The Mayor

Summary

Fear Thy Neighbor: Episode Summary – "The Mayor"

Release Date: May 12, 2025

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Introduction

In the chilling episode titled "The Mayor" from the podcast Fear Thy Neighbor, host ID delves into the harrowing true story of Gabriel Wortman, a seemingly upstanding resident of Portipique, Nova Scotia, whose dark secrets culminate in one of Canada's most notorious mass murders. This detailed summary captures the essence of the episode, highlighting key discussions, insights, and the sequence of events that transformed a picturesque town into a scene of tragedy.

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Setting the Stage: Portipique, Nova Scotia

Portipique, a serene coastal hamlet overlooking Canada's Bay of Fundy, is introduced as a picturesque town renowned for its natural beauty and tight-knit community. Residents Joy Laking and Ann Rogers provide insights into the town's charm:

Jordan Bonaparte [04:27]: "53 vertical feet between high tide and low tide moves through the bay twice a day."

Cindy Starrett [04:33]: "There's something in the air there. It's almost mystical."

The town attracts nature lovers, beachgoers, and individuals seeking a simpler life. It’s within this tranquil setting that the story of Lisa McCauley and Gabriel Wortman begins.

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Introducing the Main Characters

Lisa McCauley, a schoolteacher recovering from a divorce and striving to provide a stable home for her two children, meets Gabriel Wortman, a prominent local dentist with an extensive property portfolio in Portipique. Author Paul Polango recounts Lisa's initial encounter:

Paul Polango [05:34]: "Gabriel Wortman opened a denture clinic in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, that is quite prominent. But when Gabriel wasn't working as a dentist, he spent a lot of his time on his rural property in Portipique."

With Gabriel’s assistance, Lisa purchases her dream home at below market value, fostering a budding romantic relationship. Initially, Gabriel is revered in the community, earning the nickname "the Mayor" due to his helpful nature and extensive connections.

Cindy Starrett [07:09]: "Gabriel had a presence. He had a smile that could light up a room. Very flirtatious."

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The Facade Cracks: Gabriel’s True Nature Emerges

The idyllic relationship begins to unravel when Lisa encounters Gabriel’s aggressive and inappropriate behavior at a community party:

Paul Polango [08:15]: "Wortman decided to enter the hot tub with his private parts on full display."

Feeling uncomfortable, Lisa’s perception of Gabriel shifts as his demeanor becomes crude and controlling. Despite his supportive facade, Gabriel’s dark side begins to surface, particularly evident when Lisa faces personal tragedies, including the sudden death of her brother.

Cindy Starrett [09:14]: "Gabriel would try to seduce her, and she would reject him over and over."

During Lisa's time of need, Gabriel steps in ostensibly to help but his true intentions remain ambiguous, leading to a complex and toxic relationship dynamic.

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Unveiling the Darkness: Criminal Connections and Power Abuse

As the narrative progresses, author Paul Polango and resident Cindy Starrett reveal Gabriel's deeper malfeasance:

Paul Polango [26:23]: "Wortman fit the profile of someone who has a special relationship with police or government authorities."

Gabriel is implicated in organized crime, leveraging his connections with both the police and outlaw biker gangs. His criminal activities include smuggling illegal guns and drugs, maintaining a network of illicit operations that remain largely concealed from authorities.

Cindy Starrett [15:38]: "He tried to sleep with every single female of sexual age that was in that area."

His manipulative tactics extend to exploiting neighbors financially, often coercing them into unfavorable property deals, thereby consolidating his control over the community.

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The Catalyst: COVID-19 Pandemic and Gabriel’s Descent

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbates Gabriel's precarious situation. With border closures disrupting his smuggling operations, Gabriel's empire begins to falter, pushing him toward desperation:

Paul Polango [31:06]: "A confidential informant was the linchpin that allowed this significant drug bust in New Brunswick to occur."

Fearing exposure and the collapse of his criminal activities, Gabriel's mental state deteriorates, setting the stage for his impending rampage.

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The Mass Murder Spree: Night of Terror

On April 18, 2020, Gabriel Wortman orchestrates a catastrophic mass murder spree that would etch his name in Canadian history. Donning an RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) replica uniform, he embarks on a violent rampage through Portipique and surrounding communities, driven by a mix of revenge, paranoia, and a desire to maintain control.

Initial Killings

Gabriel's first target is his neighbor, Greg Blair, whom he shoots dead in his driveway, witnessed by Greg’s wife Jamie Blair. The ensuing 911 call captures Jamie's terrified account:

Jamie Blair [33:42]: "My neighbor. Yep. Is crying out, I think he just shot my husband in the driveway."

Escalation of Violence

Gabriel continues his spree by targeting other neighbors, including:

• Lisa McCauley, who is brutally slain upon confronting Gabriel.
• Aaron Tuck and his family, whom Gabriel murders after a confrontation over property disputes.

During his rampage, Gabriel sets numerous houses ablaze, leaving a trail of destruction and death. Despite the critical events unfolding, law enforcement's response is grossly inadequate:

Paul Polango [37:34]: "Using Twitter to notify the public demonstrates gross negligence and mass incompetence."

Authorities fail to promptly alert the community, allowing Gabriel to continue his killings unabated for over 13 hours.

