Canadian True Crime

[Part 3 of 3] A surprise witness comes forward to testify against Colin Thatcher.His own contribution from the stand? Deny, deny, deny.Even after the jury reaches a verdict, Thatcher continues to make headlines for decades to come...*Additional content warning: this episode contains mentions of domestic abuse.— This three-part series is a carefully selected replay from our archive. We'll be back with new episodes in late April.Full list of resources, information sources, credits and music credits:See the page for this episode at https://www.canadiantruecrime.ca/episodes/135 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[Part 2 of 3] As she recovers from her gunshot wound, JoAnn Wilson decides to back down from the custody fight with her former husband. Colin Thatcher has won this battle, but his fixation is far from over. A series of witnesses would later come forward with information almost impossible to believe...*Additional content warning: this episode contains mentions of domestic abuse.— This three-part series is a carefully selected replay from our archive. Part 3 will be released tomorrow. We'll be back with new episodes in late April.Full list of resources, information sources, credits and music credits:See the page for this episode at https://www.canadiantruecrime.ca/episodes/135 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A man walking home from work suddenly hears screams coming from a house... then a single sharp crack. He follows the sound to the garage, where he finds a woman bleeding out on the floor.   It's JoAnn Wilson, mother of three and ex-wife of Colin Thatcher, a high-profile Saskatchewan politician. Her murder was the tip of the iceberg of a decades-long saga that gripped the nation and drew comparison to the show Dallas — but would prove far darker than anything on TV.*Additional content warning: this episode contains mentions of domestic abuse.— This three-part series is a carefully selected replay from our archive. Parts 2 and 3 will be released over the next next two days. We'll be back with new episodes in late April.Full list of resources, information sources, credits and music credits:See the page for this episode at https://www.canadiantruecrime.ca/episodes/135 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[Part 2 of 2] After picking up his pregnant wife from Saskatoon train station, Sergeant John Wilson drives them north to their new home.They just have one stop to make on the way to take care of some "police business"...*Additional content warning: brief details of an attempted suicide at approx. timestamp 29:00 to 30:30. Please take care when listening.Full list of resources, information sources, credits and music credits:See the page for this episode at www.canadiantruecrime.ca/episodes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A gripping, action-packed miniseries about a mountie who finds himself at the centre of a sordid love triangle.Pieced together from a treasure trove of real love letters, forged letters and police and court memos, this series paints a vivid snapshot of Canada as World War I raged on.— This two-part series is a carefully selected replay from our archive, and was originally titled The Murderous Mountie. Part 2 available tomorrow. We'll be back with new episodes in April.Full list of resources, information sources, credits and music credits:See the page for this episode at www.canadiantruecrime.ca/episodes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A quick update and some thanks! Over the past 12 months... Canadian True Crime has had the opportunity to take on several meaningful projects alongside the usual podcast production. These included the CBC documentary Breaking Idol, the co-founding of Beyond The Verdict survivor-led advocacy group, and in-depth coverage of the 2025 Hockey Canada trial. While incredibly rewarding, the extra activities made for a very intense year behind the scenes. After the recent Robert Pickton series ended, it became clear we needed to pause, step back and reset things. Your support by listening to the podcast is what makes all of this work possible, so this year we're focusing on getting the podcast back into balance for sustainability.New episodes will return in April. Until then, we'll be replaying a few carefully selected episodes from our archive with new personal introductions from Kristi. Thank you again for listening and supporting the show! Your patience and understanding is appreciated.Mentioned in this episode:Breaking Idol - new CBC TV documentary Beyond The Verdict - new survivor-led advocacy groupMysterious letter - Beverley Rowbotham's family believes it could shed light on the case (25th anniversary)Guest appearances:CTV – The Social - with co-hosts Melissa Grelo and Jess Allan about survivor-centered storytelling, deep research, and the Jacob Hoggard caseThe Soundoff Podcast - with host Matt Cundill about the business side of podcasting and moreBroadcast Dialogue - Kristi shares the ups and downs of her podcasting journey with host Connie Thiessen, including managing burnout and perfectionism...Special thanks to Castbox and Apple Podcasts.More information about Canadian True Crime: Visit canadiantruecrime.ca or follow us on Instagram or Facebook. