Narrator/Documentary Host (33:30)
In the days after Robert Pickton's arrest. His former friend Lyn Ellingson gave a full police statement. She had stopped using drugs and was thinking more clearly. It still took some coaxing because she was terrified that he would be released on bail and would make good on his threats. The police took her out to the farm to point out various locations and give more details which which gave her statement further credibility. Investigators re interviewed Scott Chubb who confirmed what Willie Picton told him about killing someone with a syringe containing windshield washer fluid as a sidebar. A forensic toxicologist would later testify that one syringe of methanol which is consistent with windshield washer fluid would not be enough to kill someone. It would take about 150 to 375 times that amount. Scott Chubb also told police that while Willie's temperament was usually quiet, he snapped when he got angry and it sometimes ended in violence. He recalled the two brothers having an argument once and Willie suddenly punched David in the nose. He would later testify that shortly after Willie was arrested, David phoned him and threatened him if Willie goes down. Scott Chubb mentioned the Hell's Angels and repeatedly requested witness protection for himself and his family. He was one of many key witnesses who were struggling with poverty and substance use. Police would provide financial support, court relocation and treatment to ensure they could testify. Several would also apply for the $100,000 reward which was ultimately split among six anonymous tipsters. Robert Pickton's defence team would argue that these witnesses were all desperate for money which drove them to exaggerate or fabricate their stories. The only one who confirmed he was one of those tipsters was Bill Hiscox, the former employee of David Pickton's demolition business who rang the alarm four years earlier with some disturbing anecdotes from the farm. He notified both the Vancouver PD tip line and the local RCMP that Willie Picton regularly picked up sex workers and talked openly about disposing of their bodies in the piggery and in his meat grinder. Bill Hiscox also relayed information about bloody clothing and identification belonging to multiple women. He was one of the earliest people to notify police about what he'd seen and heard. And while Detective Constable Laura Machena had interviewed him at the time and believed he was credible, the higher ups dismissed his information as hearsay and not enough for a search warrant. More than a dozen more women were murdered after those warnings were ignored. Then there was Andrew Ballwood, the man who had lived in Picton's trailer for a short time before he was assaulted. Falsely accused of stealing tools and chased off the farm. He had been too terrified to report anything to the police at the time. But Andrew Bellwood would testify that Willie Picton told him he lured sex workers to the farm with drugs and money and demonstrated exactly how he restrained and strangled them. He described taking their bodies to the barn to butcher and gut them and then feed them to the pigs. And what the pigs didn't eat was taken to West Coast Reduction. No one the wiser. Back at the farm, the search moved to the workshop building. One of the investigators opened up a freezer and saw two white plastic buckets inside each other, lying on their sides. One had the word clout labelled on it. The investigator looked inside the inner bucket and was horrified at what he thought he saw. Inside was a human head that had been cut in half vertically. There were also two hands and two feet. They were the frozen remains of 23 year old Andrea Josbury, who vanished about 10 months beforehand. This was the first actual human remains found on the farm. And that was just the inner bucket. The outer bucket it was tucked into contained identical frozen remains. A head cut in half vertically, accompanied by hands and feet. These belonged to 29 year old Serena Abbotsway, whose inhalers had been found in Robert Picton's mobile trailer. Serena's DNA was also in the other bucket with Andrea Josbury's remains. And in that same freezer was DNA belonging to at least seven other women, including Heather Bottomley, Diana Melnick, Tonya Marlow Hollik, Stephanie Lane, Sherry Irving and Cara Ellis, all in their early to mid-20s, as well as Diane Rock, who was 34. Over at the slaughterhouse, investigators were appalled by a smell coming from two plastic garbage pails. One of them contained animal remains. The other contained another human head cut in half vertically and again accompanied by two feet and hands. These were the remains of Mona Wilson, not frozen and badly decomposed. Mona was the victim of the bloodletting event in Robert Picton's old motorhome. By this point, it had been about three months since she vanished. The discovery of these three human heads and the way they'd been cut in half vertically immediately reminded forensics experts of something found seven years earlier in the city of Mission, about 30 minutes drive east of Port Coquitlam. In 1995, a woodworker had spotted something on the ground between a creek and the Trans Canada Highway. At first he thought it was an indigenous artefact, but when he got closer, he realised it was a partial skull. A number of forensic Specialists were consulted at the time and determined that the half skull belonged to a Caucasian woman aged between 20 