Final Confrontation and Capture

Gabriel's spree culminates when he attempts to seek refuge at a gas station. A tactical police unit finally apprehends him, ending the largest mass murder in Canadian history. The capture process highlights significant failures in policing and emergency response protocols.

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Aftermath and Community Impact

The aftermath of the massacre leaves the community of Portipique shattered. Survivors and residents grapple with trauma and seek accountability:

Leon Jodere [41:02]: "I lost a gal that I used to go out with."

Leon, a retired conservation officer and one of Gabriel's last victims, later succumbs to severe depression and takes his own life, adding to the tragedy.

The $30 Million Mass Casualty Commission criticizes the RCMP for their mishandling of the situation, recommending major overhauls in oversight processes and culture to prevent such failures in the future.

Paul Polango [41:02]: "Among our recommendations, we are calling for major changes to RCMP oversight processes and culture."

Residents, including Cindy Starrett, express enduring fear and reluctance to return to Portipique:

Cindy Starrett [42:16]: "I wish I didn't even know what Portipique was."

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Conclusion: Lessons and Legacy

"The Mayor" serves as a stark reminder of how seemingly benign individuals can harbor dark secrets, and how systemic failures can exacerbate tragedies. The episode underscores the importance of vigilant community policing, robust oversight mechanisms, and the need for timely communication during crises.

Fear Thy Neighbor's exploration of Gabriel Wortman's life and atrocities offers listeners a gripping narrative that highlights the complexities of human behavior, the fragility of community trust, and the dire consequences of unchecked power and corruption.

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Notable Quotes

• Cindy Starrett [07:09]: "Gabriel had a presence. He had a smile that could light up a room. Very flirtatious."
• Paul Polango [08:15]: "Wortman decided to enter the hot tub with his private parts on full display."
• Cindy Starrett [15:38]: "He tried to sleep with every single female of sexual age that was in that area."
• Paul Polango [31:06]: "A confidential informant was the linchpin that allowed this significant drug bust in New Brunswick to occur."
• Jamie Blair [33:42]: "My neighbor. Yep. Is crying out, I think he just shot my husband in the driveway."
• Paul Polango [37:34]: "Using Twitter to notify the public demonstrates gross negligence and mass incompetence."
• Cindy Starrett [42:16]: "I wish I didn't even know what Portipique was."

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Final Thoughts

"The Mayor" is a compelling episode that masterfully intertwines personal tragedy with systemic critique, providing a comprehensive look into one man's descent into darkness and the broader implications for community safety and policing. For those seeking a gripping true crime narrative, this episode of Fear Thy Neighbor is an unmissable exploration of fear, betrayal, and the catastrophic impact of unchecked power.

Transcript

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[Paige DeSorbo]

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[Hannah Berner]

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[Paul Polango]

I'm Paige desorbo.

[Hannah Berner]

I'm Hannah Berner.

[Paul Polango]

Welcome to the squad.

[Hannah Berner]

Giggly Squad started on Summer House when we were giggling during an inappropriate time.

[Paul Polango]

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So we decided to start this podcast.

[Paul Polango]

To continue giggling, we will make fun.

[Paige DeSorbo]

Of pop culture news. We're watching fashion trends, pep talks where.

[Hannah Berner]

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[Paul Polango]

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[Paige DeSorbo]

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[Hannah Berner]

Most violent crimes that capture the public's imagination are about serial killers, mass shooters, crimes of passion, or clashes among underworld figures. Yet some of the most shocking and deadly conflicts we encounter are between everyday neighbors in ordinary neighborhoods. Their seemingly minor quibbles escalate until violence erupts and it impacts an entire community. What makes a good neighbor go bad? We may never truly know. But heed this warning about the terrible things that can happen when even the pettiest disagreements pass the point of no return and good neighbors become worst Enemies. How can you sleep at night when the person you fear or hate the most lives right next door? Canada's east coast is home to a picturesque coastal hamlet where a single mother on a tight budget is dreaming of buying a home for herself and her two young children. Her wish is realized when a prominent longtime resident helps her swing a deal to buy a beautiful waterside home. And even better, the new neighbors soon strike up a romantic relationship. Yet all is not as it seems. This prominent resident is a well of dark and disturbing secrets. A dangerous and unpredictable man with twisted proclivities and a troubling agenda for the whole township. Once his empire begins to crumble, the result is an eruption of death and destruction that remains unhealed and unfathomable to this day. This is fear thy neighbor. The Mayor. The town of Portipec, Nova Scotia, overlooks Canada's Bay of Fundy and the world's most dramatic ocean tides. Locals Joy Laking and Ann Rogers speak to its many attractions. A note. Ann's voice has been altered at her request.

[Jordan Bonaparte]

53 vertical feet between high tide and.

[Paul Polango]

Low tide moves through the bay twice a day.

[Cindy Starrett]

There's something in the arrow there. It's almost mystical.

[Hannah Berner]

Resident Cindy Starrett further speaks to the coastal town's charms.

[Paul Polango]

The beach drove me and is always welcoming. It's quiet little villages are all connected.

[Hannah Berner]

Porta Pic lures nature lovers, beachgoers and those seeking a simpler life. Like schoolteacher Lisa McCully, who's looking to buy a home. Author Paul Polango recounts her situation.

[Paige DeSorbo]

Lisa McCully had gone through a divorce. She had two children. It seemed like an idyllic property.

