And this series will be asking the question, why do so many
people go missing in British Columbia?
Who are these individuals and what led them to such a fate?
These lost souls, their dreams, their struggles, each had
beating heart. Person who once laughed, loved,
had aspirations, hopes and ambitions remind us there were
not just statistics or mere objects of curiosity.
They were daughters, sons, mothers, fathers and friends.
And their absences felt forever changing the lives of those who
remain. In the shadow of these cases, we
can no longer ignore the prevalent struggle faced by many
in British Columbia. Depression, loneliness, the
haunting specter of suicidal ideation.
Yet immense all of the answers we uncover, they will remain
lingering questions and mysteries that continue to
intrigue and gnaw at our hearts. This series will investigate the
unsolved cases of missing individuals who vanished.
Sometimes remains are found, but the circumstances are unclear
and go unsolved. Beyond the breathtaking beauty
of British Columbia vast wilderness lies a chilling
enigma that haunts the region, the alarming rate at which
people go missing as we cross the thin border between the
known and the unknown. Together we will unravel the
stories of the many missing people that have haunted this
picturesque province for generations.
Secrets have long remain hidden beneath the beauty of this land,
but now we dare to shine a light upon them, the chilling accounts
of those who vanished without a trace.
This picturesque, beautiful province has an unsettling
underbelly of unexplained disappearances that left
families shattered, communities anxious and authorities
perplexed. Wild animals and natural hazards
could be responsible for a person's disappearance.
Foul play or human abduction cannot be ruled out either.
Sometimes people disappear due to criminal activities, but
without more information it's hard to ascertain this
possibility. The prevalence of unsolved
homicides in British Columbia is a complex issue with multiple
contributing factors challenging terrains Remote locations
British Columbia's vast, rugged terrain includes dense forest
isolated areas that make crime scenes difficult to access and
investigate. This could lead to destruction
of evidence or the inability to track down witnesses and leads.
In addition, if a crime is committed in a remote or rural
area, it takes longer for law enforcement to arrive on scene
and begin their investigation. This makes it more challenging
for law enforcement to gather evidence, find witness,
particularly in cases that occur in remote and hard to reach
locations. British Columbia landscapes,
while alluring, can be treacherous.
The province boasts a vast and rugged terrain with dense
forests, isolated mountains, hidden caves that make search
and rescue operations challenging.
When people go missing in these remote areas, the chances of
discovery become significantly lower, leaving families with
unanswered questions and investigators with limited
leads. The province wilderness is home
to a diverse range of wildlife, some which can be dangerous.
Predators, bears, Cougars, and other wildlife pose a threat to
hikers, campers, and adventurers who venture into their
territory. While most encounters end
without harm, some unfortunate incidents lead to
disappearances, leaving investigators to grapple with
distinguishing human foul play from natural causes.
While the wilderness plays a significant role in missing
person cases, urban areas also contribute to a high numbers.
British Columbia's larger cities, like Vancouver, are not
immune to this phenomenon. Factors such as crime,
homelessness, drug use contribute to individuals going
missing without a trace. The province, proximity to
international borders and major transportation hub have raised
concerns about human trafficking.
British Columbia serves a gateway to Asia and the United
States, making it susceptible to criminal networks involved in
human exploitation. Victims can be easily moved
across the border and go missing, complicating
investigations making it challenging to trace their
whereabouts. On the darker side, urban
legends and rumors of sex workers being used in snuff
films and violent homemade porn videos by violent St. gangs who
also were into human trafficking women.
They were being murdered and hauled away by long distant
truck drivers. August 1999 Parents's were tied
to a sex slave involving ships in the harbor.
Reported that women were being enticed on board of
international freighters with the promise of liquor and drugs.
Once on board, the women were in prison, sexually used, then
tossed overboard once the ships were out and open, International
Oceans Police spokeswoman and Drennan said.
Occasionally we've had reports of prostitutes taken on boards
of ships and passed around and abused.
We've spoken to many of these women as we can.
We spoken to cab drivers that had may have taken the women to
the boats. Sex workers have told stories of
being held prisoners on freighters.
One girl was on a freighter. The crew loaded her up with some
pretty strong heroin and wouldn't let her go.
A friend who was watching out for her went and got in the
crews faces to let her go. While it's essential to note
that majority of homicides in the province are successfully
solved, many cases remain open and unsolved for various
reasons. Again, challenging terrain,
Remote locations. British Columbia's vast, rugged
terrain, dense forests, isolated areas can make crime scenes
difficult to access and investigate.
It makes it more challenging for law enforcement to gather
evidence, find witnesses, particular in cases that occur
in remote, hard to reach locations, urbanizations and
transient populations. Major cities in British
Columbia, such as Vancouver, have a diverse and transient
population. Transient individuals have
limited ties to the community, making it harder to establish
connections and gather information about potential
suspects or witnesses. Drugs Gang related crimes.
