Episode 039 – On September 2, 1998 one of the worst air disasters in Canada’s history took place when SwissAir flight 111 plunged into the Atlantic Ocean just off Peggy’s Cove in Nova Scotia. Although local fisherman and authorities responded quickly, it was already too late. All 229 souls were lost during the tremendous impact. Once again, Nova Scotians showed their compassion and willingness to lend a hand when needed in their response to the disaster.
Dark Poutine - True Crime & Dark History Posts
Episode 038– The small town of Berwick in the beautiful Annapolis Valley is known as Nova Scotia’s Apple Capital. The town prides themselves on their sense of community, a strong work ethic yet laid back pace. The idilic little town was shaken when they woke up on the morning of October, 23, 2013 to find a local homeless man, Harley Lawrence, had burned to death overnight in the bus shelter on their main street. The circumstances surrounding Harley’s death were even more horrendous. He’d been murdered in cold blood.
As we aren’t talking about a full case we’re calling this Bonus Episode 1. Mike and Scott chat about Mike’s recent cross country trip and Mike gives the Dark Poutine related details of his journey. The last half of the episode is Mike speaking with Jack Luna of Dark Topic about his show, podcasting, true crime and some tough life experiences. We’ll be back next week with our regular fare.
Episode 037: In early July, 2010, Lyle and Marie McCann, retirees, beloved grandparents and great-parents packed up their RV and SUV in St. Albert, Alberta to head west to BC and visit more family. They were never seen again. After the McCann’s were declared deceased a year later, 38-year-old, Travis Edward Vader was charged with their murder, but prosecuting him has not been easy. The whereabouts of Lyle and Marie’s remains continue to be a mystery.
Episode 036: Elisa Lam, a University student from Vancouver, BC was on a solo trip in California in January of 2013. When she disappeared, foul play was suspected. However, when she was found deceased more than two weeks later under odd circumstances there were far more questions than answers and much speculation as to what actually took place.
Episode 035: Leston Lawrence privately sold almost 5 kilos of gold over a short period. He worked at the Royal Canadian Mint as a gold refiner, but could not explain where he’d obtained the gold he had been selling. If it came from the mint, how did he get it out without being discovered? The answers to these questions made for a story that went global.
Episode 034: Andrei Chikatilo was one of the most prolific serial killers of all time. From 1978 to 1990 with the cold war at its height Chikatilo stalked and butchered as many as 56 victims in the the USSR. His victims were children, both male and female, as young as 7-years-old, teenagers and women as old as 44. Part 2 of our first away game series takes us through the killer’s final murders from 1985 until his capture and trial in 1990. Bonus: Hear Mike mispronounce more names of many Russian people and places.
Episode 033: Andrei Chikatilo was one of the most prolific serial killers of all time. From 1978 to 1990 with the cold war at its height Chikatilo stalked and butchered at least 56 victims in the the USSR. His victims were children, both male and female, as young as 7-years-old, teenagers and women as old as 44. Part 1 of our first away game series takes us through the killer’s formative years through 1984 when her murdered a staggering 15 people in a single year. Bonus: Hear Mike mispronounce the names of many Russian people and places.
Episode 032: On August 14 1980, 20-year-old Vancouver B.C. born Playboy Playmate of the year and former Dairy Queen employee, Dorothy Stratten, was found dead of a single shotgun blast to her head. The perpetrator, her estranged husband, Paul Leslie Snider, lay dead nearby of a self inflicted woud by way of the same firearm. Dorothy’s star had only just begun to rise and was snuffed out far too soon.
Episode 030: On March 10, 1976, 12-year-old Abby Drover went missing from her neighbourhood in Port Mood, B.C. Abby’s mother was sick with worry and despite the extraordinary efforts of searchers and police Abby had vanished into thin air. In a bizarre turn of events, six months later what happened to Abby was shockingly revealed.