[Hannah Berner]

The price is more than she can afford. But a good Samaritan is about to intervene.

[Paul Polango]

Can I help you? Sorry, I was snooping. This is my uncle's property. That's my place across the way. Gabe ortman.

[Hannah Berner]

Oh, Lisa McCully. Nice to meet you. Lisa McCully has just had her first encounter with perhaps Porta Pic's most well known citizen. Podcast host Jordan Bonaparte knows all about him.

[Paul Polango]

Gabriel Wortman opened a denture clinic in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia that is quite prominent. But when Gabriel Wortman wasn't working as a dentist, he spent a lot of his time on his rural property in Portipique, Nova Scotia.

[Hannah Berner]

Gabe has amassed a portfolio of properties in the township, including a million dollar cottage on the beach. What's more, he's well connected and seems to know the inside scoop on everyone in town.

[Paul Polango]

I'm hoping I can buy the place.

[Hannah Berner]

But I'm in a bit of a cash crunch.

[Paul Polango]

So tell you a secret. You can knock 30 grand off the price, and he'll take it.

[Jordan Bonaparte]

You're an angel.

[Paul Polango]

My name is Gabriel. Gabriel Wortman assisted Lisa McCully in purchasing the property for lower than market value.

[Hannah Berner]

With Gabe's help, Lisa moves on to Orchard Beach Drive, her dream home by the sea. Her new place has a clear view of Gabe's property, specifically his expansive man cave known as the Warehouse. Here's lawyer and author Adam Rogers, along with author Paul polango.

[Paige DeSorbo]

Again, Lisa McCauley's home was directly across from the warehouse where Wortman spent a lot of time. It was a really nice building. The Warehouse was the party place for Wortman. They used to have social visits.

[Hannah Berner]

As she settles in, Lisa looks forward to running into her new neighbor again. But when she ventures onto his property to reintroduce herself, she meets a woman instead. Cindy Sterrett. Here's Cindy again to speak on her unique relationship with Gabe.

[Paul Polango]

Gabe was my best friend. He was good to talk to. He wasn't judgmental. I just call him the mayor, right? If I needed something, I'd go with the mayor. That would be Gabe.

[Hannah Berner]

Lisa is impressed with the high regard Gabe has held in the community. Being nicknamed the Mayor speaks to that respect.

[Paige DeSorbo]

He always had this sort of side of his personality where he was helpful to people.

[Hannah Berner]

Residents Joy Laking and Ann Rogers support that assessment.

[Paul Polango]

I always quite like Gabriel. He was very kind.

[Cindy Starrett]

Gabriel had a presence. He had a smile that could light up a room. Very flirtatious.

[Paul Polango]

Given how helpful Gabriel Wortman was to Lisa McCauley and given his position in society, I could see Lisa McCauley seeing him as an eligible bachelor.

[Hannah Berner]

Portipique may be small, but the community loves to socialize. Gabriel invites Lisa to a party at a neighbor's place, and she eagerly accepts. Lisa relaxes in the hot tub, and Gabe soon joins her. But he has his own ideas about what's socially acceptable.

[Paul Polango]

Wortman decided to enter the hot tub with his private parts on full display.

[Paige DeSorbo]

He was described as being very well endowed.

[Hannah Berner]

Fond as she is of him, Lisa is put off by her neighbor's aggressive advances.

[Paul Polango]

You know, Lisa, you're incredibly attractive. Easy, tiger. Oh, come on. I'm just having some fun.

[Hannah Berner]

Sensing that Lisa is uncomfortable with her neighbor's behavior, a friend of Gabe's runs interference as Lisa escapes the hot tub.

[Paige DeSorbo]

Hey, buddy.

[Hannah Berner]

Hey, buddy. I think she.

[Paul Polango]

I think she needs breathing room. Okay.

[Paige DeSorbo]

All right.

[Paul Polango]

Hey, man, she likes me. Yeah, I know. I know, but still, I'm just saying, come on. Gabriel was coming on very strongly, and he asked Gabriel to cool down and take it easy.

[Hannah Berner]

Lisa now sees a new side of her neighbor Gabe can be crude and controlling.

[Cindy Starrett]

Gabriel would try to seduce her, and she would reject him over and over.

[Hannah Berner]

Again at the same time. Since her divorce, Lisa is lonely, and money problems are a constant concern. And her situation only gets worse when she receives news that her brother has suddenly passed. In her hour of need, Gabriel shows up at her door.

[Paige DeSorbo]

When Lisa McCully's brother died, Wertman was there for her.

[Hannah Berner]

And while Gabriel apologizes for his earlier transgressions, there's no denying he's still attracted to Lisa. Adam Rogers tells us that eventually one thing leads to another.

[Paige DeSorbo]

Lisa McCauley and Wortman had a relationship.

[Hannah Berner]

And it's not long before Gabriel offers Lisa deliverance from her money troubles.

[Paul Polango]

Hey, you said you're in a cash crunch. If you like, I could buy your property. You could live here rent free.

[Hannah Berner]

Thank you. I mean, that's an incredible offer. Like Prince Charming, the offer is so generous and enticing, it's nearly impossible for Lisa to turn down that this is.

[Paige DeSorbo]

A guy who's there to be your friend. He has money. He takes care of me. Lisa McCully would fall right into that feeling.