British Columbia has face ongoing challenges with drug
related crimes and gang activity which can complicate
investigations. Such crimes often involve
sophisticated networks, intimidation of witnesses, a
code of silent, making it harder for law enforcement to gather
information and build cases. Witness intimidation and fear.
In certain cases, witness may fear retaliation or lack trust
in law enforcement, leading to reluctance in coming forward
with information. Witness intimidation and fear of
reprisal can hinder the progress of investigations and prevent
crucial information from surfacing a lack of critical
information. In some cases, key pieces of
evidence or critical information may be missing, hampering the
progress of investigation. Without these critical details,
law enforcement may struggle to identify suspects or establish a
clear motive. Addressing the issues of
unsolved homicides in British Columbia require a multifaceted
approach involving enhanced resources for law enforcement,
community engagement and cooperation.
Specialized training, leveraging advancements in technology and
forensic sciences. Additionally, fostering trust
between law enforcement and the public, particularly among the
marginalized communities, can lead to more fruitful
investigations and potentially lead to resolutions in some cold
cases. Crime is always been a part of
the subculture in the underground economy of British
Columbia, which, when one entangles with this underbelly
of crime, leads to significant increases of disappearances,
murders and people vanishing. From the 1860s to the 1920s, the
opium trade was during the late British Columbia.
Coastal cities, particularly Vancouver, became hubs for the
opium trade. Chinese immigrants played a
significant role in the solicit trade, establishing secret opium
dens and smuggling operations. The trade flourished until the
government implemented strict drug controlled, leading to the
decline of opium prominence in organized crime circles 1920 to
the 1940s. Prohibition and bootlegging, the
advent of Prohibition. United States and organized
crime groups capitalize on the demand for illegal alcohol.
British Columbia became a key location for bootlegging
operations with smuggling smugglers transporting alcohol
across the border. Criminal organizations gained
substantial profits during this period, leading to the growth
influential crime families 1940s to the 1960s.
The Syndicate during this era, the Pacific National Exhibition,
The P&E in Vancouver served as a hot spot for illegal gambling
activities. Organized crime syndicates,
controlled betting operations, bookmaking, horse racing
schemes, the city's criminal underbelly continue to thrive
leading to numerous raids and crackdown.
Law enforcement. 1960s to the 1980s Vancouver triads and
organized the emergence of Asian Criminal Organization,
particularly the triads became more pronounced during this
period. These groups engaged in various
illegal activities, including drug trafficking, money
laundering, extortion, loan sharking.
The port City of Vancouver became a key point for drug
smuggling and money laundering operations, drawing the
attentions of both local and international law enforcement
agencies. The 1980s to the 1990s a rise of
motorcycle gangs. The 1980s witness a rise of
outlaw motorcycle gangs. These gangs expanded their
influence in the drug trade, prostitutions, and other illicit
activities. Violent clashes between rival
gangs and law enforcement became more frequent, leading to an
increase in criminal activity and notoriety for these biker
groups. The 1990s and early 2000 the
Indo Canadian Gang Wars. During this period, a deadly
gang war erupted among the Indo Canadian criminal groups in
British Columbia. The conflict, fueled by drug
trafficking and territorial disputes, resulted in a spat of
targeted assassinations and shootings, leaving dozen dead.
Law enforcement struggled to contain the violence and
dismantle these criminal networks. 2000 and present day
Evolving organized crime landscapes Organized crime in
British Columbia continues to evolve adapting to changes in
law enforcement strategies and technology.
The province remains a strategic location for international drug
trafficking, money laundering, human trafficking, operation
into legitimate businesses and institutions, particularly in
real estate casino industries have been a growing concern.
Present day the fight against organized crime.
Law enforcement agencies along with government and community
organizations continue to combat organized crime.
In British Columbia, specialized units targeting money
laundering, drug trafficking and gang violence have been
established. Legislative measures have been
enhanced to strengthen laws against organized crime, with a
particular focus on dismantling criminal organizations and
seizing illicit assets. British Columbia has been home
to many predators and serial killers, and one thing that
serial killers and predators seem to have in common is they
seem to lack of empathy. Serial killers typically display
a lack of empathy or remorse for their victims, treating them as
objects rather than fellow human beings.
They tend to be fantasy driven. Many serial killers have
elaborate fantasies that they act out during their crimes.
These fantasies often provide them with the sense of power and
control. They tend to have a cooling off
period. Serial killers usually have a
cooling off period between murders during which they appear
normal and blend in society signature.
Serial killer may develop a specific pattern or ritual
associated with their killings, known as their signature, which
sets them apart from other murderers.
They tend to have childhood trauma.
