Crime BeatEpisodes Guide

Shannon Madill had everything going for her; she had just landed an audition for a role in a television series; was looking forward to moving from Calgary to Edmonton; the audition was recorded on video; hours later she vanished.

Penny Boudreau reported her 12-year-old daughter Karissa missing on the night of a heavy snowstorm in January 2008; in an emotional news conference, the Nova Scotia mother made a tearful appeal for the public's help in finding the little girl.

When the body of 40-year-old doctor Elana Fric is discovered by a passerby out for a walk, investigators know they're looking for a cold-blooded killer. In this episode, we hear from Elana's closest friends and family about the warning signs, from the detective who helped get a conviction, and an emotional interview with Elana's daughter on what she witnessed, and how she plans to make a difference.

Craig Kelloway came to Calgary from the Maritimes for new opportunities. He was a new father, in a new relationship...and had just moved into a new community. Kelloway attended a neighbour's barbecue that took a deadly turn. What follows was a shocking 911 call and a compelling police interrogation. Was it murder or self-defence?

A Calgary mother disappeared in March 2015. Family and friends turned to police--as it was out of character for the 24-year-old to just take off. Months later, her body was found in a ditch northeast of Calgary by a road construction crew. The autopsy revealed she was stabbed 75 times. Who would have done this to Jessica Newman and why?

They each met him online and knew him only as 'Bruce.' He gained their trust, only to turn on them when they were at their most vulnerable. In this episode, two men reveal their near-death experiences at the hands of notorious serial killer Bruce McArthur.

In 2017 the brutal slayings of Dianna Mah-Jones, 64, and Richard Jones, 68, sent shockwaves throughout Vancouver. Who could have done such a horrific crime? And would they strike again?

Ray Johnson was a loving father and grandfather. He lost the love of his life to cancer--and also battled cancer himself. Then one day in January 2009, he didn't show up for a family dinner. Not long after his body was found stuffed in an antique trunk and dumped along some train tracks. Who would kill this loving grandfather?

In July of 2000, 18-year-old Tina Wu was murdered and her younger sister Theresa suffered horrific injuries when an attacker broke into their Toronto apartment. When police eventually tracked down the perpetrator – many questions remained unanswered as to why a shy tradesman unleashed gratuitous, escalated violence against four innocent women, all within a 4 kilometre radius of his home.

The small Ontario town of Woodstock was the setting for one of Canada's most horrific child murders. 8-year-old Tori Stafford was abducted, raped, and brutally murdered on April 8, 2009. Terri-Lynne McClintic and Michael Rafferty were eventually convicted of first-degree murder. With in-depth interviews with the families and investigators, we reveal the toll this small-town tragedy has taken on many lives.

In part 2, we document the battles the family of Tori Stafford has had to go through making sure the perpetrators serve their sentences as outlined by the courts, a fight that has further challenged their healing process.

When Ryan Lane broke up with the mother of his child—his world fell apart. Like a lot of broken relationships that involve children, the two parents were fighting over custody of their little girl. It was getting worse by the day and Ryan had not been able to see his daughter in two years. He finally went to court where he was granted visitation. That night, Lane Skyped with one of his closest friends and shared videos of the playdate. Just before midnight, that chat was interrupted when Lane got a call from a phone booth. Find out what happened to Lane, and the senseless tragedy his family has been forced to endure.

After a torso is found floating in the Oshawa Harbour, the family of 18-year-old Rori Hache is horrified to learn the human remains belong to the missing teen. But when a local plumber calls in a "flesh-like" substance clogging a drain, the horror only grows. During the police investigation, a second young woman's DNA is identified, that of 19-year-old Kandis Fitzpatrick. Worried there could be more victims, two families must join forces to bring a predator to justice. And Kandis' father, in his first-ever in-depth interview, opens up to reporter Catherine McDonald.

26-year-old Chantel Moore was shot and killed by a New Brunswick police officer during a wellness check. Police had been called to her apartment over concerns that Chantel was being stalked and could be in danger. So how did she end up dead? Chantel was from Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation in British Columbia and her family believes that her case would have been handled differently if she wasn't an Indigenous woman. They want criminal charges laid and changes to policing. With a coroner's inquest looming, we track their quest for answers and their efforts to honour Chantel's memory.

