Crime Junkie
Crime Junkie
"Pride was and is a protest, I mean it began as a protest, a protest against police after they raided New York's Stonewall Inn back in 1969." — Ashley Flowers
"The community level panic that was there when Project Houston began, that had really settled down, which is not to say that anyone forgot about the missing men. That's not what I mean. But whatever seemed to be going on in the village didn't seem like it was going on anymore. That is, until Andrew Kinsman went missing, and suddenly everyone's paying attention again." — Britt
"There is no evidence at this point in time, which in any way establishes that the disappearances of Saleem Essin and Andrew Kinsman are linked to the disappearance of the males from the project accused in investigation." — Toronto Police (Quoted by Britt)
This episode delves into the harrowing case of serial murders in Toronto's gay village, beginning with the disappearance of Andrew Kinsman in June 2017. Kinsman's friends, concerned by his uncharacteristic absence and the neglect of his pet, reported him missing to the Toronto police. Their persistent efforts to raise awareness through posters and media outreach highlighted a disturbing pattern of men vanishing from the village. This brought renewed attention to a series of disappearances dating back to 2010, involving men who shared similar demographic profiles.
The investigation initially focused on "Project Houston," a task force formed to look into the disappearances of Skanda Navaratnam, Abdul Basir Faizi, and Majid Qaihan. While this project investigated potential leads, including an individual named James Brunton, it ultimately yielded no conclusive evidence of a crime, leading to its wind-down in 2014. The community's fears of a serial killer were largely dismissed by law enforcement, who stated there was no evidence of foul play or a connection between the cases. The narrative then shifts to "Project Prism," a second task force focused on the 2017 disappearances of Salim Essin and Andrew Kinsman.
A critical breakthrough occurred when security footage identified a red van seen near Kinsman's building, leading investigators to Bruce McArthur, a seemingly respectable businessman. His history included an assault charge and a past conviction for assault, along with a ban from the gay village. Further investigation revealed McArthur's connection to the earlier missing men through an email address found in Skanda's belongings and his admission of a past relationship with Majid Qaihan. The discovery of Kinsman's blood in McArthur's sold van, followed by a covert search of his apartment revealing incriminating photos and digital evidence, solidified him as a prime suspect. The case culminated in McArthur's arrest, the discovery of multiple victims' remains at a property he landscaped, and his eventual guilty plea to eight counts of first-degree murder. The episode also critiques the police department's handling of the case, emphasizing the missed opportunities and the failure to heed community warnings.