and 40. She was missing teeth in her upper right jaw and she might have worn dentures. She had been killed sometime in the previous 10 years. Her DNA was submitted to every laboratory in Canada and composite drawings were shared with Interpol in all known missing persons databases, but nothing matched the description. The RCMP believed it was possible that her family either didn't know that she was missing or might have been under the mistaken belief that she'd already been reported missing. When she hadn't been, she was given the name Mission Jane Doe and her skull was placed in storage and forgotten. The discovery made no sense to police at the time. But seven years later, during the search of the Picton farm, that changed. A forensic examination of the skulls of Serena abbotsway, Andrea Josbury and Mona Wilson revealed they'd been bisected or cut in half vertically with a reciprocating saw. And they each had a gunshot wound to the head that came from a.22 calibre firearm. There was no evidence of a gunshot on Mission Jane Doe's skull, but it was only a partial skull. All four skulls bore the same distinctive cuts and had been dissected the exact same way using the same reciprocating saw. There were multiple freezers located in several buildings on the farm. Investigators digging around in a different freezer came across a number of packages of ground pork. Given the frozen human remains already found, this discovery came with some alarming implications. The packages of ground pork were sent away for DNA testing. Nine packages contained ground human tissue belonging to two women who'd disappeared more than four years beforehand. 43 year old Cindy Fallux and 47 year old Inga Monique Hall. Their DNA was also found on plastic sheet liners in that freezer. This was a potential public health risk, but for some reason it wasn't announced until more than 18 months after these results were known. BC's Provincial Health Officer would issue a public advisory asking anyone who might still have frozen pork from the pig farm to turn it over to police. Citing the conditions discovered at the site. The public advisory stressed there was no evidence of disease transmission and reassured the public that the risk was extremely low, especially if the meat was not consumed raw. The advisory was carefully worded, focusing on food safety without disclosing the full reason. The alarm had been raised, but many people put two and two together because a police source had already leaked information to the press that body parts had been discovered in freezers on the farm. Authorities reassured the public that the meat in question had not been sold commercially and was only shared privately with Robert Pickton's friends and acquaintances. But an associate who helped him with the packaging and sales of the ground pork publicly accused the RCMP of playing that aspect down. He said he knew that the meat had been routinely sold to local butcher shops nearby. This ground meat discovery was yet another real life horror connected to this case. Back at the farm search, investigators turned to the ruins of what was once the old piggery. At the far end of the ruins was an old cistern, a tank used to collect liquid waste. There was a strong stench coming from it. While sifting through the manure, an investigator felt something solid. It was part of a human lower jaw that had been cut with a saw. There were five teeth still attached and one tooth had a distinctive dental filling. Dental records would identify the jaw as belonging to 31 year old Brenda Wolf, who'd been missing for more than three years. By this point, Brenda's DNA had also been found on a number of items inside Robert Picton's mobile trailer. There was something else among the waste in the old cistern. A small human bone with a distinctive shape, like it had been whittled or carved by human hands. It turned out to be a partial leg bone belonging to 43 year old Wendy Crawford, who'd been missing for more than two years. The discoveries so far was scattered across several different buildings and in ruins on the farm. It was widespread and investigators now faced the reality that the entire property might hold evidence and answers. Not just the buildings, but all 14 acres of land, much of it buried under decades of junk, machinery and debris. The farm was stripped down, cleared, sectioned off in a grid and systematically excavated square by square. With every load of soil screened for evidence, specialised teams, heavy equipment and renowned forensic experts were brought in to process the sheer volume of material. After more of the structure around the pig pen was torn down, officers discovered a series of small bones buried in the ground. They turned out to be 14 hand bones belonging to 34 year old Georgina Pappin. By this point, she'd been missing for more than three years. Georgina had been identified as the indigenous woman with long black hair and chipmunk cheeks that Lyn Ellingson said she saw strung up in the slaughterhouse with Robert Picton that night. Lyn would testify she couldn't remember the exact date that this happened, so it's not a confirmed identification. But photos of Georgina Pappin indicate she did indeed have high cheekbones. And this discovery of her hand bones confirmed that she was a victim of Robert Pickton. This was the only evidence of Georgina Pappin left. There was no DNA, other remains or any other personal possessions found. Investigators