[Hannah Berner]

Cared for and protected. The stage is set for a romance to bloom between the two neighbors. At first, the new couple's life together seems promising. Howdy, neighbor. But one night, during a gathering at Gabe's place, that promise is rudely broken with the arrival of a strange guest. The bizarre encounter begins when a woman named Lisa banfield approaches. Lisa McCully. Do I know you? This is a private party. It's Gabe's party. Who are you? I'm his wife.

[Paul Polango]

Lisa Banfield was his long term common law partner, but she spent a lot of time back in Dartmouth running the denture clinic while he was alone in Port. A pic. Lisa McCullough is now realizing that Gabriel Wortman has a lot more baggage than she expected.

[Hannah Berner]

Mortified, Lisa McCully leaves the party and retreats home. Later that night, she gets an unexpected visitor. Lisa Banfield. Keep your hands off of my husband.

[Paul Polango]

Lisa Banfield's not an idiot. That relationship from the very beginning between Lisa banfield and Lisa McCauley was chilly.

[Paige DeSorbo]

Banfield knew that Macaulay and Wertman were having some sort of relationship, and she was trying to put the kibosh on it. Even though they're together for 19 years, it's not clear what the glue is that holds them together. Banfield is not really part of Wortman's everyday life in Portipec, where he spends most of his time.

[Hannah Berner]

The truth is, despite having a common law wife back in Dartmouth, Gabe Wartman views Portapik as his private sexual playground.

[Paul Polango]

Some of the darker things that seemed to be going on in Gabriel Wortman's life was again due to his interest in the opposite sex. That seemed to be well beyond what would be appropriate for and reasonable.

[Hannah Berner]

And when his spouse, Lisa B. Voices any protest, she's met with the full force of his wrath. Adam Rogers elaborates. Help. Help me.

[Paul Polango]

Help me.

[Hannah Berner]

He's going to kill me.

[Paige DeSorbo]

Lisa Banfield went to a neighbor after she had been abused by Wortman.

[Paul Polango]

Gabe is going to kill me.

[Paige DeSorbo]

The neighbor called the police and reported it doesn't seem like they were really acted upon.

[Hannah Berner]

You realize you're the third, third officer.

[Jordan Bonaparte]

Telling me you can't do anything.

[Hannah Berner]

Still, many residents familiar with the situation are determined to alert the authorities. But sadly, all complaints slip through the cracks. It's an oversight that will have a horrific and unfathomable outcome. And in hindsight, the signs were there all along. Gabriel Wortman has a stash of illegal guns. Okay.

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[Hannah Berner]

Later that weekend, Lisa Banfield returns to her home In Dartmouth, the next town over. She's safe for now. However, the neighbor that called in a complaint about the domestic dispute is anything but. As Paul Polango explains, Gabriel confronts her on her property.

[Paige DeSorbo]

He was not above threatening people.

[Paul Polango]

Gabriel Wortman seemed to take great care to maintain the facade of an innocent, helpful rich man.

[Paige DeSorbo]

But it was a thin veneer of civility because beneath that he was very domineering, controlling.

[Hannah Berner]

Many of Gabe's nefarious activities take place under the COVID of darkness, Especially those concealing the extent of his sexual depravity. And according to Ann Rogers and Paul Palango, when it comes to sexual conquests, he casts a rather wide net.

[Cindy Starrett]

He tried to sleep with every single female of sexual age that was in that area.

[Paige DeSorbo]

Wertman took an interest in everyone, every woman. It didn't matter what their age was, what they looked like. He was always out there hunting.

[Hannah Berner]

This even includes those who work for him, like his housekeeper, Cindy Starrett.

[Paul Polango]

He was self proclaimed sex addict. He confessed that to me. We knew what we were doing. We were going hardcore sex and that's what it was about. There was no romance or lovey doveies or anything like that.

[Hannah Berner]

Late one night, Cindy, Ann Rogers and another friend visit the warehouse Gabe's makeshift party room in his backyard. While they wait for Gabe to arrive, Ann surveys their man cave surroundings. Looking around, she spies a souped up motorcycle and another vehicle that alarms her.

[Cindy Starrett]

There is a fully marked RCMP car. As far as I knew, this is a real RCMP car. I was like what is going on?

[Hannah Berner]

The RCMP or Mounties serve as the local police force in port. A pic.

[Cindy Starrett]

I've been in police cars before and it looked like it was down to the teeth.

[Hannah Berner]

In fact, the police cruiser is an exact replica. Gabe is happy to show it off when he appears. When Ann asks what use he has for the fake vehicle, which must certainly be illegal, Gabriel's answer is chilling. What's the car for?

[Paul Polango]

I'm saving it for the apocalypse.

[Cindy Starrett]

He's like, oh, it's the end of the world. And little did we know in a few months what was coming.

[Paul Polango]

Let me pour you a drink.

[Cindy Starrett]

As the night progressed, he's feeding us alcohol this whole time.

[Paul Polango]

Slant ya.

[Cindy Starrett]

My friend became just obliviously drunk to the point of not functioning. And he seemed to be focused on me.

[Hannah Berner]

In an effort to distract herself, Ann continues to look around the strange room when she spies more unsettling items. Gabe's man cave is full of stuffed animals, large and small. Anne inquires about the nearest One. What's that for? It's a simple question that results in a bizarre answer.

