Canadian True Crime
by Kristi Lee
From the snowy streets of small-town Canada to the darkest corners of the big cities, join Aussie-Canadian host Kristi Lee for an immersive deep dive into the nation's most compelling crimes. With meticulous research and a trauma-informed approach, Kristi takes you beyond the headlines, weaving the facts of each case together with the bigger picture to unravel what happened, the forces that shaped it, and the impact to those left behind. Canadian True Crime is one of the country’s leading independent podcasts, and remains a completely independent production funded mainly through advertising and thanks to listeners like you. We engage in victim advocacy and give back monthly to those facing injustice. You can support our work while also listening
Episodes
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Breach of Trust
When a woman receives a text message from a wrong number, she strikes up an unlikely friendship with a man who says he’s a construction contractor. They develop a close relationship over five years – until a single, offhand remark gives her pause. Is this man really who he says he is? Her search...
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The Canadians who want out
Most Albertans don't want the province to separate from Canada, according to the polls. So how did a once-fringe movement gain enough momentum to put independence on the ballot (sort of)? With just ten days to go until the Alberta referendum, join award-winning independent journalists Danielle...
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The Gaspé Murders
Three hunters head deep into the rugged wilderness of Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula for a 10-day trip, but fail to return home. A search turns up their abandoned truck, followed by something far more disturbing. As investigators try to piece together what happened, attention turns to a local man named...
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Separation Anxiety
There's a referendum in Alberta this fall, and independence is on the ballot — sort of. Who are the separatists? What do they actually want? And what happens to the rest of Canada if they get it? Canadian True Crime is proud to support the local independent journalism behind Separation Anxiety, a...
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The Murder of Sharron Prior
One cold March Saturday night in Montreal, 16-year-old Sharron Prior sets off for a five minute walk to the local pizzeria to meet friends. She never arrives. Three days later, a local beekeeper makes a devastating discovery in an isolated field: Sharron Prior has been brutally murdered. Who was...
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Major case updates: what happened next [2]
[Part 2 of 2] We continue revisiting significant recent developments and updates from some of the biggest stories we’ve covered, with some of Kristi's behind-the-scenes reflections. Cases covered in this episode with approximate timestamps: Please give or take a few minutes to allow for ads. 2:00...
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Major case updates: what happened next [1]
A two-part series—The verdict is rarely the end of the story. In the two years since our last Major Case Updates episodes, some of the cases we’ve covered have reached a resolution, others have had significant developments or taken unexpected turns... and some are still far from over. You don't...
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Behind the scenes on The Social: When the media gets it right
In this special episode, Kristi Lee sits down with survivor and advocate Jessica Baker to chat about their appearance on CTV’s The Social earlier this week. Jessica was violently sexually assaulted by former Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard in 2016. He was found guilty in relation to her charge in...
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The Murder of Rhoderie Estrada
A dedicated nurse. A devoted mother of three. A family home that should be the safest place in the world. In 2018, Gerald Aquintey arrives home late to find his Toronto house in disarray. The respected Filipino chef and restaurant co-owner runs upstairs to discover his beloved wife, Rhoderie...
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Jacob Hoggard finally admits the truth
After nearly a decade of insisting he did nothing wrong, disgraced Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard has finally admitted he was guilty of sexually assaulting the Ottawa woman known as J.B. The admission, at his first parole hearing in June 2026, was only one of several striking comments that…
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The Mushroom Murders [2]
[Part 2 of 2] The mushroom lunch moves from medical emergency to criminal investigation as doctors, police and health officials try to trace the source of the poison. As Erin Patterson’s explanations begin to shift, new evidence emerges from hospital CCTV, phone data, a local garbage dump –...
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The Mushroom Murders [1]
A special collaboration with Australian True Crime podcast | It’s one of Australia’s most sensational criminal cases in recent memory, drawing intense media attention, public fascination and endless speculation. Today, the case is known around the world as the “Mushroom Murders.” In this episode,...
