Robert Pickton, a Canadian serial killer known for bringing female victims to his pig farm during a crime spree near Vancouver in the late 1990s and early 2000s, has died after being assaulted in prison at the age of 74. Pickton was an inmate at Port-Cartier Institution in Quebec when he sustained fatal injuries in the May 19 attack involving another prisoner. He was convicted of six counts of second-degree murder in 2007, with the maximum parole ineligibility period of 25 years, after being charged with the murders of 26 women.
Police first began searching Pickton’s farm in Port Coquitlam more than 22 years ago, leading to a lengthy investigation into the disappearances of dozens of women from Vancouver’s seediest streets. The remains or DNA of 33 women were found on the farm and Pickton had once boasted to an undercover officer about killing 49 women. During his trial, a witness testified that Pickton had confessed to strangling his victims and feeding their remains to his pigs. Authorities even issued a tainted meat advisory to individuals who may have bought pork from Pickton’s farm due to concerns that the meat could have contained human remains.
Families of Pickton’s victims have expressed relief upon hearing of his death, believing that it will help bring closure and healing to those affected by his crimes. Cynthia Cardinal, whose sister was murdered by Pickton, stated that his death will finally allow her to move on and begin the healing process. Vancouver police faced criticism for not taking the disappearances of sex workers and drug users seriously at the time, which allowed Pickton to continue his crimes without detection for an extended period.
The Correctional Service of Canada has announced that an investigation into the assault on Pickton is underway, to determine whether policies and protocols were followed. The agency expressed sympathy for the communities impacted by Pickton’s case, including Indigenous peoples, victims, and their families. The confirmed victims of Pickton were six women: Sereena Abotsway, Mona Wilson, Andrea Joesbury, Brenda Ann Wolfe, Georgina Papin, and Marnie Frey. Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc offered his condolences to the families of Pickton’s victims upon learning of his death, acknowledging the heinous nature of his crimes.
At the time of Pickton’s sentencing, British Columbia Supreme Court Justice James Williams described the case as rare and deserving of the maximum period of parole ineligibility available. Pickton’s notoriety as one of Canada’s most infamous serial killers stems from the horrific details of his crimes and the lengthy investigation that uncovered the extent of his depravity. His death marks the end of a dark chapter in Canadian history, but the impact of his actions continues to be felt by those who were affected by his crimes.
