Suspicion: Murder on Mount Olive
Toronto Star
Show overview
Suspicion: Murder on Mount Olive has been publishing since 2022, and across the 4 years since has built a catalogue of 55 episodes, alongside 12 trailers or bonus episodes. That works out to roughly 25 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a monthly cadence, with the show now in its 4th season.
Episodes typically run twenty to thirty-five minutes — most land between 24 min and 35 min — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. The publisher flags most episodes as explicit, so expect adult themes or strong language throughout. It is catalogued as a EN-language True Crime show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 5 days ago, with 10 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2025, with 18 episodes published. Published by Toronto Star.
From the publisher
Suspicion is the Toronto Star's investigative true crime podcast. In season 4, Chief Investigative Reporter Kevin Donovan, who brought you the Billionaire Murders, is back with Murder on Mount Olive, an investigation of a crime the courts closed the book on in 2012. On a sunny day in August, 2009, a man is shot three times at a barbecue. What happens that day will put a budding young soccer star turned carpenter behind bars for life for a crime he says he didn't commit. This is the story of Christopher Sheriffe and his fight for justice. Season 3, "40 Years Cold," looks at a case that began four decades ago, when two women were killed in their Toronto homes. Wendy Gillis and Betsy Powell take you through the nights of the murders, the tragic circumstances of a murderer, and the stunning conclusion of a 40 years long cold case. Season 2, "The Billionaire Murders: The hunt for the killers of Honey and Barry Sherman," probes the case of the famous Toronto couple who were found strangled in their home in 2017. Kevin Donovan covered the Sherman case and fought court battles to access documents on the police investigation. Suspicion season 1, Death in a Small Town, was also hosted by Donovan. What began as just another day for the McLellan family would end with their youngest son clinging to life in hospital and a cloud of suspicion hanging over his mother and father.
Latest Episodes
View all 55 episodesS5 E5: The Arrests | The Most Wanted Olympian
S5 E4: The Witness | The Most Wanted Olympian
S5 E3: Mr. Perfect | The Most Wanted Olympian
Behind-the-scenes video: Reporters discuss making The Most Wanted Olympian
S5 E1: The Gentle Giant | The Most Wanted Olympian
S5 E2: The Boss | The Most Wanted Olympian
Introducing The Most Wanted Olympian, Suspicion Season 5: How did Ryan Wedding become an alleged narco kingpin?
Introducing What Happened to the Harrisons?
Was justice served? Kevin Donovan on the Mount Olive verdict — and the case that isn't over yet
A major update in the Mount Olive case is forcing a closer look at everything we thought we knew
It could happen to you
bonusEKevin Donovan's conversation with Canada's Dean of lawyers who advocates for the wrongfully convicted. James Lockyer talks about the new federal plan that could one day free Chris Sheriffe.
Smokescreen
bonusEThere can be problems when using confidential informants and hearsay evidence, especially when a man's freedom is at stake. Lawyer Dean Embry's conversation with Kevin Donovan provides a back story for our Murder on Mount Olive investigation.
Colour Blinded
bonusEIn this bonus episode, we hear a top cop's story of being Black and on the job in one of Canada's biggest police forces. Listen to Keith Merith's conversation with Kevin Donovan, providing a back story for our Murder on Mount Olive investigation.
S4 Ep 10Choices
EIt's now been 13 years. Chris reflects on decisions he made. The friends he had. Staying out that hot night in August instead of going home. And on what he would do if he is ever released. In the final episode of the series, we offer him a potential lifeline. Tell us what really happened between you and Awet, what he said, what he was planning to do that day. Surely this was a drug deal gone wrong.
S4 Ep 9Trial and Error
EA trial scheduled for one month becomes two. The Judge is not pleased. It's now down to 12 jurors to determine Chris and Awet's fate – but the lone Black juror gets sick so now it's 11. Among the evidence the jury hears: false DNA evidence that's not corrected; a transcription of Chris's own words that is incorrect and not corrected; and the recollections of two police officers whose notes are strikingly similar. And then the jury comes in. At the end of the day, Chris knows that if he had stepped up and said he was involved in the shooting he'd have gotten a deal and would be out of prison by now. But there's a reason he will never do that. Audio: CPAC, Ontario Jury Video, EatonCentreShooting, Global TV, Essex County News
S4 Ep 8The Third Man Theory Rocks Trial
EThe day of the murder from all sides. Chris, Awet Asfaha, two young women — each give a different perspective on the events leading up to Kim Golaub's brutal murder. What they did. What was said. You've heard Chris's story before, but now at trial Awet comes out with a stunning story. There was someone else that day. A mysterious third man who was the killer. And Chris was the getaway driver, with Awet just along for the ride. This made the case a "cutthroat" defence — fingers pointing in different decisions.
S4 Ep 7Two Down, One To Go
EChris is out on bail leading up to the trial. Toronto Police show up at his house one night. They end up assaulting his father, arresting his brother, and not long after Chris's bail is revoked when a new charge is laid against him. Marjorie, Chris's mom, overhears police officers give an ominous warning about the men in her family and she goes into high gear – she's in the fight of her life against Toronto's finest. Then comes another bombshell. That young police officer with the gang information says Chris is the leader of a dangerous gang called "The Hustle Squad." A gang so mysterious, no members of the elite police Guns and Gangs Squad has ever heard of them.
Why did Kevin Donovan investigate this case?
bonusEKevin Donovan talks about why he decided to look at Chris Sheriffe's case. Hear from him, and catch up on the series so far, while getting a glimpse of the weeks ahead. Subscribers get access to episodes one week early.
S4 Ep 6Bodies To His Name
EBombshell. On the eve of the murder trial, a young Toronto police officer emerges with two confidential sources, one of them purporting to be a gang member, who tell a very different story about Chris Sheriffe. It throws Chris's defence team for a loop. And here's the problem. The judge won't let the lawyers attack this new information. Audio: NBC's Law and Order, CTV, Toronto Police Video
The Story So Far...
trailerEThis Friday, April 4, the second half of Murder on Mount Olive's season starts with episode 6, Bodies To His Name, as well as episode 7, one week early for subscribers. If you haven't heard the first five episodes to date, get caught up with the stories and main players so far, with this short trailer. Or listen to the first half of the season in your feed.