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Kevin O'Leary's Boat Collision [2]
[Part 2 of 2] In 2019, a late-night boat collision involving Kevin and Linda O’Leary on Ontario’s Lake Joseph, left two people dead and sparked years of intense public scrutiny and conflicting narratives. In part two, we uncover why Canada’s most talked-about boating tragedies remained in the...
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Kevin O'Leary's Boat Collision [1]
A two-part series | “Mr. Wonderful” built an empire on bluntness and being the reality TV villain we love to hate. So when his speedboat collided with another boat on Muskoka's "Billionaire's Row" - leaving two people dead, the public was ready to assume the worst of him. Early reporting - and...
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Production delay: new episodes coming soon
A brief update, with our apologies. Despite our best efforts to return with new episodes by the end of April, we need some additional time due to some behind-the-scenes challenges beyond our control. Thanks for your patience and understanding. As always, Canadian True Crime remains committed to...
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The Pacific Junction Murders [2]
[Part 2 of 2] With the infant recovered and the suspects in custody, the investigation only grows more disturbing. Shifting stories, buried secrets, and mounting evidence collide in a dramatic courtroom showdown — the first ever kidnapping trial in the province of New Brunswick and the last…
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The Pacific Junction Murders [replay]
A two-part series | A New Brunswick railway worker discovers a burned‑out shack deep in the woods, with three members of the young Lake family dead inside. But their infant is missing, and there's a trail of footprints in the snow. What begins as a desperate search for the lost baby soon exposes…
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Colin Thatcher and the Murder of JoAnn Wilson [3]
[Part 3 of 3] A surprise witness comes forward to testify against Colin Thatcher. His own contribution from the stand? Deny, deny, deny. Even after the jury reaches a verdict, Thatcher continues to make headlines for decades to come... *Additional content warning: this episode contains mentions…
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Colin Thatcher and the Murder of JoAnn Wilson [2]
[Part 2 of 3] As she recovers from her gunshot wound, JoAnn Wilson decides to back down from the custody fight with her former husband. Colin Thatcher has won this battle, but his fixation is far from over. A series of witnesses would later come forward with information almost impossible to...
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Colin Thatcher and the Murder of JoAnn Wilson [replay]
A three-part series—A man walking home from work suddenly hears screams coming from a house... then a single sharp crack. He follows the sound to the garage, where he finds a woman bleeding out on the floor. It's JoAnn Wilson, mother of three and ex-wife of Colin Thatcher, a high-profile...
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The Twisted Story of Sergeant John Wilson [2]
[Part 2 of 2] After picking up his pregnant wife from Saskatoon train station, Sergeant John Wilson drives them north to their new home. They just have one stop to make on the way to take care of some "police business"... *Additional content warning: brief details of an attempted suicide at…
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The Twisted Story of Sergeant John Wilson [replay]
A two-part series—A gripping, action-packed miniseries about a mountie who finds himself at the centre of a sordid love triangle. Pieced together from a treasure trove of real love letters, forged letters and police and court memos, this series paints a vivid snapshot of Canada as World War I…
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Quick update: new episodes return in April
A quick update and some thanks! Over the past 12 months... Canadian True Crime has had the opportunity to take on several meaningful projects alongside the usual podcast production. These included the CBC documentary Breaking Idol, the co-founding of Beyond The Verdict survivor-led advocacy…
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Robert Pickton: The Final Chapter [5]
Part 5 - The Final Episode. *Thanks for your patience - it's a long one CONTENT WARNING: Graphic and disturbing details. WATCH: Robert “Willie” Pickton — Prolific serial killer’s jailhouse confession to undercover cop - The Mob Reporter, YouTube READ/LISTEN: On The Farm by Stevie Cameron WHAT TO...
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Robert Pickton: The Final Chapter [4]
[Part 4 of 5] A single tip-off finally leads police to raid the Pickton farm with a search warrant for illegal firearms. What they stumble into instead would unravel one of the most devastating investigations in Canadian history, connecting Robert Pickton to dozens of women who vanished from the...
