Robert William Pickton “Canada’s worst serial killer” By: Kieran Race, Leah Paine and Olivia Siebert

History & Case Robert Willie Pickton was born on October 26, 1949 in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia. Robert’s father was never around to help raise him and his siblings, and his mother was known to be eccentric and tough with her children. His family owned and ran a pig farm, and Robert was expected to put in many hours working on the farm, even as a young child. In school, he was put into special education, and many of his classmates shunned him, deeming him too weird or smelly. Robert later dropped out of high school.

History Cont’d After Pickton’s parents passed away, him and his brother David took over the family pig farm. However the state of the farm began to deteriorate. One of Pickton’s employees, Bill Hiscox (who later informed police of Pickton) explained the farm as “a creepy looking place”. Hiscox also described Pickton as “a pretty quiet guy; hard to strike up a conversation with, but I don’t think he had much use for men.” Pickton also drove a converted bus with tinted windows, this bus was apparently his “pride and joy”.

History cont’d Not only did Robert Pickton and his brother own a pig farm, but they ran a nonprofit center called Piggy Palace Good Times Society, where they organized special events, functions and dances, and according to Hiscox, many of these special events were parties or raves, and guests included numerous downtown eastside prostitutes. The Pickton’s event hall caused many legal issues, from zoning violations to lack of financial documents. The centre later lost its non-profit status. The Pickton brothers had other run-ins with the law too. Robert’s brother, David was charged with sexual assault in 1992, and fined $1,000 and given 30 days probation. Robert’s criminal record began in 1997, when he was charged for attempted murder of a prostitute, Wendy Lynn Eistetter. Pickton stabbed her several times, however she managed to disarm him and escape. He was released on $2,000 bond, but the charge was matter dismissed in 1998.

History cont’d From the mid 70’s to the early 00’s, many of Vancouver’s Lower Eastside’s prostitutes were going missing. According to Hiscox, Pickton would frequently pick up girls in the downtown area all the time. The prostitutes that Pickton was picking up happened to be the ones that were going missing. Hiscox put in a statement with the police, and on February 7, 2002, detectives proceeded to investigate Pickton’s farm and property for any signs or clues of the missing women.

A silver bag owned by victim Sereena Abotsway found in Pickton’s trailer. The bag contained an inhaler and two syringes both with Abotsway’s DNA on them. Sereena Abotsway’s inhaler A bucket that police found on Pickton’s farm that contained remains of Andrea Joesbury and Sereena Abotsway

The interior of Pickton’s trailer with carpet stained with Mona Wilson’s blood. A bloodstained mattress inside Pickton’s trailer.

The Arrest On February 22, 2002, Robert Pickton was arrested for first- degree murder of Mona Wilson and Sereena Abotsway. Over the course of several months, Pickton was charged with the slayings of Andrea Joesbury, Brenda Ann Wolfe, Marnie Lee Frey and Georgina Papin, among dozens of other women. It was the largest investigation of a Canadian serial killer. Pickton’s trial began on January 30, 2006 in New Westminster.

Demographics of the case Prostitutes (that were connected with Pickton’s case) working in the lower East Side of Vancouver began mysteriously vanishing as early as 1971. These disappearances continued for many years. Police began to take action and review the cases of Vancouver’s missing women in 1998. It was not until early 2002 that the RCMP raided Pickton’s farm and property for gun possession and any other clues of the missing women. February 2002: Pickton was arrested for first-degree murder on two counts. Pickton’s trial began on January 30, 2002, and was finally convicted for six counts of second degree murder on December 9, 2007.

Location of the case Vancouver’s Lower East Side, where Pickton picked up his victims, is one of Canada’s most dangerous areas. Also known as East Hastings Street, drugs, prostitution and other crimes have negatively impacted this side of the city for many years. From there, Pickton would drive his victims to his home on Dominion Ave., in Port Coquitlam, B.C. This would be around a ½ hour drive.

Victims Almost half of the women on the Vancouver Missing Women Joint Task Force's list have been linked to pig farmer Robert Pickton's property through DNA. Pickton admits to killing 49 women. Source(image): www.missingpeople.net

The First Six On December 6, 2007, Pickton was convicted of second degree murder for the deaths of six women; Serena Abotsway, Mona Lee Wilson, Andrea Joesbury, Brenda Ann Wolfe, Marnie Lee Frey and Georgina Faith Papin

Serena Abotsway Went missing in August of 2001. Born August 20, 1971. She was 29 at the time of her disappearance.

Mona Lee Wilson Went missing on November 30, 2001. Born January 13, 1975. She was 26 at the time of her disappearance.

Andrea Joesbury Went missing on June 8, 2001. Born November 6 ,1978. She was 22 at the time of her disappearance.

Brenda Ann wolfe Went missing in February, 1999. She was born October 20,1968. She was 32 at the time of her disappearance.

Marnie Lee Frey Went missing in August, 1997. She was born August 30, 1973. She was 25 at the time of her disappearance.

Georgina Faith papin Went missing in January of 1999. She was born March 11, 1964. She was 34 at the time of her disappearance.

20 more counts After being imprisoned for the first six, an undercover cop posing as a cell mate managed to get a confession to 49 counts of murder. Too expensive to trial for all of them; Crown Counsel Melissa Gilespie stayed the 20 new counts. That being of victims: Jacqueline Michelle McDonell, Dianne Rosemary Rock, Heather Kathleen Bottomley, Jennifer Lynn Furminger, Helen Mae Hallmark, Patricia Rose Johnson, Heather Chinnook, Tanya Holyk, Sherry Irving, Inga Monique Hall, Tiffany Drew, Sarah de Vries, Cynthia Feliks, Angela Rebecca Jardine, Diana Melnick, Debra Lynne Jones, Wendy Crawford, Kerry Koski, Andrea Fay Borhaven and Cara Louise Ellis.

Alleged Victims Unidentified victim named as Jane Doe, charges were lifted. Other victims have been said to be killed by him but never tried for the deaths of Mary Ann Clark, Yvonne Marie Boen, Dawn Teresa Crey, and another two unidentified women. When RCMP had warrants to search the property it is said they discovered 80 different samples of DNA from both men and women.

Modus Operandi and Signature We can get an idea with the evidence located at the farm and his trailer home. Items such as Spanish fly (aphrodisiac), syringe with 3 ml of blue liquid, 2 pairs handcuffs, night vision goggles, a loaded .22 revolver with one shot fired also with a dildo attached to create a makeshift silencer (also found victim DNA on the dildo), and a box of .357 magnum ammo. Friend of Pickton, Scott Chubb, stated he told him that killing a heroine addict was easy if you inject them with windshield washer fluid. Another associate named Andrew Bellwood stated Pickton mentioned killing prostitutes by handcuffing them, strangling them, bleeding them and then gutting them before feeding them to pigs. At the slaughterhouse, a trash can held the remains of Mona Wilson.

Modus Operandi and Signature continued A case in 1997 can give better insight into M/O and signature, where Pickton was charged with attempted murder of a prostitute. Pickton picked the prostitute up and drove to the Port Coquitlam farm where they proceeded to have sex. After having sex, he put handcuffs on the woman’s left hand. He then stabbed her in the abdomen. In turn, she stabbed Pickton in self defense. Based on this account; The M/O is picking prostitutes up acting as a John and bringing them back to his farm. The Signature is his anger and desire to rid prostitutes where he would bury body parts around his farm.

Opinion We feel that he wasted a lot of tax payers money He deserves everything he got Better awareness for prostitution abuse Routine inspection of pig farms Patrol Lower Eastside