Episode Details

In this episode of pplpod, we examine the chilling case of the 2010–2017 Toronto serial homicides, where eight men disappeared from the Church and Wellesley LGBTQ village. We profile the perpetrator, Bruce McArthur, a 66-year-old self-employed landscaper and seasonal mall Santa Claus, who eventually became the oldest known serial killer in Canadian history.

Join us as we discuss:

• The Victims: How McArthur targeted men—mostly of South Asian or Middle Eastern descent—who had ties to the gay village, often exploiting vulnerabilities such as the need for secrecy regarding their sexuality.

• The Investigation: The evolution from "Project Houston" to "Project Prism," and how a lead involving a missing man’s calendar entry and a distinct Dodge Caravan finally led police to McArthur.

• The Macabre Discovery: The forensic search of a Leaside property where McArthur stored his equipment, leading to the recovery of dismembered skeletal remains hidden inside large planter boxes.

• Systemic Failures: The controversies surrounding the Toronto Police Service, including the initial denial of a serial killer, allegations that investigations were delayed due to the victims' race, and an external review finding systemic discrimination in how missing persons cases were handled.

We conclude with McArthur's 2019 guilty plea to eight counts of first-degree murder and his life sentence.