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Robert Pickton: The Final Chapter [3]
[Part 3 of 4] One night, a woman living on the Pickton farm witnesses an act so disturbing it prompts repeated warnings to police. A search warrant should have followed, but through another cascade of devastating missed opportunities, Robert Pickton slips through the cracks once again... CONTENT...
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Robert Pickton: The Final Chapter [2]
[Part 2 of 4] The Pickton brothers become officially wealthy, and open the infamous party venue known as Piggy’s Palace. There’s an alarming spike in vulnerable women vanishing from the Downtown Eastside - but two would live to tell their stories. Look out for early, ad-free release on CTC…
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Robert Pickton: The Final Chapter [1]
A brand new four-part series. In 2024, Canada’s most prolific serial killer was murdered in prison in an act of vigilante justice. The final chapter of Robert Pickton may now be closed, but the story is far from over. Pickton confessed to murdering 49 women on his pig farm near Vancouver, many of...
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Personal message from Kristi ahead of episode 200
We're announcing something special for episode 200. Thank you so much for listening! Launching January 19, Robert Pickton: The Final Chapter is a completely new series that revisits the case to date. In 2024, Canada’s most prolific serial killer was murdered in prison in an act of vigilante...
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Behind the scenes with Kathleen Goldhar from Crime Story
Today, we're pleased to share a special episode from another podcast we think you'll enjoy: Crime Story from CBC Podcasts. Each week, award-winning investigative journalist Kathleen Goldhar goes deep into a true crime case with the storyteller who knows it best. In this year-end episode, Kristi…
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The Wells Gray Park Murders
In August 1982, three generations of a family set out for a two week camping trip in the wilds of British Columbia. When the entire family failed to return home, it triggered the most expensive and publicized manhunt in Canadian history — and uncovered a horrific truth that shocked the nation....
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Lilly and Jack Sullivan: Cutting through the noise
Today, we dive into the high-profile, baffling disappearance of six-year-old Lilly Sullivan and her four-year-old brother Jack, who vanished from their rural Nova Scotia home in May 2025. Kristi is joined by Jordan Bonaparte of The Canadian Gothic (formerly Nighttime), who has covered the case...
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BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: Breaking Idol, a CBC documentary
For years, J.B.’s identity was hidden behind publication ban. Now, she steps forward in her own name to share her story of survival and resilience. We're thrilled to announce the release of Breaking Idol, a powerful new documentary from CBC about "J.B.” — a survivor at the centre of the first...
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The Murder of Christine Jessop [2]
[Part 2 of 2] A decade after the brutal murder of Christine Jessop, a DNA breakthrough completely clears Guy Paul Morin. But it would be another 25 years before the real killer is revealed. In this two-part series, we share the full story of Christine Jessop — the one her family waited decades…
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The Murder of Christine Jessop [1]
[Part 1 of 2] The brutal murder of nine-year-old Christine Jessop in 1984 shattered her family’s tiny Ontario community. When police arrested her quiet neighbour Guy Paul Morin, the case spiralled into a circus of trials, appeals and outrage, leading to one of Canada’s most notorious wrongful...
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Beverley Rowbotham's Family Speaks Out: 25 Years Later
In this special update episode we’re joined by Beverley’s sister Barb Kilpatrick and niece Melanie to mark a milestone in one of the most high-profile cases the province has seen, reflect on the impact, and share new details - including some sad family news and a public plea for information. 25...
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Analyzing the Hockey Canada trial [5]
[Part 5 of 5] This final instalment wraps up our coverage and analysis of the Hockey Canada scandal and trial. At the end, Kristi shares her personal opinion about what likely happened in Room 209 that night — and why the verdicts would have remained the same anyway. The difference is in how the...