While visiting India, a young newly-wed from British Columbia was attacked, kidnapped, and her lifeless body discovered in a canal the next day. Her husband was severely beaten and left for dead but survived to tell the story. Was this a tragic roadside robbery, or something far more sinister, allegedly masterminded by those closest to the victim? From a corrupt investigator to complex legal wrangling, reporter Neetu Garcha takes us on an international journey of forbidden love.

A husband and wife are out for a canoe ride on a calm, clear afternoon when tragedy strikes. The boat capsizes and only the husband survives. At first local police declare Arlene Westervelt's death an accidental drowning, but after suspicions are raised that she may have been murdered, police take a closer look. Charges are laid, but eventually stayed with little explanation. In this episode, reporter Jules Knox takes us through the many twists and turns of a mishandled investigation, family outrage and an exclusive interview with Arlene's husband and the accused, Bert Westervelt. Was it a tragic accident, or was it murder?

In the fall of 2010, four men were gunned down in their prime -- shot and killed in Toronto in three separate shootings. Devoted father Jahmeel Spence, family man Carl Cole, along with Mike James, a budding chef, and his good friend and aspiring tradesman Courthney Facey. Investigators would discover that the murders were all connected… and the evidence would lead them to a serial killer hungry for notoriety and fame.

A young man who grew up in one of the most deadly cities in North America beat the odds to become a professional football player. Mylan Hicks hoped playing in the CFL for the Calgary Stampeders would be a stepping stone to his dream of playing in the NFL. In the fall of 2016, Hicks went out with his teammates to celebrate an important win when tragedy struck. Follow along as witnesses explain what they saw that fateful night and how Hicks was blindsided.

When Canadian boxing star Eddie 'Hurricane' Melo is killed, alongside his cousin Joao Pavao, investigators are quick to start digging into Melo's work as a mob enforcer and his connections to the Montreal Mafia. Did police catch those responsible? Mark Carcasole reports on the theories, the arrests, and how Melo's daughter is keeping her father's memory alive in and out of the ring -- by giving youth an opportunity to learn the sport he dedicated his life to.

The family of Constable Andre Lalonde has searched for answers for 25 years. The veteran officer with the Montreal Police Department, known for his friendly nature and his big moustache, was shot three times at close range after pulling over a car with a noisy muffler. Mike Armstrong, a rookie reporter at the time of the killing, explores the impact this murder had on Lalonde's wife and two children, and the questions that continue to haunt investigators in their search to find his killer.

A young Calgary woman goes missing for days. Her grandmother felt something wasn't right. She called Taylor Toller's friends and family and even reported her missing to police. But there was no sign of the 24-year-old. Meanwhile, a call to 911 led police across town where they discovered a couple in their 50's dead in their home. Learn the tragic connection between the two cases and follow along as police uncover evidence of a senseless killing spree.

On August 17, 1994, in Kelowna B.C., eight-year-old Mindy Tran hopped on her bike and pedaled over to a nearby friend's house to ask her to play. She was never seen again. That triggered an unprecedented search, where her body was found by unorthodox means. The suspected killer has always maintained his innocence, and in court Mounties take the stand and testify against one another. But could the real reason the prime suspect was acquitted be because one of the jurors had feelings for him?

Two Eritrean refugees looking for a better life in Canada are murdered. First, 55-year-old Nighisti Semret is stabbed to death walking home from her night shift in October 2012. Then in the spring of 2013, the dismembered human remains of 28-year-old Rigat Ghirmay are discovered by a dog walker in a west-end park. We track the twists and turns of this remarkable investigation by Toronto police. A whodunit that deeply impacted those who worked on it, and those who'd been helping these women start their new lives in Canada.

In the Fall of 2011, Maple Batalia, a young university student with a promising career as an actor and model, was brutally shot and slashed to death on the campus parking lot in Surrey, B.C. The killing made international headlines, sparking Surrey's Punjabi community and her family to make continued calls for justice and to arrest her murderer. Amid rapidly mounting pressure, the RCMP are tasked with piecing together Maple's mysterious personal life and the days leading up to her death, only to find several of the key clues missing, including a security camera that panned away from the scene of her death just moments before she was killed.

A series of 911 calls leads first responders to multiple scenes and the disturbing discovery of a young woman's body. What happened to Lacey Jones-McKnight? Learn the shocking details revealed on the 911 calls and the painstaking lengths forensic investigators went to in an effort to find Justice for Lacey.

