The 8 Most Notorious Crime Cases In Ontario
According to statistics, Toronto is ranked as the 8th safest city in the world. Yet, despite that fact, there have been a series of unfortunate crime cases throughout history in Ontario. From drug conspiracies to murders and sexual abuse cases, Ontario is definitely far from innocent. This article perhaps may be a terrorizing read, but here is a list of particular cases that will never be left forgotten:
1. The Scarborough serial killer and rapist // 1980's
Paul Bernardo is a rapist and serial killer from Scarborough Ontario. He was involved in approximately 18 rape and murder cases in the late 1980's. Bernardo was assessed with a a Psychopathy Checklist, and hit a score of 35/40. What a psychopath!!! Karla Homolka is Bernardo's wife who was found guilty in assisting her husband in rape and murder of three females. The couple is well recognized as "Ken and Barbie Killers", held responsible for slaying and sexually assaulting innocent girls. In 2015, Bernardo released an ebook on Amazon, that rapidly became a bestseller but it was removed after public outrage.
2. Adolescent slaughter // May 2003
On May 12 2013, Holly Jones, a 10 year old girl from Toronto, Ont., was kidnapped when she was passing by Michael Briere's house. As reported by CBC news, her remains were discovered in two bags attached to weights in the Toronto Harbour the next day. Briere is said to have raped Jones before dumping her body in the harbor; he pleaded guilty and conclusively was convicted with first-degree murder. According to statements, Briere developed his desire to abuse adolescents after watching child pornography.
Photo cred - Discovery Place Info
3. Pickering meth lab explosion // November 2006
Stuart Adamson is known to be of the largest meth producers in Canadian history. He was practically found dead in a Pickering meth lab explosion. In the "superlab", stated by Durham police, there was a total value of 5 million dollars of meth retrieved. Four days after the incident, Adamson escaped from the hospital and was on the loose for several years. According to witnesses he was number two on the RCMP most wanted list, but in 2010 Adamson was busted along two other people in Lincoln, Ontario. There was $208,000 worth of meth recovered from the Lincoln bust. In correspondence with the Pickering meth explosion, The Hamilton Spectator reports that "Adamson was found guilty with the following charges: production of methamphetamine, production of amphetamine, criminal negligence and arson by negligence."
4. Shedden massacre // April 2006
On April 8, 2006, eight men were found dead in four vehicles by a farmer in a field five kilometres north of Shedden, Ontario. Each victim was a Bandidos member, a motorcycle club and organized crime group. Six men were convicted by a jury in London Ont. Superior Court, for what is considered to be one of Canada's largest mass slaughter. CBC reports, three males are responsible for eight counts of first-degree murder, two are culpable of one count each of manslaughter and seven counts each of first-degree murder, and one man is guilty of two counts of manslaughter and six counts of first-degree murder.
5. An honor killing case of the Shafia Family // June 2009
Sisters Zainab, 19, Sahar,17, and 13 year old Geeti Shafia, were found submerged inside a Nissan with their polygamous father’s first wife Rona Amir Mohammad, 50. The victims were discovered in the Rideau Canal in Kingston Ontario, on June 30th 2009. According to The Star, the girl's parents Mohammad Shafia 58, and Tooba, Mohammad, 41, as well as their brother Hamed Mohammad Shafia 20, were charged with first degree murder. Honor in some cultures is respected more than life, that was an assessment made by experts later on at the trial. When family honor is threatened, it is reasonable and expected that a male family member may murder a relative.
6. Heroin found in carpets at Pearson Airport // June 2010
15 kilos of heroin was discovered at Toronto International Pearson Airport, woven inside 27 persian carpets. According to CTV,Canadian border services and police seized an outrageous amount of drugs including "160 kilograms of ephedrin, which is used to make crystal meth, 24 kilograms of heroin, 20 kilograms of ecstasy, four kilograms of crystal meth, a kilogram of cocaine and nearly a kilogram of opium", during this international trafficking case.
7. Military rapist // October 2010
Russell Williams was a colonel in the Canadian military, up until 2010 when he was exempted for criminal allegations. CTV News states that in October 2010 he was accused of "two counts of first degree murder, two counts of forcible confinement, two counts of breaking and entering and sexual assault. Justice Robert F. Scott sentenced Williams to two concurrent terms of life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years."
Photo cred - Criminal Law Canada
8. Hells Angels Busts // 1970'S - present
For decades the Hells Angels have been involved in several drug related busts across Canada. In 2009, there were 15 active chapters, in Ontario, resulting in highest number of cases involving the Hells Angels around the globe. The most recent investigation began in January 2016 after a raid of a Toronto motorcycle club and a residence in Oshawa. Global News reports eight suspects were charged, $30,000 in drugs and $10,000 in cash were retrieved. There was 240 grams of cocaine, 13.5 grams of marijuana, 25.8 grams of cannabis resin, 12 fentanyl patches recovered from the scene.