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Analyzing the Hockey Canada trial [4]
[Part 4 of 5] We continue to unpack the confusing timeline of Room 209 - including the controversy around crown witness Brett Howden and the alleged slap and “splits” incidents, leading up to the verdicts and how the country reacted to them. At the end, Kristi shares her personal opinion about…
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Analyzing the Hockey Canada trial [3]
[Part 3 of 5] In Part 3, we unpack the confusing timeline of Room 209 and the contradictions at the heart of the case. A clear pattern emerges: the five accused players were repeatedly given the benefit of the doubt, while E.M. was scrutinized and cast as unreliable. Thanks for your patience with...
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Analyzing the Hockey Canada trial [2]
[Part 2 of 5] The Hockey Canada verdicts are final, but the story isn’t. Kristi Lee looks closely at the most talked-about evidence, how it was reflected in the written decision, and how that shaped public opinion. Thanks for your patience! In this episode: The flaws in the first police...
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Update on the Hockey Canada series (and thanks for your patience)
Kristi Lee gives an honest and transparent update about why Part 2 of the Hockey Canada trial is taking longer than expected. Thank you so much for your patience and understanding as we take the time to cover this case with the care and thoroughness it deserves. In the meantime: Read JB's Op-Ed…
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Surviving the Hockey Canada trial [1]
[Part 1 of 5] A special five-part series — Two extraordinary guests join Kristi to take you through one of the biggest scandals in Canadian sports history. They know what it means to survive not only sexual assault - but the trial itself. And you probably know their stories: J.B. - aka the…
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The Zaman Family
It started with a shocking message in a private chat: “I’ve just slaughtered my entire family.” What was first thought of as a grim joke soon became a frantic race to uncover the truth… and prevent a real-life horror from getting worse. The intention of this episode is to take a look back at a...
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Introducing… The Lost Boys Of Wineville
From the creators of the award-winning podcast They Walk Among Us comes The Lost Boys of Wineville—an extended limited series spanning 30 in-depth episodes. This gripping true-crime saga unravels a chilling story that unfolded nearly a century ago in the shadow of the recently erected…
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The Murder of Minnie Callan
On a freezing night in Norman’s Cove, a brutal attack leaves the small coastal town shaken to its core. As police investigate, a twisted plot starts to unravel… The intention of this episode is to honour the victim of a harrowing crime that was largely ignored by the media at the time, and…
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Welcome to Canadian True Crime
Canadian True Crime is a fully independent podcast that explores some of the most heinous, controversial, heartbreaking and thought-provoking true crime cases in Canada.
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The Richardson Family Murders [3]
[Part 3 of 3] At trial, Jade Richardson and Jeremy Steinke’s final testimonies are weighed against the forensic evidence, and the picture of what exactly happened inside that house starts to take shape.... leading to the final conclusion. *Additional content warning: this episode includes the…
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The Richardson Family Murders [2]
[Part 2 of 3] After three members of the Richardson family are found dead, the police continue to search for the missing 12-year-old girl. But a darker picture has started to emerge involving her 23-year-old boyfriend. * Additional content warning: this episode includes the death of a child.…
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The Richardson Family Murders [1]
A three-part series — A little boy peered through the window of a neighbour’s home one Sunday in Medicine Hat, Alberta, and discovered a scene so horrific it would shock even seasoned police officers. A frantic search began for a missing 12-year-old girl. * Additional content warning: this…
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The "Shedden Massacre" [3]
[Part 3 of 3] As the perpetrators of the Bandidos Massacre try to get away with it, a covert police investigation is closing in on them — with the help of a secret police informant. The intention of this series is to take a detailed look back at a shocking crime sensationalized through headlines....
About this show
From the snowy streets of small-town Canada to the darkest corners of the big cities, join Aussie-Canadian host Kristi Lee for an immersive deep dive into the nation's most compelling crimes.
With meticulous research and a trauma-informed approach, Kristi takes you beyond the headlines, weaving the facts of each case together with the bigger picture to unravel what happened, the forces that shaped it, and the impact to those left behind.
Canadian True Crime is one of the country’s leading independent podcasts, and remains a completely independent production funded mainly through advertising and thanks to listeners like you. We engage in victim advocacy and give back monthly to those facing injustice. You can support our work while also listening
Hosted by
Kristi Lee
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