BC Missing Women Investigation
Encyclopedia
The BC Missing Women Investigation is an ongoing criminal investigation into the disappearance of at least 60 women from Vancouver
's Downtown Eastside
from the early 1980s through 2002. The investigation is headed by a task force of members from the RCMP
and the Vancouver Police Department
.
Many of the missing women were impoverished, drug-addicted sex workers from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Much of the investigation centred on Robert William Pickton and his Port Coquitlam pig farm.
On December 9, 2007, Pickton was convicted of second-degree murder in the deaths of six women:
On January 7, 2008 an appeal for a new trial was requested by the Crown to the British Columbia Court of Appeal
(BCCA). This was an attempt to convict Robert Pickton on twenty-six counts of first-degree murder.
Judgment by the Court of Appeal on June 25, 2009 did concur with the Crown that errors were made during Pickton’s trial. However, a new trial would not be granted in support of the Crown.
On the same day as the Crown’s appeal was denied, Robert Pickton’s appeal for a new trial was denied, as well. Pickton still has the right to appeal the lower court’s decision to the Supreme Court of Canada
.
On July 30, 2010, the Supreme Court of Canada rendered its decision dismissing Pickton's appeal and affirming his convictions.
The RCMP said that it continues to investigate the deaths of missing women, with a task force including 51 staff.
At a press conference on July 30, 2010, RCMP assistant commissioner Al MacIntyre said:
RCMP inspector Gary Shinkaruk of the Missing Women Task Force suggested that at least one other serial killer may be operating in the region: "There's a number of active investigations that we know are homicides that, again, we are not attributing to Pickton, so we are fully engaged in those investigations." This includes five women believed to have been murdered in the Mount Pleasant area of Vancouver, and three women murdered in the Fraser Valley.
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
's Downtown Eastside
Downtown Eastside
The Downtown Eastside is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and is known as "Canada's poorest postal code"....
from the early 1980s through 2002. The investigation is headed by a task force of members from the RCMP
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
and the Vancouver Police Department
Vancouver Police Department
The Vancouver Police Department is the police force for the City of Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several police departments within the Metro Vancouver Area and is the second largest police force in the province after RCMP "E" Division.VPD was the first Canadian police force...
.
Many of the missing women were impoverished, drug-addicted sex workers from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Much of the investigation centred on Robert William Pickton and his Port Coquitlam pig farm.
On December 9, 2007, Pickton was convicted of second-degree murder in the deaths of six women:
- Count 1, Sereena Abotsway (born August 20, 1971), 29 when she disappeared in August 2001.
- Count 2, Mona Lee Wilson (born January 13, 1975), 26 when she was last seen on November 23, 2001. Reported Missing November 30, 2001.
- Count 6, Andrea Joesbury, 22 when last seen in June 2001.
- Count 7, Brenda Ann Wolfe, 32 when last seen in February 1999 and was reported missing in April 2000.
- Count 16, Marnie Lee Frey, last seen August 1997.Vancouver Police Missing Persons Case #98-209922.
- Count 11, Georgina Faith Papin, last seen in 1999.
On January 7, 2008 an appeal for a new trial was requested by the Crown to the British Columbia Court of Appeal
British Columbia Court of Appeal
The British Columbia Court of Appeal is the highest appellate court in the province of British Columbia, Canada. The BCCA hears appeals from the Supreme Court of British Columbia and a number of boards and tribunals. The BCCA also hears criminal appeals from the Provincial Court of British...
(BCCA). This was an attempt to convict Robert Pickton on twenty-six counts of first-degree murder.
Judgment by the Court of Appeal on June 25, 2009 did concur with the Crown that errors were made during Pickton’s trial. However, a new trial would not be granted in support of the Crown.
On the same day as the Crown’s appeal was denied, Robert Pickton’s appeal for a new trial was denied, as well. Pickton still has the right to appeal the lower court’s decision to the Supreme Court of Canada
Supreme Court of Canada
The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeals in the Canadian justice system. The court grants permission to between 40 and 75 litigants each year to appeal decisions rendered by provincial, territorial and federal appellate courts, and its decisions...
.
On July 30, 2010, the Supreme Court of Canada rendered its decision dismissing Pickton's appeal and affirming his convictions.
The RCMP said that it continues to investigate the deaths of missing women, with a task force including 51 staff.
At a press conference on July 30, 2010, RCMP assistant commissioner Al MacIntyre said:
- "There's still 39 outstanding cases of missing women that are being fully examined and pursued. The joint task force remains committed to our promise to continue to investigate the cases of these missing women until we have exhausted all possible avenues.…You have my word on that."
RCMP inspector Gary Shinkaruk of the Missing Women Task Force suggested that at least one other serial killer may be operating in the region: "There's a number of active investigations that we know are homicides that, again, we are not attributing to Pickton, so we are fully engaged in those investigations." This includes five women believed to have been murdered in the Mount Pleasant area of Vancouver, and three women murdered in the Fraser Valley.
See also
- Highway of Tears
- Green River Killer
External links
- http://www.missingnativewomen.org/bc.htm
- http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1077327542003_15/?hub=Canada
- http://www.rcmp-bcmedia.ca/missing_women.jsp
- http://www.missingpeople.net/home.html