It was a crime unlike anything ever seen before in Canada. The horror of the 'Wells Gray Murders' forty years ago still haunts investigators involved in the case, as well as family and friends of the victims. In August 1982, David Shearing stalked and murdered three generations of a family while they were out on a summer camping trip in B.C. After a long cross-country investigation, police learn the killer was always closer than suspected. What was the murderer's motive for such a horrific crime?

Reporter Caryn Lieberman tells the story of the 1994 disappearance of Larry Arnold, a man who went missing from Toronto's gay village. Arnold's body wasn't found until weeks later, discovered in an area 'known for sexual cruising.' We hear the frustration of family members, who feel investigators initially didn't take the case seriously enough. Until...police got a break that would change everything. Larry Arnold wasn't this killer's only victim.

Reporter Caryn Lieberman reveals how Larry Arnold's murder investigation is linked to the 1997 killing of a 20-year-old woman hundreds of kilometers away in North Bay, Ontario. Sarah Whitehead was sexually assaulted and murdered as she left a mall. Both murders were mysteries that almost went unsolved, two seemingly unrelated cases, until DNA from a cigarette butt led police to the killer. A serial rapist and murderer whose crimes crossed provincial borders and some of which likely remain unsolved to this day.

On a cold, snowy winter night in January 2008 an officer was on patrol when a confusing call came in to 911. A hardworking mother of five disappeared while on her way home from work– to make matters worse– there were indications she was being attacked. Investigators raced against the clock to find Arcelie Laoagan. Follow along on this frantic search as the officer shares the horrific discovery that haunts him to this day.

An in-depth look at how forensic experts examine blood spatter to help piece together what happened at the crime scene and how it helped secure convictions in some of Canada's most high profile murder cases.

When 27-year-old Caitlin Potts disappears from the North Okanagan in February 2016, police are puzzled. Although her body has never been found, Mounties believe she has been murdered. And then, over the next year and a half, four other women disappear too. One of the women's bodies is found on the Sagmoen family farm and many start to point the finger at Curtis Sagmoen. But although he has spent time in jail for other offences, he's never been charged with murder. In this episode of Crime Beat, reporter Jules Knox investigates whether these cases could somehow be connected?

Five women have mysteriously vanished from near B.C.'s Shuswap region over a year and a half, leaving their families desperate for some sort of closure. When police suddenly discover a body more than five years later, it leads to an arrest in one of the women's murders. But will it help officers crack the other cases? In the conclusion of the Secrets of Salmon River, reporter Jules Knox investigates why police are struggling to make more arrests.

A police manhunt leads to a high speed chase and a life-or-death situation for two officers. Learn the extreme lengths one man was willing to go to and the tragic outcome of his obsession with Nadia El-Dib.

A caring nurse and mother of three viciously murdered after a break-in at her home, while her 3 children slept in another room unaware of the attack.

In the early evening of May 12th 2003, 10-year-old Holly Jones told her parents she was going to walk a friend home. She never returned. Everyone held out hope that she would be found safe, but when the little girl was discovered murdered it kicked off one of the largest manhunts in Toronto history. In this episode, the lead homicide detectives reveal the tactics used to catch Holly's killer. And Holly's mother shares memories of her daughter - and her family's efforts to fight child pornography.

When the remains of two children are found in Vancouver's Stanley Park in 1953, the public and police are puzzled about their identities. Officers cannot determine who the children are, or why they were never reported missing. Advances in DNA technology help investigators make a shocking discovery in the late 90's that leads them one step closer to cracking this cold case. As Jules Knox reports, in 2022, a determined team of investigators and scientists are finally able to use forensic genealogy to identify the children and give them their names back.

A German tourist travels across the world with his family to witness the splendor of the Canadian Rockies. Without warning, a chance encounter and a single bullet interrupts their trip and changes their lives forever. Follow along to learn how the offender's path intersects with this family as they continue to fight against all odds.

When a dismembered body was found, detectives set out to identify the victim. After intense police work, they set out to find Rose McGroarty's killer. She was a wonderful welfare recipient who volunteered to feed the less fortunate. After a tip by a building superintendent leads police to her killer. McGroarty was so loved that a scholarship was set up in her name by local MP Peggy Nash. Rose was fondly remembered by the current executive director of the community centre where she cooked for the homeless.

Glen Davis was a multi-millionaire philanthropist, well-known for his generosity. He and his wife donated millions to charities, including the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). On the day he was killed, he had just met a friend who worked for the WWF for lunch at their offices. He was later shot in the underground garage. 12 years earlier, he had survived an attempt on his life when he was beaten with a baseball bat outside his own office. Was it a coincidence? Or were the two incidents connected? The case baffled police as to who would want to kill such a caring and generous person.