[Paul Polango]

He's like a friend. I stuffed them myself.

[Hannah Berner]

And an even stranger backstory.

[Paul Polango]

He was trained originally as an embalmer.

[Paige DeSorbo]

Werman cultivated this Persona of being this dark, dangerous guy. He worked at a funeral home back in the mid to late 90s. He was familiar with working with the dead. He made a lot of people around him nervous.

[Hannah Berner]

Something about the way Gabe talks about his morbid past sets off alarm bells for Anne.

[Cindy Starrett]

In that moment, I felt like a fly under a glass microscope. Just the way he was, like, looking at me.

[Hannah Berner]

She knows she has to find a way out. And she thinks she's found the perfect escape plan. Restroom, please.

[Cindy Starrett]

Like a cat playing with a mouse, follow me.

[Hannah Berner]

But she's sorely mistaken. Like something out of a horror movie. Instead of a restroom, Gabe guides Anne through a false wall into a small hidden chamber. When they step into the hidden room, Anne is horrified and shocked by what she sees. The toilet, with restraints attached to it, is anchored in the middle of a concrete floor, surrounded by shelves stacked with all manner of sexual. The frightened guest realizes she is cornered in a secret den of twisted perversion.

[Cindy Starrett]

I knew, like, I'm in danger. I thought somebody could be chained there for weeks, just sitting on the toilet chain there. The way that room was all cement. You could sit there and you could scream and nobody would ever hear you.

[Hannah Berner]

Anne manages to deflect Gabriel's advances and escape the warehouse. But the encounter leaves her shaken to her core.

[Cindy Starrett]

I looked in his eyes and there was nothing, just darkness. That's when I knew I was like, you're a serial killer.

[Hannah Berner]

Podcast host Jordan Bonaparte describes Gabriel's complex character.

[Paul Polango]

On the surface, if you walked into Gabriel Wortman's denture clinic, he came across as soft spoken, quiet, friendly. But I think people who got closer to him saw that there was two sides to his personality. It's very clearly a Dr. Wortman, Mr. Hyde type situation.

[Hannah Berner]

Jordan suggests these contradictions are a feature of the entire supposedly peaceful town.

[Paul Polango]

I would say Porta Pic is Twin Peaks, Nova Scotia's version. The relationships between the people are always surprising. And there's always two versions. The one that's on the surface and the one that only their close friends know.

[Hannah Berner]

Gabriel Wortman's erratic behavior increasingly has the community of Porta Pic on edge. But at least Lisa McCauley is moving on from her affair with her neighbor and hoping to find someone new. Her wish is realized when she meets leon Joudre Peter McIsaac is a retired conservation officer and forest firefighter who knows Leon well.

[Paul Polango]

Leon had an extremely good work ethic, and when he wasn't working at Natural Resources, he was working privately on his own. And he was an expert hunter, fisherman, woodsman.

[Hannah Berner]

Lisa and Leon are instantly attracted to each other and quickly strike up a relationship. Meanwhile, Gabriel Wortman zeroes in on his former lover's latest romantic interest. Author Paul Polango describes how their first interaction put Leon Jodere's guard up.

[Paige DeSorbo]

The moment Leon Jodre met Gabriel Wortman, he had a bad feeling about him. Wortman was very possessive. Everything he wanted was his. He likely saw himself as the owner of Lisa McCully when she went with Leon Jodry. That would be an affront to him and he would take that badly.

[Hannah Berner]

Jordan Bonaparte supports Polanco's take.

[Paul Polango]

Leon saw through Gabriel's thin veil of nice, friendly guy. He saw him for who he was from the beginning.

[Hannah Berner]

Not only does Gabe still have his eyes on Lisa, he continues to have eyes on her home. Along with the homes of several other area residents.

[Paul Polango]

He seemed to have intentions of buying up as many properties as he could out there.

[Paige DeSorbo]

One of his tactics was to help people buy something and then take over the deed. Many people had lost their properties to Wortman because of his helpfulness.

[Hannah Berner]

No longer just the unofficial mayor of Portipique, he's also becoming the de facto landlord. One day, Leon Jodorade witnesses Gabriel trying to strike a deal with yet another local, Aaron Tuck.

[Paul Polango]

The Tucks were considering selling their property. They had plans to sell it and move to Cape Breton. Aaron, hey. My neighbor Cindy tells me you're thinking about selling your old cottage.

[Paige DeSorbo]

Yeah, I'd be open to an offer. I'm sure it would be okay to let this place go for, I don't know, 50, 60 grand.

[Paul Polango]

How about 18 grand?

[Paige DeSorbo]

How about you get off my property? After Werbin made this rather aggressive offer of 18,000, it was quite clear that Worbin had no respect for Tuck.

[Paul Polango]

Aaron, the shack is a tear down. Take the money said move.

[Hannah Berner]

Leon watches Gabriel lean into Aaron in an effort to intimidate him. Paul Polengo explains Gabriel's intimidation tactics and his refusal to take no for an answer.

[Paige DeSorbo]

He could instill fear in you by what he said and by getting right in your face. You can just smell his breath and see into his soul.

[Paul Polango]

Look, we don't have to settle this right now.