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Part 5 - The Final Episode.*Thanks for your patience - it's a long oneCONTENT WARNING: Graphic and disturbing details.WATCH:Robert “Willie” Pickton — Prolific serial killer’s jailhouse confession to undercover cop - The Mob Reporter, YouTubeREAD/LISTEN:On The Farm by Stevie CameronWHAT TO LISTEN TO NEXT:The Shedden Massacre - our three part seriesThe Trail Went ColdThe Canadian GothicCrisis referral services:Free National Indian Residential School Crisis Line: call 1-866-925-4419 toll freeHope for Wellness free chatline - 1-800-721-0066 or using the chat box on the websiteGovernment of Canada Crisis and Mental Health support  Resources for Sexual assault survivorsCanadian True Crime donates monthly to those facing injustice. Proceeds from this series are being donated to the WISH Drop-in Centre Society, supporting street-based sex workers on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside since 1984.Full list of resources, information sources, and more:www.canadiantruecrime.ca/episodes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[Part 4 of 5] A single tip-off finally leads police to raid the Pickton farm with a search warrant for illegal firearms. What they stumble into instead would unravel one of the most devastating investigations in Canadian history, connecting Robert Pickton to dozens of women who vanished from the Downtown Eastside.* Part 5 - Robert Pickton's final chapter will be coming later this week. Thanks for your patience!CONTENT WARNING: mention of sexual assault, Indigenous issues, child abuse and an in-episode TW for animal abuse and neglect.Crisis referral services:Free National Indian Residential School Crisis Line: call 1-866-925-4419 toll freeHope for Wellness free chatline - 1-800-721-0066 or using the chat box on the websiteGovernment of Canada Crisis and Mental Health support  Resources for Sexual assault survivorsCanadian True Crime donates monthly to those facing injustice. Proceeds from this series are being donated to the WISH Drop-in Centre Society, supporting street-based sex workers on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside since 1984.Full list of resources, information sources, and more:www.canadiantruecrime.ca/episodes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[Part 3 of 4] One night, a woman living on the Pickton farm witnesses an act so disturbing it prompts repeated warnings to police. A search warrant should have followed, but through another cascade of devastating missed opportunities, Robert Pickton slips through the cracks once again...CONTENT WARNING: this series includes graphic details that will be distressing for many listeners to hear, including mention of sexual assault, residential schools, Indigenous issues, child abuse and suicide. Crisis referral services:Free National Indian Residential School Crisis Line: call 1-866-925-4419 toll freeHope for Wellness free chatline - 1-800-721-0066 or using the chat box on the websiteGovernment of Canada Crisis and Mental Health support  Resources for Sexual assault survivorsCanadian True Crime donates monthly to those facing injustice. Proceeds from this series are being donated to the WISH Drop-in Centre Society, supporting street-based sex workers on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside since 1984.Full list of resources, information sources, and more:www.canadiantruecrime.ca/episodes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[Part 2 of 4] The Pickton brothers become officially wealthy, and open the infamous party venue known as Piggy’s Palace. There’s an alarming spike in vulnerable women vanishing from the Downtown Eastside - but two would live to tell their stories. Look out for early, ad-free release on CTC premium feeds available on Amazon Music (included with Prime), Apple Podcasts, Patreon and Supercast.CONTENT WARNING: this series includes graphic details that will be distressing for many listeners to hear, including mention of sexual assault, residential schools, Indigenous issues, child abuse and suicide. Crisis referral services:Free National Indian Residential School Crisis Line: call 1-866-925-4419 toll freeHope for Wellness free chatline - 1-800-721-0066 or using the chat box on the websiteGovernment of Canada Crisis and Mental Health support  Resources for Sexual assault survivorsCanadian True Crime donates monthly to those facing injustice. Proceeds from this series are being donated to the WISH Drop-in Centre Society, supporting street-based sex workers on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside since 1984.Full list of resources, information sources, and more:www.canadiantruecrime.ca/episodes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A brand new four-part series.  