Some serial killers have a history of childhood abuse,
neglect and other traumatic experiences that may contribute
to their violent tendencies. Highly intelligent Not all
serial killers are highly intelligent, but some exhibit
above average intelligence which makes them more adapt and
avoiding capture when one thing they all share predators alike
is the manipulative. Serial killers are often skilled
at manipulating others which helps them gain trust over their
victims and invade law enforcement timeline of serial
killers in British Columbia. I do plan to go into more detail
into these cases as time goes on, but this is just a quick
overview of the most notorious serial killers who've used
British Columbia as their hunting ground for victims,
Clifford Olsen, 1980 to 1981. Clifford Olsen was a notorious
serial killer who preyed on children and teenagers in
British Columbia during the early 1980s.
With a span of only nine months, he brutally murdered 11 young
individuals, leaving the province in a state of shock and
fear. Olsen's capture and subsequent
trial garnered a significant media attention and sparked
debates about the criminal justice system in British
Columbia. Robert Willie Picton, 1983 to
2002 Robert Picton, a pig farmer from Port Coquitlam, was one of
Canada's most notorious serial killers.
Over the course of nearly two decades, he targeted vulnerable
women, mainly sex workers, from Vancouver's downtown east side.
Picton was eventually arrested in 2002, later convicted for six
murders. Although he claimed to kill far
more, he admitted to killing 49 women.
This raised questions about the handling of missing person cases
and the protection of marginalized community.
Gilbert Paul Jordan, 1980s Gilbert Paul Jordan, also known
as a boozing Barber, was a serial killer who targeted
Indigenous women in Vancouver during the 1980s.
He was convicted of manslaughter of eight women.
Although he is suspected of being responsible for many more
deaths, Jordan targeted vulnerable women by pieing them
with alcohol and forcing them to drink until they suscumbed the
alcohol poisoning John Martin Crawford 1981 to 1982.
John Martin Crawford, known as the Silent Killer, committed a
series of murders and sexual assaults in British Columbia
during the 1980s. He was responsible for the
deaths of four indigenous women. His crimes remained unsolved
until 1996, when DNA evidence linked him to the murders.
Wayne Clifford Bowden 1969 to 1971.
Wayne Clifford Bowden, also known as a vampire rapist, was a
serial killer who terrorized Vancouver during the late 60s.
In the early 1970s, he was responsible for the brutal
murders for at least four young women whom were all sexually
assaulted and strangled. Bodas Modus operandi earned him
the moniker Vampire Rapist due to the bite marks found on his
victims. Cody Allen Ledgebukov, Bc's
youngest serial killer and one of the youngest serial killers
in Canada, was a young serial killer who preyed on four women
in northern British Columbia. His victims were Loreen Don
Leslie, Natasha Lynn Montgomery, Cynthia Francis Mas, Jill Stacy
Stukunenko. Levabukov's capture and
subsequent conviction brought attention to the vulnerability
of young women and the importance of early detection
and intervention of cases of potential serial offenders.
These are some of the most notorious serial killers who
operated in British Columbia, leaving a dark legacy of fear
and tragedy. The capture and conviction of
these individuals under score the importance of vigilant law
enforcement, community awareness and the support for families and
communities affected by these heinous crimes.
According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the RCMP, the
province accounts for significant portions of Canada's
missing persons. Despite having a lower
population compared to provinces like Ontario and Quebec, their
numbers reveal a chilling reality.
The province of Ontario, who has a population of close to
approximately 15,000,000 people. Well, British Columbia's
population is approximable 4 million.
Yet British Columbia has twice the physical numbers as Canada's
largest province of Ontario. So before I go, I would like to
thank my collaborative relationship that I have with my
audience. My audience sends me many cases,
and it's you, the audience, who's placed trust in me, to
tell your sons and daughters stories, who are missing or who
have died in tragic circumstances.
I like to thank each and every one of you for placing this very
sacred trust in me. And I don't take it lightly at
all. I take it very serious and I
hope to spread awareness internationally, to create
attention and awareness for all the lost souls who vanish in
British Columbia and for them, for them not to be forgotten.
And to the many people in law enforcement who I've spoken to
on and off the record, who are good people, who are dedicated
and who do care about victims, I want to thank you.
And I want to thank you for your dedication and for serving the
community. There are good people in law
enforcement who do care and but however the system needs to
support victims more. To the people in the medical
community, I want to thank you for helping these people who
survive these horrific circumstances to heal and get
better. The nurses and doctors, my heart
goes out to you, your dedication to healing and making our
community a better place. And to those in law enforcement
and Crown Council whom I have talked to and who do care and do
try to put these dangerous predators away so they don't
target our community anymore. And for those of you who do
care, I do appreciate you very much and I appreciate all the
candid conversations I've had with all of you off the record
series is going to get more detailed And each profile three
to four different cases of missing people who I believe
deserve more attention. And and hopefully through this
series we can provide more attention and and in every one
of these cases somebody knows something, someone knows
something. And all it takes is someone to
say something to the right person, to law enforcement or to
whomever and get some closures for these family members who
have lost. Be the greatest thing you can
do. If you know something, please
say something. Don't let families suffer
anymore. Thank you so much for listening.