In the second part of the murder of Glen Davis, the Toronto multi-millionaire philanthropist, detectives investigate leads in what they believe was a targeted killing. Follow along with reporter Mark Carcasole as he reveals the twists and turns in the plot to kill Davis and just how close to home it was.

Terrie Ann Dauphinais, a young Metis woman, is found dead in her home. Her three children are discovered locked inside two bedrooms and a closet. Her death was deemed a homicide, but no charges were ever laid, and the case went cold. Then, nearly two decades later, new developments in the investigation led to a dramatic turn of events, but would it be enough to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt?

For seven years, Cindy James told police she was being stalked. She claimed she received chilling phone calls, threatening letters and dead cats thrown onto her front lawn. Cindy said she was stabbed, strangled and her home was set on fire – after phone lines had been cut. When the Vancouver nurse's lifeless body was found two weeks after she went missing, and no suspects, a coroner's inquest was called in hopes of solving the mystery of who killed Cindy James?

For seven years, Cindy James claimed she was being stalked and had received chilling phone calls and threatening letters. When the Vancouver nurse's lifeless body was found two weeks after she was reported missing, a coroner's inquest was called. The jury's conclusion suggested a shocking suspect in her mysterious death. Reporter Jules Knox investigates.

When a man turns up dead on a hunting trail in Killarney, police have no idea if it was an accident or murder. Until they find the killer who says he was hired to do it. The woman he points the finger at claims she's completely innocent and must travel a long road to prove it. When she finally gets her day in court – a decision is handed down that has far reaching implications.

In a small town located less than an hour from Canada's largest military base, locals began talking about the so-called 'Tweed Creeper,' after a rash of break-ins where the only things stolen were women's undergarments. But those crimes would quickly escalate to assault and then to murder. But a set of tire tracks would point police to the person responsible, someone above suspicion. As reporter Morganne Campbell reports, it's a case that even more than a decade later, leaves many with unanswered questions.

It began more than ten years ago in a small town in Ontario. A series of breaks ins put residents on edge, particularly women, when they realized what was being taken - undergarments and sex toys. Then the crimes led to assault and murder. Was the person responsible hiding in plain sight…a monster in uniform? When police hone in on a key suspect he is brought in for questioning and a cat and mouse game between a seasoned officer and a suspected serial killer unfolds in the interview room. Morganne Campbell reports on what ultimately led to a shocking confession from the man who was leading a secret double life.

What started as a petty falling out between a group of high school friends led to the creation of two rival gangs. Over a decade the animosity between the FK's and FOB's gangs grew as did their illicit activity. Learn how police worked to end the deadly feud that left more than two dozen dead– and included innocent bystanders who were hit in the crossfire.

A dispute outside a Toronto tavern between a jealous boyfriend and several gang members ends in a hail of gunfire, in which a young woman new to the city is killed, and the missing gun turns up in an unrelated crime.

Durham, North Carolina is known for its sprawling tobacco fields and shady walnut trees, but the town also bears the unusual claim of being home to one of the best-known analysts of Quebec homicides - John Allore himself. For almost two decades, Allore has tirelessly probed unsolved murders in his ultimate quest to uncover the fate of his sister, Theresa, found dead in the province's Eastern Townships region in 1979. Theresa, 19, disappeared outside her dorm room in Compton, Quebec, several kilometres from her school at Champlain College in Compton in the Eastern Townships in early November 1978. Theresa was found dead clad only in a bra and panties in woods about one kilometre away from the dorms.

When a young Australian American couple is murdered in cold blood in northern British Columbia, detectives scramble to find a suspect in this remote region. Days later, a much-loved university professor is also found dead, and there are rising fears that a serial killer could be at large. As Jules Knox reports, two teens traveling in the area suddenly go missing, and a shocking turn of events leads police on a cross-country manhunt.

After a young, vibrant Australian-American couple and a much-loved university professor are murdered in northern British Columbia, police race to track down the perpetrator before anybody else is killed. Two missing teens quickly turn into the prime murder suspects, and officers follow a trail of clues across Canada into the vast wilderness of northern Manitoba. The gripping story drew international media attention, and people across the world waited for any updates as the manhunt continued on for several days. As Jules Knox reports, victims' families and investigators still have lingering questions that remain unanswered to this day.