In 2024, Canada’s most prolific serial killer was murdered in prison in an act of vigilante justice. The final chapter of Robert Pickton may now be closed, but the story is far from over.  Pickton confessed to murdering 49 women on his pig farm near Vancouver, many of them sex workers and Indigenous women. The evidence suggests he did not act alone.  -----Part 1 begins by tracing a disturbing childhood on the Pickton farm where cruelty was normalized, morality was optional and vulnerable people were exploited and intimidated. It also tracks how that culture escalated after Robert and his brother took over the farm, and the many police failures that followed.This series revisits the entire case to date, moving past the grotesque caricature of a lone monster in buddy boots, and restores the humanity of the women targeted through personal stories of those who loved them. It examines the culture and systems that failed them for so long, leaving their loved ones with many unanswered questions — and a prevailing sense of injustice.This miniseries draws primarily from court records, historical news archives, investigative journalism, personal interviews and the Missing Women Inquiry final report.CONTENT WARNING: this series includes graphic details that will be distressing for many listeners to hear, including mention of sexual assault, residential schools, Indigenous issues, child abuse and suicide. Crisis referral services:Free National Indian Residential School Crisis Line: call 1-866-925-4419 toll freeHope for Wellness free chatline - 1-800-721-0066 or using the chat box on the websiteGovernment of Canada Crisis and Mental Health support  Resources for Sexual assault survivorsCanadian True Crime donates monthly to those facing injustice. Proceeds from this series are being donated to the WISH Drop-in Centre Society, supporting street-based sex workers on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside since 1984.Full list of resources, information sources, and more:www.canadiantruecrime.ca/episodes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we're pleased to share a special episode from another podcast we think you'll enjoy: Crime Story from CBC Podcasts. Each week, award-winning investigative journalist Kathleen Goldhar goes deep into a true crime case with the storyteller who knows it best.In this year-end episode, Kristi Lee joins Kathleen at CBC Studios to talk about what goes into making Canadian True Crime, share behind-the-scenes insights from past cases, and wrap up with some of their favourite true crime podcasts and documentaries.You can listen to more incredible tales of true crime every week on Crime Story.Find more Crime Story episodes in your podcast app, or here: https://link.mgln.ai/CSxCTC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In August 1982, three generations of a family set out for a two week camping trip in the wilds of British Columbia.When the entire family failed to return home, it triggered the most expensive and publicized manhunt in Canadian history — and uncovered a horrific truth that shocked the nation.Additional content warning: this episode includes the murder and sexual assault of a child. Minimal graphic details will be given. Please take care when listening.________________________________________SIGN THE PETITION | The Johnson-Bentley family needs your help. The man who murdered six of their loved ones – including two young girls, is again seeking parole in 2026. The family has asked us to share this updated and remastered episode to remind the public of the danger his release could pose.Please read and sign the family’s petition now and show your support. The deadline is fast approaching. Special thanks to Shelley Boden of the Johnson-Bentley family for speaking to us for this updated and remastered episode. The original, titled "The Johnson-Bentley Family Murders" was posted in April 2021. ________________________________________Let us know what you think. Follow Canadian True Crime on Facebook and InstagramCanadian True Crime donates monthly to those facing injustice. This month we’ve donated to the Sexual Assault Centre of Kingston, who are supporting 28 victim-complainants involved in the ongoing sexual violence and child exploitation trial of Michael Haaima who faces nearly 100 charges. Donate here and note “Haaima” in the message box.Full list of resources, information sources, and more: www.canadiantruecrime.ca/episodes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we dive into the high-profile, baffling disappearance of six-year-old Lilly Sullivan and her four-year-old brother Jack, who vanished from their rural Nova Scotia home in May 2025.Kristi is joined by Jordan Bonaparte of The Canadian Gothic (formerly Nighttime), who has covered the case extensively from the area. Together, they cut through the speculation and conspiracy theories to focus on the confirmed facts.