never did find those three illegal firearms that Scott Chubb told police he saw. But that no longer mattered. They recovered thousands of items believed to belong to women from the downtown Eastside. With no intact bodies to return, police began meeting with families, laying out recovered belongings and asking them to identify what they could. For many, it was the first confirmation that their loved one had been at the Picton farm at all. Every available white contamination suit in the country was being used by the searchers. More than 400,000 crime scene photos were taken and some 600,000 exhibits were sent for DNA testing, challenging the entire lab system across Canada. It would take several years to get all the forensic results back. DNA belonging to 26 year old Jackie Murdoch was found on a used condom wrapper. There was another syringe filled with windshield wiper fluid and the DNA of Tiffany drew, who was 24. They found 39 year old Sharon Abraham's fingernail and DNA belonging to 34 year old Yvonne Marie Boone in a miscellaneous location. There was also the DNA of 25 year old Nancy Clark, the earliest known victim who disappeared from Vancouver Island 11 years earlier in 1991, when Robert and David Pickton were working a demolition job there in the slaughterhouse. More DNA was matched to Andrea Josbury, Kara Ellis and Paddy Johnson. The story became a global sensation. Camera crews were sent from all over the world to see the search site for themselves and dig around the downtown Eastside. They spoke to the families of the victims and the police. The Vancouver sun dug into land sales records and reported that the Picton siblings had made some $6.6 million selling various parcels of their land over the years. And the remaining land that the police were now digging up was assessed at more than $4 million. At that point there was some public outrage. The rumours of the Picton family as greedy, corrupt and morally rotten. Running a junkyard, pig farm tied to biker rumours and now a serial killer. The infamous Piggies palace and their refusal to follow the rules while also cashing in on millions in land deals. It was all a bit rich. But Robert Picton's older sister Linda, the one who went to live with relatives in Vancouver when she was about 13, gave a reluctant interview to Kim Bolan of the Vancouver Sun. She claimed they only made a modest profit from the land sales. She insisted that the land cost a lot to develop. Before it could be Sold. Even though most of that work was done by David Picton's landfill and trucking company. She claimed the family was actually financially strained now and there was no money left to pay for her brother Robert's legal defence. Lindapeton clarified she hadn't shared any holidays or social events with her brother and before his arrest she only ever saw him at lawyers offices when they were selling parcels of their land. She said she had not spoken to him or visited him in prison. Linda Picton expressed sympathy for the victims and their families, but said the search of the farm marked the end of life as she knew it. She described herself as a victim, that it had left the family in disbelief and turmoil, struggling to come to terms with the shock and stigma attached to their name. According to Stevie Cameron's book on the Farm, Linda Picton said the body parts in his freezers alone would convict him. Quote, it's ridiculous to say he's not guilty. She also claimed Robert Pickton was lazy and had never worked a day in his life. Maybe if he'd worked at a real job he wouldn't have done this. If Rob had any conscience at all, he would plead guilty and get it over with. As the digging operation on the farm continued, more missing women were reported. Now the count was 54. The Robert Picton case had been declared the biggest in Canadian history. The importance of a thorough search of the farm was never clearer. The searches had grown to include teams of forensic anthropologists and archaeologists to deal with the bones. Because bone pits used for animal disposal were uncovered across the property, it all had to be processed and searched. A group of university students in these and related forensic fields were brought in to stand by the conveyor belts and help sort out the debris uncovered by the search. The work was brutal, physically and mentally stressful and exhausting, but critically important. One student saw something unusual on the conveyor belt. It was a partial jawbone with fragmented edges and three teeth that that were extremely brittle. The jawbone belonged to 24 year old Marnie Frey, who had disappeared more than five years earlier. And nearby were two more human bones, a heel bone and a rib bone. They belonged to Mission Jane Doe, definitively linking her to the Picton farm. The investigation became the largest and most expensive crime scene in Canadian history, costing an estimated 40 to $50 million for the search alone. The operation officially ended In November of 2003, more than 18 months after it began. As the final bone pit was filled in, students who had worked the site held a quiet memorial, placing white roses and name cards for Each of the now 61 missing women into the pit. A bagpiper played as each name was spoken out. A small but meaningful act of respect at the end of a devastating search. By May of 2005, Robert Pickton had been charged with the first degree murder of 27 women, including Mission Jane Doe. In the time leading up to the