Crime Junkie
Crime Junkie
"The circumstances of the Sherman's deaths seems suspicious and that they're treating the investigation as though they are suspicious." — Detective (Paraphrased)
"Every true crime story has one thing in common. Nothing is as it seems." — Host, Ashley Flowers
"This was a professional hit. I mean, that's where my mind goes immediately, like, to a professional hit." — Host, Ashley Flowers
The episode opens by introducing the case of Barry and Honey Sherman, a wealthy couple found deceased in their mansion in Toronto. The initial discovery was made by a realtor during a house showing, revealing the couple in a staged, seated position in their pool room. This unusual presentation immediately raised suspicions among first responders, despite the lack of forced entry. The initial police investigation leaned towards a murder-suicide theory, a notion strongly rejected by the Sherman family and their associates, who initiated their own private investigation, hiring prominent legal and investigative teams.
The detailed autopsy findings provided by both the official forensic pathologist and a privately hired pathologist shed further light on the case. While the official autopsy confirmed strangulation as the cause of death, it left the manner of death undetermined. The privately hired pathologist, however, concluded it was a double homicide, citing inconsistencies and observations that pointed away from suicide. This discrepancy, coupled with the family's insistence and the lack of evidence for murder-suicide, eventually led the Toronto police to reclassify the deaths as a double homicide, though suspects remained elusive for an extended period.
The investigation explored multiple potential motives, including financial disputes within the family, particularly concerning Barry Sherman's business dealings and his will, and a past history of break-ins in the affluent neighborhood. The episode highlights the complex financial empire Barry Sherman built, his litigious nature which created adversaries, and the significant inheritance potentially at stake for his children. Theories involving family members, business associates, and even opportunistic criminals were discussed, emphasizing the "targeted" nature of the crime, meaning it was not random but likely personal or financially motivated.