In 1992 Dilleen Hempel had just married the love of her life, moved into her dream home and started a new job. But on her way home from her second shift, the 26-year-old vanished. Her empty car was found on the side of the highway. Police, along with Dilleen's loved ones went to painstaking efforts to find her. Learn about the heartbreaking discovery they made and follow along as investigators share how they solved this senseless crime.

What started as a typical afternoon for a group of children enjoying their local playground, quickly evolved into chaos when a man got out of a car and started firing a gun. The intended target escaped - but two girls, who were five and nine years old at the time, were seriously injured in the crossfire. The main suspect eluded police and became one of Canada's Most Wanted suspects with a sizable reward being offered for his capture. At the same time, outraged parents demanded answers from local politicians as to how to stop this cycle of violence terrorizing their neighbourhoods.

Stephanie Forster, an award-winning entrepreneur, was shot and killed while sitting in her car near her home in Coquitlam, B.C. Two days later, Stephanie's estranged husband Luigi Derossi was pulled over by police. Moments into the traffic stop, he shot himself and later died in hospital. Stephanie's brother believes that she had recently discovered Derossi's secret identity. As Jules Knox reports, her husband gained public notoriety as a serial romance scammer who stole thousands of dollars from his targets.

A B.C. teen's cry for help was heard around the world when her YouTube post went viral, highlighting her terrifying online ordeal of blackmail, harassment and sextortion. The 15-year old's encounter with a cyber predator triggered relentless years of bullying and police response left her feeling helpless and alone. Amanda Todd's heart wrenching video made her a household name. It also became a symbol in the fight against online harassment. And, what followed was a global search to find the 'man in the shadows' who had been tormenting her and dozens of other victims. But would there be justice? Kamil Karamali reports on Amanda Todd's life and legacy.

In December 2015, 28-year-old Rosemarie 'Kim' Junor was browsing in a drug store in an underground shopping concourse in Toronto's financial district, when she was stabbed in the chest by a complete stranger. Why would anyone want to murder the sweet, innocent ultrasound technician and newlywed? The attacker, a woman in her forties, went into hiding but eventually was taken into custody. The subsequent trial resulted in a verdict that still haunts the family of Junor today.

On a cold, snowy day in January of 2006, a man was scouring for bottles in downtown Calgary dumpsters when he made a grisly discovery. That was the starting point of a police investigation that was a true whodunnit. A trail of forensic evidence led police to uncover a deadly betrayal. Learn the web of deceit the criminal created to cover his tracks and the unsettling truth that devastated the victim's family.

On this episode of Crime Beat, senior crime reporters bring you updates on a few stories they previously covered. Join us for this edition of 'the story is never finished' as they share several significant developments– including a major decision made by the Supreme Court of Canada that's impacted multiple murder cases across the country.

Chelsea Poorman vanished from downtown Vancouver in September 2020. Nineteen months later, her body was found in the backyard of a vacant mansion in one of the city's ritziest neighbourhoods. Shortly after she was found, police said the 24-year-old woman's death was not suspicious. But as Jules Knox reports, her family is left with burning questions, including why some of her body parts were missing.

When a man walking his dog comes upon a neighbour's garage engulfed in flames, little does he know the treachery behind it. When the smoke clears, a woman is found dead with drug paraphernalia nearby. But nothing is what it seems, and police are left combing through a web of lies to find the killer.

When a man walking his dog comes upon a neighbour's garage engulfed in flames, little does he know the treachery behind it. When the smoke clears, a woman is found dead with drug paraphernalia nearby. But nothing is what it seems, and police are left combing through a web of lies to find the killer. As they home in on the suspect they discover he's planning to leave the country and try to intercept him, at the same time, putting an elaborate Mr. Big operation in motion.

In 2006, 17-year-old Brigitte Serre was working her first overnight shift at a Montreal gas station when three men attempted an armed heist. Brigitte was murdered in the robbery gone wrong, stabbed 72 times. The killer was eventually caught in a cross-country manhunt and sentenced to 25 years without parole for the brutal slaying. But for the Serre family, the painful reminders of their tragic loss would surface time and time again as the convicted murderer applied for early release.

January 16th, 2006, started like any other for Jack Beauchamp. The financier grabbed a coffee and went to work in his downtown Calgary office. Minutes after he arrived, he was fighting for his life. He was shot six times and left for dead on his office floor. Follow along as senior crime reporter Nancy Hixt shares the story of how grieving co-workers helped police identify a suspect. And how the case took an unexpected turn when evidence pointed to someone else.