[Jordan Bonaparte]

I'll drop by later.

[Paige DeSorbo]

We don't have to settle this ever, you psycho. Wertman in his bravado, wanted to be the king. But some of the men weren't afraid of him, and that would piss him off.

[Paul Polango]

Aaron Tuck. He doesn't look like someone that Gabriel Wortman could physically push around.

[Hannah Berner]

Gabe smiles and departs with that. Aaron thinks the squabble is over. But later that night, an intruder on an ATV rips up his lawn. It turns out the rider ruining the Tuck family's lawn is associated with Gabe Wortman, as Aaron learns when his neighbor pulls up in his replica police car. The very same one Ann saw parked in the warehouse.

[Paul Polango]

Hey, sorry about the atv. He's a friend of mine in the Hell's Angels.

[Paige DeSorbo]

You can't drive an RCMP vehicle.

[Hannah Berner]

That's illegal.

[Paul Polango]

Don't you worry. They're friends of mine too. They call me the Mayor.

[Hannah Berner]

The Mayor's message is clear.

[Paige DeSorbo]

I'm bulletproof and the police are gonna do nothing to me. And that certainly was his reputation. Crazy behavior, racing around the community with impunity. And that's way he behaved. He saw himself as superior and everyone else was beneath him.

[Jordan Bonaparte]

This podcast is brought to you by Aura. Imagine waking up to find your bank account drained, bills for loans you never took out, a warrant for your arrest. All because someone stole your identity. Hackers aren't waiting. Why are you? That's why we're thrilled to partner with Aura. Your personal data is a goldmine for hackers, and Aura helps lock it down. Aura monitors the dark web, blocks data brokers from selling your information. Includes a VPN for private browsing and a password manager to secure your accounts before criminals break in. For a limited time, Aura is offering our listeners a 14 day free trial plus a dark web scan to check if your personal information has been leaked. All for [e-mail] safety. That's Aura.com safety to sign up and start protecting yourself and your loved ones. That's a u r a.com safety terms apply. Check the site for details.

[Hannah Berner]

Author Paul Palango has conducted deep research into the Portipi residents history.

[Paige DeSorbo]

Wortman fit the profile of someone who has a special relationship with police or government authorities. He liked to flaunt the fact that he had police relationships, but he also had criminal relationships with a lot of outlaw bikers. Werman fit in perfectly because he was a criminal at heart. Throughout his life, Wortman had underworld connections. He made a living through university smuggling cigarettes and drugs across the border and literally turned that into a business that he continued all his life.

[Hannah Berner]

It's suspected that Gabriel Wortman's cross border operation is what connected him to biker gangs in the first place.

[Paige DeSorbo]

Worman's association with organized crime goes way back with biker clubs, where he provided motorcycle parts for them, suspected of providing guns that he smuggled across the border.

[Hannah Berner]

Law enforcement also recognizes how malevolent he can be. The provincial bureau that fights organized crime even issued a police bulletin warning that Gabriel Wortman is dangerous.

[Paige DeSorbo]

Wortman had been reported for threatening to kill a police officer, assaulting his common law wife, but every time he was pretty well given a pass. He always got away with things and always got a soft ride from the police. He was the perfect double agent. However, the government and police deny that Wortman was an informant. There are strange things going on, which suggests that Wortman had a special relationship of some kind with the police because there's no other way to explain some of the things that happened.

[Hannah Berner]

These strange things include Gabe making cash withdrawals from a brink security depot, visits that were all caught on CCTV cameras.

[Paige DeSorbo]

People just don't go to Brinks to get money. But it is something that happens with RCMP informants, police informants.

[Hannah Berner]

Podcaster Jordan Bonaparte adds to the intrigue.

[Paul Polango]

That would become a pivotal part of the theory that Gabriel Wortman was working as a confidential informant, that this money was some sort of payment from the RCMP for his work as a confidential informant.

[Hannah Berner]

The dentist still seeks to keep some of his dealings away from law enforcement's prying eyes. Many believe Gabe's efforts to buy up all the homes in the area was to provide cover for one of his most lucrative and illicit activities.

[Paul Polango]

Gabriel was maintaining a network of trails that seemed to stretch from his property to different locations, such as the waterfront or back roads, for the purpose of smuggling in illegal weapons.

[Hannah Berner]

Authorities may not have been aware of everything nefarious Gabe was up to, but Peter MacIsaac contends they knew plenty and ignored it.

[Paul Polango]

Gabriel Wortman was dangerous and they had prohibited weapons and they failed to take action on it.

[Hannah Berner]

And Dan Rogers speaks to the growing fear Pordipick's most prominent citizen instilled in the community.

[Cindy Starrett]

This guy is scary, like beyond guard. With this guy, I knew something very dark was going on and something very bad was going to happen, and nobody was prepared for this.

[Hannah Berner]

Anne's words prove prophetic when in early 2020, the COVID pandemic grinds the world to a halt.

[Paul Polango]

When Covid happened, everything changed.

[Paige DeSorbo]

The damn border's closed.

[Paul Polango]

What am I going to do now?

[Hannah Berner]

Gabriel makes regular trips stateside to obtain the Illegal weapons and other contraband he then smuggles back to and sells in Nova Scotia. Now that operation lies in tatters. Here's Cindy Sterrett along with Jordan Bonaparte.