---------------------Information about Jack and Lilly SullivanThe Government of Nova Scotia is offering a reward of up to $150,000 for information about the disappearance of Lilly and Jack Sullivan. More details and photos.Statements referenced in this episode:Mother Malehya Brooks-Murray Stepfather Daniel MartellDaniel Martell's mother (also lives on the property) ---------------------Let us know what you think!Follow Canadian True Crime on Facebook and InstagramCanadian True Crime donates monthly to those facing injustice. This month we’ve donated to the Sexual Assault Centre of Kingston, who are supporting 28 victim-complainants involved in the ongoing sex trafficking trial of Michael Haaima of Kingston. Donate here and note “Haaima” in the message box.Full list of resources, information sources, and more:www.canadiantruecrime.ca/episodes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For years, J.B.’s identity was hidden behind publication ban.Now, she steps forward in her own name to share her story of survival and resilience.We're thrilled to announce the release of Breaking Idol, a powerful new documentary from CBC about "J.B.” — a survivor at the centre of the first sexual assault trial of Jacob Hoggard.J.B.’s case against the former Canadian Idol finalist and frontman of the multi-platinum band Hedley, captivated the country and divided fans of all ages. Based on part on Canadian True Crime's series about that 2022 trial, Breaking Idol explores the collision of fandom, power, and truth, and follows J.B. as she confronts the aftermath of the trial and the culture that protected the man who assaulted her. __________________________________________________Stream Breaking Idol now on CBC Gem and YouTube Currently available only in Canada, sorry.__________________________________________________Media clips to come on Canadian True Crime Facebook and InstagramDirector Tiffany HsiungSupervising Producer Sally KaramProduced by Frantic Films for CBC’s The Passionate EyeConsulting Producer Kristi LeeSpecial thanks to J.B. and Kelly Favro, Beyond The VerdictBreaking Idol is based in part on Canadian True Crime’s podcast series The Trial of Hedley’s Jacob Hoggard  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[Part 2 of 2] A decade after the brutal murder of Christine Jessop, a DNA breakthrough completely clears Guy Paul Morin. But it would be another 25 years before the real killer is revealed.In this two-part series, we share the full story of Christine Jessop — the one her family waited decades for the courage to tell – with insight from the documentary filmmaker who spent years earning their trust.Additional content warning: this is about the murder and sexual assault of a child. Minimal graphic details will be given. Please take care when listening.The Christine Jessop Story is a new three-part documentary series available on Crave (this episode is not sponsored). For the first time, Christine’s family gives their unfiltered truth about the case that captivated Canada. It’s a story of corrupt policing, revolutionary forensics, and a family forced to go through the unthinkable.Look out for early, ad-free release on CTC premium feeds: available on Amazon Music (included with Prime), Apple Podcasts, Patreon and Supercast.Canadian True Crime donates monthly to those facing injustice. This month we’ve donated to the Sexual Assault Centre of Kingston, who are supporting 28 victim-complainants involved in the ongoing sex trafficking trial of Michael Haaima of Kingston. Donate here and note “Haaima” in the message box.Full list of resources, information sources, and more:www.canadiantruecrime.ca/episodes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[Part 1 of 2] The brutal murder of nine-year-old Christine Jessop in 1984 shattered her family’s tiny Ontario community. When police arrested her quiet neighbour Guy Paul Morin, the case spiralled into a circus of trials, appeals and outrage, leading to one of Canada’s most notorious wrongful convictions. When the real killer was found in 2020, the memory of the little girl at the centre of the case had been overshadowed by the spectacle. Additional content warning: this is about the murder and sexual assault of a child. Minimal graphic details will be given. Please take care when listening.The Christine Jessop Story is a new documentary series on Crave (our series is not sponsored). For the first time, Christine’s family gives their unfiltered truth about the case that captivated Canada. It’s a story of corrupt policing, revolutionary forensics, and a family forced to go through the unthinkable.Look out for early, ad-free release on CTC premium feeds available on Amazon Music (included with Prime), Apple Podcasts, Patreon and Supercast.Canadian True Crime donates monthly to those facing injustice. This month we’ve donated to the Sexual Assault Centre of Kingston, who are supporting 28 victim-complainants involved in the ongoing sex trafficking trial of Michael Haaima of Kingston. Donate here and note “Haaima” in the message box.Full list of resources, information sources, and more:www.canadiantruecrime.ca/episode Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.