An elderly Mississauga woman is found dead beside Christmas presents she'd been wrapping. Within hours of the discovery, investigators receive a call from Niagara police about the attempted murders of two people living an hour away that they believe are connected. The ensuing investigation uncovers a story of betrayal, obsession, stalking and vengeance.

When a 20-year-old English tourist suddenly stops contacting his family while backpacking across Canada, his mother tries to raise the alarm. Police are slow to respond until an anonymous note prompts them to search a nearby lake. When a body is found, there is hope that it will help bring closure to the missing man's family. But as Jules Knox reports, another twist in this story means that the case can't be so easily closed.

An innocent victim, 28-year-old Mila Barberi was gunned down while picking up her boyfriend, Saverio Serrano from work. Serrano was believed to have been the intended target, having family connections to alleged criminal activity. When a known mobster is taken out in Hamilton, police question whether the two murders are connected and how Mila got caught in the middle. As investigators track down the killers, one of the suspects, Daniel Tomassetti, eludes police and becomes one of Canada's most wanted.

On a breezy winter day in February of 2002, in southern Alberta, a rancher was moving some cattle along a rural road when he came across a disturbing sight in the ditch. As he got closer, he was able to confirm it was a body. At the same time, an hour's drive North, in Calgary, family and friends of Adrienne McColl had no idea the heartbreaking news they were about to get– and the long road to justice they were about to embark on.

It was 1am on a cold, wet November night in 2011 when police found Leanne Freeman lying unconscious in a pool of blood. She later died in a downtown hospital, becoming Toronto's 42nd homicide of the year. The 23-year-old Freeman lived a lonely, troubled life, on the streets of Canada's largest city. Addicted to drugs, she ended up being a part of a group called 'The Crystal Circle', named for their use and dealing of crystal meth. It was members of that group who became suspects in her murder.

When a mother left her Surrey, B.C. condo for work in the morning, she never imagined that it would be the last time she would ever see her son. She returned to a building that was surrounded by yellow police tape, and it wasn't long before word leaked out that six men had been slaughtered inside. As Jules Knox reports, a well-placed surveillance team led officers to the suspects behind the largest gang-related mass murder in the province's history, but several unexpected twists in this case soon jeopardized the search for justice.

After six men were coldly executed in a Surrey condo building, police scrambled to collect evidence and determine a motive for the murder. As they dove deeper into their investigation, it didn't take officers long to find their suspects, but police misconduct along the way threatened to derail the search for justice for the victims' families. Jules Knox reports on the rival gang dispute that claimed two innocent lives.

In 1995, a 92-year-old woman had been brutally beaten during a home invasion, managed to escape, but died months later. At the time, no one knew who'd so viciously attacked Henrietta Knight. But 20 years later as police are investigating the disappearance of a known criminal, they find a connection. As the investigation unfolds, they find links to a bank robbery, a car bombing and multiple murders. A trail of blood that leads them to the one man responsible for it all.

Three brazen murders in Kelowna, Vancouver and Toronto spark an extensive police investigation into the Wolfpack Alliance, a crew of gangsters running operations connected to Mexican cartels. The kingpins are quick to take out anyone in their way, leaving authorities scrambling to build a case against the killers.

On November 17, 2004, a young Calgary family settled in for the evening. At about 9 pm, the husband left for work as a security guard, while his wife stayed home with their two children. In the middle of the night, she woke to the sound of shattered glass. Within minutes the entire home was engulfed in flames. After desperate attempts to reach her children failed, the mother managed to escape. The children didn't survive. Senior crime reporter Nancy Hixt shares the unexpected twists the investigation took into who was responsible for the devastating double-fatal fire.

In 1983, Susan Tice, a 45-year-old mother of four was found raped and stabbed to death in her Toronto home. Four months later, across town, 22-year-old Erin Gilmour returns home from work and is attacked the same way. The women didn't know each other, and both cases remained unsolved for decades. In 2000, DNA profiles from each crime proved their attacker was the same man but didn't reveal his identity. It would take another 20 years, but thanks to genetic genealogy research, the killer was arrested, charged and convicted, bringing a measure of closure for the victims' families.