trial, Robert Pickton wrote to at least one pen pal from prison. That pen pal, based in California, would later provide the letters to the Vancouver Sun. Of note, Robert Pickton wrote, I know I was brought into this world to change this world of their evil ways. They even want to disregard the Ten Commandments. He complained. He quoted a Bible verse which says, for you can be quite certain that nobody who actually indulges in fornication or impurity or promiscuity can inherit anything of the kingdom of God. He referred to himself as a condemned man of no wrongdoing, just like his father, and bragged about how many millions had been spent on investigation and excavating the farm and how he's now so important he needs a convoy of protection to and from the court. Robert Pickton insisted he was just the fall guy and that the police had arrested the wrong man. The trial finally began In January of 2007, almost five years since the search of the pig farm began. And it was full of disappointment for many of those on the victim's side. The year beforehand, the Crown had announced it would only proceed to trial based on six of the 27 first degree murder charges. The decision was described as being in the interests of justice because it would be too costly and expensive and too much of a burden for a jury to hear and consider evidence for the jury would only hear about evidence related to Serena Abbotsway, Mona Wilson, Andrea Josbury, Brenda Wolf, Georgina Pappin and Marnie Frey. But there was a suggestion that all of the other charges were would be prosecuted at a second trial regardless. This was a major blow to all of the other families. Many of them did not know what had happened to their loved ones or what evidence there was and would not find out for quite some time. At the same time, the charge in relation to Mission Jane Doe was also dropped. At first it would be brought up again at the trial, but the judge would end up instructing the jury to forget everything they'd heard about Mission Jane Doe. To this day, she has never been identified. The Crown prosecution's case was that the evidence showed that Robert Pickton had a patent. He would find vulnerable women on the streets and lure them to his father. Farm. The way he did this was by offering to buy their sexual services at a higher price than they would charge if they stayed on the downtown east side. And he also promised to provide them with drugs once they got to the farm. He would transport them in his vehicle, give them the free drugs, and during the course of sexual activity, he would restrain them with handcuffs or other restraints. The Crown argued that once a woman was restrained, Robert Pickton would kill her using the dildo revolver or by some other means. And he would then take her body to the slaughterhouse to disembowel and butcher it. He would dispose of the remains over a period of time, feeding some of those remains to his pigs, delivering some of them to West Coast Reduction, the rendering plant, and freezing other parts for later disposal. That brings us to the other suspects and the many public questions about whether Robert Pickton had partners in crime. The police would confirm that some people went from being witnesses to suspects, then back to witnesses again, depending on what was learned about them during the investigation. You'll recall that Lyn Ellingson and Dinah Taylor were the first two people arrested before Robert Pickton himself was arrested. The police would clarify that Lyn Ellingson's arrest only happened because they heard from multiple sources that she witnessed Picton killing on the farm and she refused to speak with them about it. But that was all sorted out and she was completely cleared. The court heard there was no DNA evidence from Lyn Ellingson found on the farm. Picton's defence attacked Lynn's credibility relentlessly, but she never wavered on what she saw. Things were slightly different with Dinah Taylor, who did not cooperate with police at any time and did not testify at trial. And there was evidence of her on the farm. Her prints and DNA had been found on duct tape, personal items and documents at the farm. Her hairs were found on a blanket along with Serena abbotsway's DNA. Dinah Taylor's DNA was also on Mona Wilson's rosary, on Brenda Wolfe's lipstick, and on several items found at the nearby property formerly known as P. Piggy's Palace. But Dinah Taylor was known to stay on the farm and was also known to help Robert Picton procure women from the downtown east side. So there was a plausible explanation for these items. Dinah Taylor was subject to ongoing surveillance, a wiretap and an undercover investigation. The RCMP would clarify. They believed that she may have some knowledge and or some involvement in the case, but there was not enough evidence for charges. That said, part of the defence's strategy was to suggest Dinah Taylor as one of several alternative suspects to Robert Picton, particularly in the murder of Andrea Josbury, since Dinah admitted to bringing her back to the farm. Robert Pectin did not testify in his own defence, but his defence lawyers suggested he had a low IQ and was slow, a man of limited intelligence. The Crown witnesses, including Gina Houston and Lyn Ellingson, Scott Chubb and Andrew Bellwood, were all accused of being junkies that picked and helped who had taken advantage of his generosity and were now telling lies about him to get their hands on the reward