[Paul Polango]

I don't know how Gabe would have coped with the COVID Losing money would probably be an issue. Gabriel couldn't go into the United States. He all but had the rug pulled.

[Hannah Berner]

Out from underneath him, adding more fuel to the fire. Gabe's partner, Lisa Banfield, moves to Portipique from Dartmouth to isolate with him, bringing his adulterous escapades to a screeching halt.

[Paul Polango]

The denture clinic closed down. Lisa Banfield would be with him full time. We wouldn't be able to keep the sex lifestyle. He needed to have time away from Lisa Banfield and the ability to bring people close to him. Covid prevented that from happening as well.

[Hannah Berner]

One day, in the early days of the pandemic, Gabe sees a news report that many believe sent him off the deep end. A major biker gang takedown in the province next to Nova Scotia.

[Paul Polango]

There was a significant drug bust in New Brunswick.

[Paige DeSorbo]

Various Hells Angels had been arrested in very dramatic busts.

[Paul Polango]

A confidential informant was the linchpin that allowed this significant drug bust in New Brunswick to occur. Gabriel Wortman could have been involved in this as a confidential informant if the.

[Paige DeSorbo]

Biker suspected he was the guy who pointed the police to them. In Wortman's mind, that would have made his life worthless. He was a dead man walking. It was time to cash out.

[Hannah Berner]

On April 18, 2020, Gabriel makes a trip to the Brinks security depot. He's been recorded entering several times before. The facility where it's believed he keeps the money he earns as a police informant. This latest visit is also caught on a security camera.

[Paul Polango]

What Gabriel Wortman does there is he receives just under a half a million dollars in cash before walking out of the building.

[Hannah Berner]

Back home that night, Gabe enlists Lisa Banfield to stuff all the cash he has on hand into fireproof bags and bury it on his property.

[Paige DeSorbo]

He had 705,000 in cash at his cottage.

[Hannah Berner]

Yet for all the effort, it's money he will never spend, as darker plans now possess him. I don't understand. Why are we doing this?

[Paul Polango]

It's over.

[Hannah Berner]

What's over?

[Paul Polango]

Everything.

[Hannah Berner]

Gabriel soon makes good on his apocalyptic statement. Lawyer Adam Rogers and author Paul Polengo can only guess at what made the denturist snap.

[Paige DeSorbo]

Maybe he resented the police for having put him in that position and lashed out. Nobody knew that it was going to go that far off the rails. That he was going to go that crazy.

[Hannah Berner]

One thing is certain. The next chilling actions of Portipique's unofficial mayor will cement an infamous place in Canadian history. At 10pm on April 18, Gabriel Wortman dresses in a full RCMP uniform he has managed to attain, sets his warehouse on fire and speeds off in his replica police vehicle. After loading it up with guns and.

[Paul Polango]

Ammunition, he went from home to home in his neighborhood, presenting himself as a cop.

[Hannah Berner]

First, he drives to the house of close neighbors Greg and Jamie Blair and their two young children. Just as Greg comes outside to see what's going on, Gabe shoots him dead. Wife Jamie witnesses the murder from inside the house and calls the police. What you're about to hear is the actual 911 call and and a warning that it may be disturbing.

[Paul Polango]

91 1, what is your emergency?

[Hannah Berner]

My neighbor. Yep.

[Paige DeSorbo]

Is crying out, I think he just shot my head in the driveway.

[Hannah Berner]

There's police cars in the driveway. There is an unlabeled aircraft.

[Paul Polango]

She made it clear that it was her neighbor Gabriel Wortman, dressed as a copy, driving an RCMP car that shot her husband.

[Hannah Berner]

Gabe then approaches the house to hunt the rest of the family. The 911 audio is missing from this point, but the text as spoken by actors is Jamie Blair's actual last words. He's trying to get into my house.

[Paul Polango]

He just broke my fucking lock.

[Jordan Bonaparte]

Ma' am, what's your name?

[Paul Polango]

Jamie. Hello? Hello? Gabriel Wortman killed Jamie Blair.

[Hannah Berner]

Thankfully, the shooter doesn't discover where the Blair's two young sons are hiding. Once he departs, the boys also get on the phone to the police.

[Paul Polango]

Her children call 911 and the children also recount that he was dressed as a cop, but he's not a cop. He's their neighbor Gabriel, and that he's driving a cop car.

[Hannah Berner]

Lisa McCauley hears the nearby commotion, tells her children to stay inside and heads out to investigate. Gabriel is there waiting for her. Lisa can barely get a word out before she's slain by her neighbor. Miraculously, Gabe does not pursue her children. Instead, he heads to the home of his romantic rival, Leon Jodere.

[Paige DeSorbo]

Gabriel hated him the most, but Leon.

[Hannah Berner]

Has gone to bed early, making the house appear vacant. Gabriel moves on. His next destination is the home of Aaron Tuck, who angrily rejected his lowball offer to buy his property.

[Paul Polango]

He approached the Tuck home.

[Hannah Berner]

Aaron, his wife and teenage daughter all come to the door when Gabriel knocks.

[Paul Polango]

What do you want? Just this. The killing in the Tuck home happened fast and violently. The three members of the family were Found almost on top of each other.

[Hannah Berner]

Once the Tucks are dead, Gabriel sets their house on fire. And his rampage is just getting started.