On a warm summer night in 1973, as Peter Demeter pulls his Mercedes into his driveway, the bludgeoned body of his wife and model, 33-year-old Christine Demeter is revealed; investigators launch an epic investigation, and discover a story and cast of characters that is stranger than fiction; model mistresses, million-dollar insurance policies, and Hungarian hitmen are revealed.

Millionaire Builder Peter Demeter is charged with non-capital murder in connection with his wife's death. His trial in London Ontario's brand-new courthouse is explosive, with investigators uncovering new evidence daily. Who killed Christine Demeter? The suspect list is a long one, from Hungarian enforcers to a serial murderer stalking young women in Mississauga, and a self-processed cop killer who escaped Collins Bay Penitentiary.

It was a story that mobilized a province. A 10-year-old girl gone without a trace from a Montreal neighborhood. Jolene Riendeau was last seen at a local convenience store. Twelve years later, her remains were unearthed near a bridge. Now, more than two decades later, her parents are still searching for answers.

While many acknowledge Truman Capote's 1965 'In Cold Blood' as the first of the true crime genre, it actually dates back to the renaissance period where murderous tales were part of the oral tradition, later transcribed by scholars. Today true crime novels are often topping best sellers lists. To explore why there is such a public fascination with this genre of storytelling, Crime Beat sits down with five acclaimed authors pushing the boundaries of true crime.

Curious about why the owner of an expensive sports car would be outside a notoriously seedy Toronto motel, police knock on the door and are met with gunfire. Over the next several hours – hundreds of bullets are fired in the biggest shootout in the city's history. When the onslaught is over, the ensuing investigation uncovers a string of crimes leading back to the elderly owners of a BC gun shop.

When two brothers entered a bank in Saanich, B.C. dressed in body armour and armed with semi-automatic rifles, everybody inside was taken hostage. The gunmen demanded money and herded the hostages towards the vault. But instead of escaping with the cash, the brothers paced inside the bank as police arrived on scene. As Jules Knox reports, a hailstorm of bullets suddenly erupted that resulted in two deaths and left many people with their lives forever changed.

Audrey Trudeau moves to Calgary in the late 90's in search of a fresh start following a divorce; then, on the eve of an exciting new opportunity, she suddenly vanishes; her disappearance puzzles her loved ones.

When series of cabins are raided in northern B.C., and then a reclusive trapper suddenly goes missing, police believe the crimes could be connected; as Jules Knox reports, that triggers a series of events that leaves one Mountie dead.

In May 1991, 34-year-old Yvonne Rouleau was tortured and murdered at the Nozzles Gas Bar where the mother of three worked in Kingston, Ontario. But the horror didn't start there. Reporter Caryn Lieberman travels to Kingston to hear from the families and survivors reclaiming their voices in order to tell this story and to learn how the investigation into Rouleau's case led detectives to a series of other horrific attacks targeting some of the most vulnerable members of the community, the full details of which took decades to come to light.

They have been called agents for the silenced. Homicide detectives investigating horrific murders work tireless hours to find answers for grieving families. We interview top detectives about some of their most memorable and impactful cases, including ones that still haunt them to this day. In ‘the Investigators', we learn what real life is like as a homicide detective on the job and after.

In the spring of 2006 Calgary Police received an ominous call from someone worried a woman was being held captive in a downtown rooming house. Officers responded but found nothing suspicious. Over the next few days two patrol officers heard similar stories from several other people as details got more and more disturbing– alleging a woman had been held, tortured and killed. How could they solve a crime they weren't sure had been committed? And without knowing if there was a victim?

Nicolle Hands was a young Winnipeg mother, brutally attacked and stabbed in her apartment while her children were at home sleeping. Two decades after Nicolle's murder, reporter Marney Blunt looks into a recent development in the case, information exclusively released to Global News, and learns why the family may still be no closer to achieving justice for their beloved Nicolle.

In December 2019, 26-year-old Koshin Yusuf was coming home from a night out with friends when he was cornered at his Scarborough apartment entrance and shot 24 times. But why? All police had to start with was a piece of grainy video surveillance that captured the actual murder. Was it a case of mistaken identity? Did Koshin know his attackers? Crime Beat tracks the investigation and learns why the judge would later call it a 'stunning' piece of police work.

