Canadian True Crime | The Zaman Family | Season Finale (July 1, 2025)
Host: Kristi Lee

Episode Overview

This season finale of Canadian True Crime, hosted by Kristi Lee, examines the devastating case of the Zaman family murders in Markham, Ontario. The episode traces the lead-up, execution, and aftermath of the 2019 killings by 23-year-old Menhaz Zaman, as uncovered through meticulous research, court documents, and reporting by journalists such as Mac Lamoreaux (Vice) and Katherine Laidlaw (Toronto Life). Told with empathy and in-depth analysis, the story delves into themes of expectation, cultural pressure, and the dangers of unchecked secrecy.

Key Discussion Points & Narrative Breakdown

1. Online Suspicion and Real-world Horror (01:14–19:47)

• Online friendship becomes crisis:
  On a July night in 2019, "Jack," an online gamer friend of Menhaz (who played Perfect World), grows concerned after a series of disturbing messages and photos from Menhaz's account claim he has murdered his family.
• The Discord chat efforts:
  Friends across the globe scramble to prove the photos are fake using reverse image searches — but they aren't.
  • “I’ve just slaughtered my entire family.” — Menhaz, message to online friends (02:45)
• Digital sleuthing:
  The group works together to identify Menhaz's real-world location via digital breadcrumbs—IP addresses, email histories, and PayPal transactions.
• Panic to action:
  Once the group narrows down the address to Markham, Ontario, Toronto gamer Bianca contacts police, providing the information in hope that authorities will intervene before more harm occurs.

2. The Zaman Family History & Immigrant Ambition (21:14–34:23)

• Family background:
  Menhaz’s parents emigrated from Bangladesh in the late 1980s, building a stable, prosperous life in Canada through hard work and sacrifice.
  • Moniruz Zaman (father): Taxi driver, devout Muslim, stoic.
  • Mumitaz Begum (mother): Outgoing, caring, managed home and rental properties.
• Children:
  • Menhaz (b. 1996): Shy, rule-following, and the subject of intense parental pride and expectation.
  • Melessa (b. 1998): Ambitious but rebellious, more Westernized.
• Family dynamics:
  The parents invest in their children’s education, holding high expectations—especially for Menhaz, who is believed to be on track for an engineering degree from York University.

3. The Double Life Unraveled (34:24–46:50)

• The secret:
  In reality, Menhaz flunked out of a less prestigious college and spent years pretending to attend York University, sustaining a web of lies.
  • “So for three years I’ve been telling my parents I go to university when I was actually hanging out at the mall four days a week.” —Menhaz to gamers (39:39)
• Mounting pressure:
  The graduation ceremony scheduled for July 28, 2019, threatens to expose everything. Overwhelmed, Menhaz claims he cannot face the shame or let down his family.
• Online foreshadowing:
  In the months prior, Menhaz’s tone and behavior on Discord shift—he adopts darker jokes, references suicide and violence, and is eventually suspended for offensive conduct.

4. The Murders & Police Response (46:51–53:47)

• The crime:
  On July 27, 2019, Menhaz kills his mother, grandmother, sister, and, finally, his father, each with a crowbar and by slitting their throats.
• Night of horror:
  In the span between killings, Menhaz alternates between napping, gaming, and sending graphic updates and photos to his online friends.
• Authorities alerted:
  At 3am, after receiving the gamers' report, police independently confirm the address. Menhaz is arrested at home as York University’s graduation ceremony takes place nearby.
• Aftermath:
  Deep trauma remains for those who interacted online, haunted by their powerlessness and the horror of the photos and confessions they received.
  • “Let’s not forget that Menhaz truly believed that his family dying is better than them meeting his reality, which only existed in his head.” —Maroon, Discord admin (50:54)

5. Legal Proceedings, Sentencing & Reflection (53:48–64:59)

• Trial and sentencing:
  Menhaz pleads guilty in September 2020, receiving life without parole for 40 years for four counts (one reduced to second-degree murder).
  • “I would like to just apologize to anyone I have impacted negatively with my actions and especially to the people who knew my family... I’m sorry.” —Menhaz at sentencing (55:45)
• Family impact:
  Victim impact statements highlight the Zaman family’s drive, sacrifice, and warmth—the extent of the loss and betrayal.
• Judicial remarks:
  Justice Michelle Fuerst:
  • “Words like brutal, cruel and callous don’t even begin to convey the enormity of his violence... the betrayal ran deep.” (53:59)
• Legal note:
  Supreme Court decisions on parole eligibility could, in future, affect sentences like Menhaz’s, but no appeal is reported.

6. Context: Pressures that Can Hide in Plain Sight (65:00–66:00)

• Comparisons:
  The case is compared to the Jennifer Pan murders—another Markham tragedy involving immense parental expectations, deception, and lethal despair.
• Reflection on parenting:
  Kristi Lee closes with a meditation on the perils of “expectations [that] can turn into a monster for our children, a standard so high it leaves little room for mistakes or for a young person to admit they’re struggling,” urging listeners to prioritize honest connection over achievement.
  • “We can miss what they actually need most—connection, understanding and the space to be honest.” —Kristi Lee (65:44)

Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• “I’ve just slaughtered my entire family.” — Menhaz (02:45)
• “It’s been my plan for three years.” — Menhaz (08:00)
• “Let’s not forget that Menhaz truly believed that his family dying is better than them meeting his reality, which only existed in his head.” — Maroon, Discord admin (50:54)
• “I would like to just apologize to anyone I have impacted negatively with my actions and especially to the people who knew my family... I’m sorry.” — Menhaz, at sentencing (55:45)
• “Words like brutal, cruel and callous don’t even begin to convey the enormity of his violence... the betrayal ran deep.” — Justice Michelle Fuerst (53:59)
• “We can miss what they actually need most—connection, understanding and the space to be honest.” — Kristi Lee (65:44)

Significant Timestamps for Reference

• 01:14: Show introduction, preview of past season and themes, start of Zaman case
• 02:45–16:00: Online friends’ discovery, frantic reverse-image searching, coordination to identify Menhaz and report to police
• 21:14: Zaman family backstory, culture, ambitions, pressures
• 34:24: Menhaz’s academic collapse, double-life and increasing isolation
• 46:51: Step-by-step account of the murders and subsequent online interactions
• 49:30: Legal process and sentencing
• 53:59: Judge’s condemnation, family impacts
• 65:00: Reflection on the case, parallels with Jennifer Pan, lessons for families

Tone and Approach

Kristi Lee’s narration is compassionate, methodical, and trauma-informed. She gives space to the gravity of the events without sensationalizing them, foregrounding the lived experience of victims and communities, and always rooting the story in expert research and survivor dignity.

Final Reflections

The episode thoughtfully unravels how isolation, cultural expectation, and secrecy can lead to catastrophe if allowed to fester. It is a chilling but important reminder about the necessity of open dialogue and emotional support within families, especially those navigating sacrifice and generational transition.

If you need more in-depth information or resources, Kristi Lee encourages listeners to visit CanadianTrueCrime.ca or connect via Facebook and Instagram.