money. The court heard from several sex workers who testified that Robert Pickton was not violent. He was generous and nice. He respected their boundaries without expecting anything in return. But this stood in contrast to the other evidence that he had several different sides to his personal personality, along a spectrum from friendly and simple to cold, manipulative and violent. The defence suggested a large number of people came and went from the property. Gang members, Hell's Angels, sex workers, drug users. And no one kept track of it. Could have been anyone. The defence pointed their fingers at the suspicious behaviour of Robert Picton's acquaintance acquaintances, suggesting it was not fair or reasonable to blame all the murders on him. Dinah Taylor was, of course, one of those friends. And so was Pat Casanova, Robert Pickton's butchering partner. He was actually the third suspect arrested in connection with the murders, apart from Robert Pickton. And that happened 11 months after the search of the farm began. Based on DNA evidence found in multiple locations, the police were suspicious. The married father of four, in his mid-60s, might have been an accomplice to more than just butchering and barbecue pork. His DNA was found on one swab taken from inside the door of the slaughterhouse and it was mixed with the DNA of victim Mona Wilson. Pat Casanova's DNA was also found on an orange rubber apron hanging in the slaughterhouse and in several other areas there and in a freezer beside the freezer that contained human remains. At the trial, Pat Casanova testified for the Crown that he butchered pigs on the farm over 18 years, every weekend. He denied killing anyone, denied any involvement in the murders and denied seeing any dead bodies or knowingly disposing of any. He testified about Robert Pickton's method of slaughtering and butchering pigs, saying they were killed with either a.22 calibre firearm or a nail gun, and then slaughtered and butchered in a similar method to how Lyn Ellingson had testified about the night she saw him in the scene slaughterhouse with a woman strung Up. Pat Casanova also explained that in the case of a pig, the head might be cut in half based on the wishes of the customer. And for many years, Robert Pickton used a hand saw. But about eight months before the farm search started, Picton brought a reciprocating saw to start doing that work because it works better. Better. Police had seized a band saw from Pat Casanova's house that had human DNA on it, but not enough to identify from whom. At trial, he testified he had no explanation for that. Pat Casanova's DNA was also found in Robert Pickton's mobile trailer home, on a bathroom wall near a stain linked to victim Andrea Josbury, and on night vision goggles in the laundry room. He testified that he originally lied to police and admitted that he had seen sex workers on the farm and on occasion, paid some of them for sex. He identified Andrea Josbury as being one of those women. He said when he lied to the police, he didn't know that she was dead. RCMP officers testified that Pat Casanova was put under surveillance, a wiretap and an undercover operation. But there was not sufficient evidence for charges. Pat Casanova passed away in 2011. Perhaps the one left with the biggest question mark was Robert Pickton's younger brother, David Picton. He was not called to testify at the trial and neither was their older sister, Linda Pickton. RCMP officers testified that they believed David Pickton was the brains of the two brothers, that he took care of his older brother but was also condescending to him, and that Robert appeared submissive to David and deferred to him. Often, Robert's defence lawyers put in great effort to point out details about David's violent criminal past, including his sexual assault conviction, his association with Hell's Angels and his sexual practices. In David Picton's interview with the province soon after the farm search began, he claimed he'd moved away from the farm a few years earlier, but police testimony seems to confirm he was still living in the farmhouse. Regardless, the farmhouse was part of the farm search. Under David Pickton's bed, there was an electric massager that had DNA belonging to a woman who was never identified. Her DNA was also found in a freezer in the slaughterhouse and on a floor vent in Robert Pickton's mobile trailer. There was a bucket found in David Pickton's bedroom that had the label clout, similar to the label on one of the buckets that contained human remains in the freezer. Also in his bedroom, they found multiple dildos, black leather wrist restraints and a bottle of massage oil in his closet. There was another dildo, a tube of whipped cream and a tube of lubricant that had animal hairs on it and blood like stains. There was no testimony about whether the stains came from a human. Similar blood like stains were found on the kitchen counter and on a sheepskin and carpet in a shed outside the house. Again with no testimony about origin. David Picton's fingerprint was discovered on a piece of cardboard above the freezer where the remains of Serena abbotsway and Andrea Josbury were located. There's also no information about whether he was questioned by police. All that's known is that he was under police surveillance for a time. Police testified they could find no proof to connect David Pickton to the murders of the women but they still considered him a person of interest