When a Winnipeg teenager was found savagely attacked in a donut shop, investigators arrested a B.C. man who was visiting the area. After serving nearly four years behind bars, he was suddenly released, prompting some people to question if a murderer had now walked free. As Jules Knox reports, years later, another slaying of a teenage girl halfway across the country gave fresh light to old evidence that could help convict a killer.L

Detectives are slowly piecing together chilling clues from a series of brutal sexual assaults and murders across the country. Teenage girls are the target, and police are starting to question if one of their initial suspects was wrongfully convicted. As Jules Knox reports, a Mr. Big sting operation led officers to a second suspect who was hiding in plain sight.

On May 14, 1971, just after dinner, six-year-old Ljubica Topic wandered off while playing outside with her older brother and some friends. When her brother gets home, Ljubica isn't there. Questioned by his mother, he reveals that a stranger had approached them asking for help and Ljubica had gone off to assist. After a frantic search, the young girl is found dead just a kilometre away. Who did this and why did it remain a mystery for nearly 50 years?

For more than twenty years, Mark Mariani suffered from Crohn's disease. In the fall of 2010, he was told about medical advancements that brought renewed hope for a better quality of life. To celebrate he went to his favourite country bar. The following morning his family received a call from the police. Mark had been found dead in a northwest Calgary parking lot. Join senior crime reporter Nancy Hixt as she walks you through the trail of evidence police uncovered to learn how Mark Mariani came Face-to-Face with Evil.

A teenager is gunned down at a church while attending his best friend's funeral, another is ambushed, shot 7 times while out for pizza, and an innocent child is killed when bullets fly at a birthday party. Illegal firearms flooding across the border and into the hands of Toronto's most notorious gangs causing a surge in homicides. Join Senior Reporter Caryn Lieberman as she follows a major takedown of a criminal organization, and a historic Toronto Police bust that stops hundreds of weapons from hitting the streets.

On a sunny spring day, a man walked into an office in midtown Toronto and opened fire. There was panic at the neighbouring daycare and nearby schools, fearing a gunman was still on the loose. When police arrived, they discovered the shooter had killed two people, Arash Missaghi and Samira Yousefi, before turning the gun on himself. Initially officials did not release the motive for the attack, but his wife said her husband, 46-year-old Alan Kats, could not handle 'losing our life's savings' in an alleged mortgage fraud the two victims were accused of.

When 10-year-old Heather Thomas suddenly vanishes while riding a bike in Surrey, B.C., hundreds of people show up to help search for the missing girl. With few leads to go on, detectives are stymied until an attentive 911 dispatcher, an eagle-eyed security guard and a distinct vehicle offer a trail of clues that lead to a possible suspect. As her grieving mother fights for justice, the prime suspect claims he is not guilty despite a shocking interrogation video detailing a violent crime.

Australian Kevin McBride was known for being fun-loving and outgoing, the life of the party. So, when the 47-year-old window dresser and antiques dealer is found stabbed to death in his Toronto apartment no one can believe it. As police track suspects across Canada and the US, the victim's diary is found 400 km away. It's missing the page from the day he was murdered, but it provides a name. The problem for investigators – that name belongs to someone who can't be found.

The family of Marilyn Bergeron searches for answers and reveals some startling theories in the mystery of a young Quebec woman who disappeared in 2008. She was last seen leaving the family's home near Quebec City to take a walk. The investigation showed that the 24-year-old went to an ATM to take out money and then made a purchase at a Café Depot in Saint-Romuald, Que. Police have no trace of her since. Was she murdered or is she still alive?

A highly respected, executive chef is weeks away from realizing his dream of opening his own restaurant when he is violently killed; the case becomes a true whodunnit as homicide detectives follow a complicated trail of evidence.

After a violent gunfight erupts in a quiet Saskatoon neighbourhood, several suspects flee the scene, and nobody wants to talk about what happened. Police follow a trail of blood to an apartment where they find zip ties and duct tape but no murder weapons. Follow along with Crime Beat reporter Jules Knox as detectives discuss the investigative techniques that finally lead them to a key piece of missing evidence – and their prime suspect - one of Canada's most wanted fugitives.

Driving home from work, Royi Flescher could never have imagined what he was about to encounter. And when Soula Berdoussis pulled over, she thought she was stopping to help at the scene of a car accident. What unfolded next would change them forever – as they found two women brutally stabbed, taking their last breaths lying at the side of a busy Toronto thoroughfare. Reporter Catherine McDonald takes us back to that fateful day in late August 2022 and hears from these eyewitnesses about coming face-to-face with the killer. But it wasn't until they testified at his trial that they'd learn the full disturbing details of what led up to that day.