkamp, my friend, shot by Oscar Pistorius
Here is Reeva Steenkamp, not just Oscar’s girlfriend
The Reeva I knew
An untold story: all about Reeva Steenkamp
1983 – The O’Malley Archives
South Africa — Forced Removals | Overcoming Apartheid
Formation and launch of the UDF | South African History Online
MAJOR NEWS IN SUMMARY; Changing South Africa 1983 (Published 1986)
Oscar Pistorius | Biography, Olympics, Conviction, & Facts | Britannica
Oscar Pistorius: The strange and dangerous world of the blade runner | MacLeans
Oscar Pistorius – Athletics | Paralympic Athlete Profile
Oscar PISTORIUS | Olympic Athlete Profile
The Pistorius Case and South Africa’s Gun Problem
Timeline – The trial of ‘Blade Runner’ Oscar Pistorius
Reeva’s Death ‘Ruined’ Steenkamp Family, Cousin Says
Family of Reeva Steenkamp searching for answers about shooting
Oscar Pistorius trial SABC News on YouTube
Director of Public Prosecutions, Gauteng v Pistorius (950/2016) [2017] ZASCA 158; 2018 (1) SACR 115 (SCA); [2018] 1 All SA 336 (SCA) (24 November 2017)
S v Pistorius (CC113/2013) [2016] ZAGPPHC 724 (6 July 2016)
Director of Public Prosecutions, Gauteng v Pistorius (96/2015) [2015] ZASCA 204; [2016] 1 All SA 346 (SCA); 2016 (2) SA 317 (SCA); 2016 (1) SACR 431 (SCA) (3 December 2015)
S v Pistorius (CC113/2013) [2014] ZAGPPHC 924 (21 October 2014)
S v Pistorius (CC113/2013) [2014] ZAGPPHC 793 (12 September 2014)
Inside the Oscar Pistorius trial
Reeva Steenkamp shooting | The Guardian
Reeva Steenkamp | Wikipedia
Trial of Oscar Pistorius | Wikipedia
Where Is Oscar Pistorius Now? Inside the Olympian’s Life After Murder Conviction

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Episode 366: On a cold night, March 14, 1980, the city of Toronto was shaken by an act of violence that would leave a deep scar on its police force and forever change the lives of one family. It was the kind of crime that, decades later, still echoes in the halls of justice and the memories of those who lived through it. This is the story of  Constable Michael Sweet, a dedicated police officer, loving husband, and devoted father of three young girls, all under ten years old, who lost his life in the line of duty at the hands of two brothers whose names would become synonymous with brutality: Craig Alfred Munro, 28, and his 21-year-old brother, James Scott Munro.

Sources:

⁠1983 CanLII 3542 (ON CA) | R. v. Munro | CanLII⁠⁠1984 CanLII 3608 (QC CA) | R. v. Vaillancourt | CanLII⁠⁠Oct 20, 1983, page 19 – The Toronto Star at Newspapers.com⁠⁠Oct 28, 1980, page 3 – The Toronto Star at Newspapers.com⁠⁠Mar 21, 1980, page 9 – The Toronto Star at Newspapers.com⁠⁠Mar 19, 1980, page 3 – The Toronto Star at Newspapers.com⁠⁠Mar 17, 1980, page 14 – The Toronto Star at Newspapers.com⁠⁠Mar 15, 1980, page 1 – The Toronto Star at Newspapers.com⁠⁠Mar 15, 1980, page 9 – The Toronto Star at Newspapers.com⁠

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Episode 365: On a humid August morning in 1873, the quiet, tight-knit community of Baker’s Settlement outside of Bridgewater in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia, was shattered by a crime so shocking that it would echo for generations. This is the story of Mary Ann Frauzel Mailman—a woman described by her contemporaries as strikingly beautiful, and by all accounts, a devoted mother—whose life ended violently at the hands of her husband, Peter Mailman. The murder and its aftermath would become one of the most infamous cases in the province’s history, both for its brutality and for the chilling window it offered into the darkness that can lurk behind closed doors.

Sources:

⁠cihm_09620⁠⁠The trial of Peter Mailman for the murder of hi…⁠⁠Mary Ann Frauzel Mailman (1826-1873) – Find a…⁠⁠Bloodshed among the berries – 1873 Lunenburg, Nova Scotia⁠⁠Large Fierce Mammal: The Trial of Peter Mailman⁠⁠Capital case, Peter Mailman tried before [Minister of] Justice DesBarnes at Lunenburg⁠⁠Hamilton Spectator — Deaths, 1873⁠⁠Dec 30, 1873, page 1 – The New York Times at Newspapers.com⁠⁠Dec 10, 1873, page 3 – The Hamilton Spectator at Newspapers.com⁠⁠Dec 05, 1873, page 2 – The Hamilton Spectator at Newspapers.com⁠⁠Nov 27, 1873, page 2 – The Montreal Star at Newspapers.com⁠⁠Oct 24, 1873, page 3 – The Gazette at Newspapers.com⁠⁠Oct 21, 1873, page 3 – The Gazette at Newspapers.com⁠⁠Aug 26, 1873, page 1 – The Rutland Daily Globe at Newspapers.com⁠⁠Aug 25, 1873, page 2 – The Spirit of Democracy at Newspapers.com⁠⁠Aug 22, 1873, page 1 – Democrat and Chronicle at Newspapers.com⁠⁠Aug 22, 1873, page 3 – Hartford Courant at Newspapers.com⁠⁠Aug 19, 1873, page 3 – The San Francisco Examiner at Newspapers.com

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