who warrants further investigation. Then there was DNA evidence that remains a mystery. On the bucket containing Andrea Josbury's remains was DNA belonging to two unknown men. On teeth belonging to Andrea and Serena abbotsway there was DNA of three people who were also unidentified. And there was a fingerprint on one of the freezes that was not a match to Robert Picton but was not compared to anyone else's. The trial lasted for almost a year and the jury heard evidence from almost 130 witnesses. Robert Pickton listened to all the testimony without showing emotion. In closing arguments the Crown reminded the jury of Picton's statements to the undercover officer or Sal Plant and his admissions to investigators in his police interrogation. Personal items belonging to four of the victims were found in his mobile trailer home and the remains of all six that were part of this trial were found in his workplace. Picton's defence lawyer attempted to persuade the jury that there was no evidence that he killed any of the missing women, that no witnesses had actually seen the murders, that Lynne Ellingson was not credible and that quote it really comes down to this question who fired the gun? The court also heard that despite multiple items linking Robert Pickton's DNA to DNA belonging to missing women he couldn't be tied forensically to the buckets holding the body parts. And none of his firearms or saw blades could be conclusively matched to the women's remains. When the defence mentioned Marnie Frey whose partial jawbone was found during the farm excavation and argued there was no way Picton could have killed her, Marnie's 15 year old daughter Brittany broke down in tears in the courtroom. Lori Colbert reported for the Vancouver sun that quote in a touching show of EMOTION Jeannie Devries Devries, the 16 year old daughter of missing woman Sarah Devries, hugged Brittany as she wept. The tragedy of what happened at the farm did not end with the arrest of Robert Picton. It reverberated through the lives of the 98 children who lost their mothers. Some, like Brittany, Jeannie and her brother, were adopted and raised by family. Others entered foster care or were adopted outside their families. They would all continue to face ongoing challenges, including the trauma and stigma tied to the violence against their mothers. The jury deliberated for five days with no word. Then, on day six, the jury sent a question to the judge. Were they able to find Robert Pickton guilty even if they believed he did not act alone or if others were involved? The answer was yes. As long as the jury believed Picton actively participated in the killing to the degree required by the law, the jury could find him guilty. After another three days, the jury finally reached a verdict. On December 9th of 2007, they announced that they'd found Robert Pickton guilty of second degree murder in the deaths of all six victims. But he'd been charged with first degree murder. The jury's verdict indicated they did not believe the Crown had proved the main element of first degree murder, that it was planned, deliberate and premeditated. Many were baffled by this distinction. There were reportedly mixed reactions from the families in the court courtroom, including those of Marnie Frey, Serena Abertway, Mona Wilson, Andrea Josbury, Brenda Wolf and Georgina Pappin. Some immediately proclaimed yes. Others spoke out about the injustice of guilt only in the second degree. And many broke down in tears after the verdict. Don Adam, the RCMP investigator who finally got Robert Pickton to break down and partially confess, told the press that he didn't believe justice was served. Quote, Willie Picton is a chameleon. Let's not be confused about his capabilities. He got every break in the world and people underestimated him. I was left sitting there looking into his eyes with a real sense of malignant pain, evil. I just had the smallest sense he was playing with me and of what it must have been like for those women when they were in his control. Before Robert Pigton was sentenced, the court heard victim impact statements from the loved ones of the six victims who were part of this trial. Many of them read out by the Crown prosecutor because the family members were too distraught. The same themes echoed again and again through their statements. How the loss never really ends and it's not just grief. How it affects their sleep, their health, their relationships. Some described a constant fear, intrusive thoughts and even Moments where they did not want to keep living. They struggled to trust others. What happened fundamentally changed who they are. They also spoke about what was taken from their families. These women were mothers, daughters, sisters, and they had many happy memories. Now there were kids growing up without their mums, grandparents stepping in to raise grandchildren and holidays and birthdays that felt incomplete. Many family members carried immense guilt and wondering if they should have done something differently. There was a lot of anger as well. Families pushed back against the way their loved ones were reduced to labels simply because they were vulnerable. These were real women who were loved, who had plans and who wanted better lives. Yet a lot of the media coverage and the focus on Robert Pickton often made them feel like the many women were just an afterthought. And underneath it all was the same question. What happened in those final moments? Some family members mentioned trying to cope with the injustice and the unanswered questions through sobriety, faith or advocacy in their life. Loved one's name. But none of them spoke of closure. What they described was something that would haunt them for the rest of their lives. Marnie Frey's stepmother Lin, read a statement written by Marnie's 15 year old daughter Brittany. She looked directly at Robert Pickton as she read, quote, why did you hurt my real mother and those other women? Do you know how you hurt those family members and me, Mr. Pickton? Why would you do that? What did they do to you? Robert Picton again showed no emotion and kept his head bowed down. He would be a coward right to the end. In sentencing, Judge James Williams told the court that Picton's conduct was murderous and repeatedly so. And although no one knows the exact details of what happened, I do know this. Each of these women were murdered and their remains were dismembered. What happened to them was similar, senseless and despicable. Nothing I can say can adequately express the revulsion the community feels at the killings. The judge pointed out that Picton had expressed no remorse whatsoever for six counts of second degree murder. He was sentenced to six life sentences to be served concurrently or at the same time, and he would not be eligible for parole for the maximum of 25 years. When Robert Pickton was given the chance to make a statement, he looked as though he was going to say something, but his lawyer spoke up. His client did want to say something, but because he would be going to trial again for the remaining 20 charges, he had accepted advice to stay quiet for now. The defence appealed, arguing that what Robert Pickton admitted to the undercover officer in his cell were Just his attempts to impress the man, thinking he was a hardened criminal. The appeal also pointed to the DNA that implicated Dinah Taylor and Pat Casanova. It was unsuccessful. The defence tried with the Supreme Court of Canada, also unsuccessful, concluding that the evidence of Picton's guilt was overwhelming. A second trial never happened. The Crown declined to prosecute Robert Picton on the remaining 20 murder charges, which greatly upset the families of those 20 victims. The RCMP recommended Picton be charged with six more. Sharon Abraham, Stephanie Lane, Yvonne Boone, Jackie Murdoch, Dawn Cray and Nancy Clark. This didn't happen either. The Missing Women Commission of inquiry took two years and the final report in 2012 made one thing painfully clear. These women weren't just failed by one police officer or one decision. They were failed by an entire system that didn't see them, didn't hear them and didn't act when it mattered most. Commissioner. The Honorable Wally T Opal QC found that warnings were brushed aside, families were dismissed and deep rooted bias, especially against indigenous women, allowed Robert Pickton to keep killing while loved ones begged for help. It was described as a colossal failure of policing. The Vancouver Police Department and the RCMP apologised to the families of the missing women for their losses and for the many mistakes that meant they did not catch Picton sooner. It was a case of too little, too late. Nothing could bring their loved ones back. In the years after the guilty verdict, Robert Pickton's siblings, David and Linda Pickton, filed a civil claim against the B.C. government, alleging that the RCMP search of the picture pig farm had caused extensive damage to their property, buildings, vehicles, landscaping and other land they owned. They believed they were the victims and claimed they incurred significant loss and damage as a result. This lawsuit did nothing to help their public image. The siblings would drop the lawsuit three years later, in 2010, Robert Pickton gave a phone interview with John Woodward for CTV News, saying police were still hunting, looking for a scapegoat. He claimed he wanted to testify in his own defence at trial, that he had all this information that could have blown the whole thing apart. But his lawyer would not let him testify. He was asked why he didn't just get a new lawyer or represent himself and he claimed because you can't. Robert Pickton lied like it's second nature. He told the journalist that Andy Bellwood was lying to get revenge because he'd been beaten up on the farm. He called Lyn Ellingson a lying spaghetti brain and that Wendy attacked him with a knife to steal steal his money. He claimed the undercover officer in his cell, tricked him into making those admissions about the rendering plant and tricked him into joking about wanting to kill 50 women and his claims about beating the Green River Killer. When asked who the real killer was then, Pickton said he didn't know, but accused the Hell's Angels of being involved as well as other people who visited the farmers. Despite his repeated protests of innocence and promises to provide the real story, Robert Pickton didn't provide any additional detail or point the finger at anyone. The sister of Sarah DeVries, Maggie de Vries, told the journalist, quote, he's already done the most heinous things imaginable, so why would I expect better from him? As families were still grappling with these unanswered questions, another set of battles was already taking shape, leading to Robert Pickton eventually being eligible for parole. After the break, his final chapter.
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