[Paul Polango]

He was shooting people and lighting their homes on fire one after another. Many of the victims had their guard down. Their last moments were likely when they were realizing that this wasn't a cop.

[Paige DeSorbo]

Is he doing all of this to exact revenge on the rcmp? He dressed up as a mountie and went around killing people in the name of the mounties to pay them back. For what? That his cover was blown as an informant? That his life was over and he's blaming them. He may have been just trying to create a chaotic situation in order to distract the police from trying to figure out exactly where he was.

[Hannah Berner]

Gabriel Wortman murders 13 people in Portipique that night and sets 16 houses aflame. The denturist is not only murdering his immediate neighbors, he extends his killing spree to the larger area, escaping Portipik and unleashing violence on surrounding communities. Even though police are now well aware of who the killer is and the trail of blood and fire he's leaving in his wake, they somehow both fail to capture him or even properly warn the citizenry.

[Paul Polango]

They knew that this guy had committed multiple murders, that he was driving a police car. There was a massive failure in communication.

[Hannah Berner]

Authorities only alert the police public with a post on Twitter many hours after his spree was well underway.

[Paige DeSorbo]

The RCMP sent out a tweet that night that there was a firearms complaint in port, a pic, and just sort of left it at that.

[Paul Polango]

Using Twitter to notify the public demonstrates gross negligence and mass incompetence. There's no other word for it. It's gross negligence, overwhelming incompetence.

[Hannah Berner]

In the early hours of April 19, an oblivious Leon Jodere is awakened by Gabe's wife, Lisa Banfield, frantically banging on his door. Banfield tells Leon that before starting his rampage, Gabriel handcuffed and locked her in his RCMP replica vehicle, then returned inside to retrieve his arsenal. Here's Jordan Bonaparte explaining her harrowing escape.

[Paul Polango]

He's gathering firearms and ammunition and loading them into the front seat seat of the car. It's during this time that she sees the opportunity to sneak from the back seat, which had locked doors, into the front seat of the car through a small opening that was in the window. She escaped to the police cruiser. She was running for her life, ran into the woods, and she found a place to hide, and she spent the night there. It's not safe for you to stay here.

[Paige DeSorbo]

Leon Drawdry was concerned Concerned about both of their safety.

[Hannah Berner]

What they and no one else realizes is that Gabriel Wortman is long gone from Portipec, spending the night sleeping in a parking lot 15 miles away.

[Paul Polango]

What I couldn't understand was how this guy pulled a rabbit and was able to jump out of the area. We were dealing with a massive screw up here. There was no secondary perimeter set up. Additional police forces weren't drawn in.

[Hannah Berner]

It's nearly 12 hours after the first murder and authorities have only just alerted the public about the ongoing massacre. And the rampage shows no signs of stopping as Gabriel Wortman continues his terror through rural Nova Scotia.

[Paul Polango]

Driving his vehicle alongside a vehicle and shooting, shooting a woman who was just poked for a walk.

[Hannah Berner]

By chance, Gabe encounters another RCMP cruiser, slays the officer, then sets both their vehicles on fire. Constable Heidi Stevenson, a 23 year RCMP veteran, leaves behind two children. Meanwhile, law enforcement is finally on the hunt for the killer. Some in unmarked cars.

[Paul Polango]

Gabriel Wortman ends up in a stolen vehicle that thankfully is almost out of gas. So he had no choice but to stop at a gas station.

[Hannah Berner]

Over 13 hours, Gabriel Wortman has murdered 22 people. But his spree is about to come to an abrupt end. A tactical police unit chances upon him at a gas station and approaches in their unmarked vehicle. Officers see the suspect go for his gun. Their target is brought down. The largest mass murder in Canadian history has ended and people immediately want answers.

[Paul Polango]

This was the largest clusterfuck in Canadian policing history.

[Hannah Berner]

In March of 2023, the $30 million Mass Casualty Commission delivers a scathing report criticizing the RCMP.

[Paul Polango]

Among our recommendations, we are calling for major changes to RCMP oversight processes and culture.

[Hannah Berner]

Survivors in Porta Pic band together, desperate to heal from overwhelming tragedy. Leon Jodorre is outspoken in condemning the authorities failure to support victims families.

[Paul Polango]

One of the things Leon kept saying over and over again was that Lisa McCully hadn't done anything wrong and this was just wrong. He said, I lost a gal that I used to go out with.

[Paige DeSorbo]

Just the weight of this situation and the fact that he wasn't asked to testify at the commission, he was just bearing it all on his own.

[Hannah Berner]

In 2022, severely depressed, Leon Jodere takes his own life. The final victim of Gabriel Wortman.

[Paige DeSorbo]

He wasn't getting any counseling, but he definitely needed help and he was crying out for it. And that led him to that decision. And so it was a really sad thing.

[Paul Polango]

This whole event hugely impacted Nova Scotia and left many of us traumatized.

[Cindy Starrett]

Oh, the whole province just died that day. There's so much more blood that's been spilled on that land and I can't go back there. I wish I didn't even know what pic was.

[Hannah Berner]

This podcast is produced by Cream Productions in association with Fremantle Media and id. You can check out Fear Thy Neighbor on Max, Discovery plus and id.

[Jordan Bonaparte]

This podcast is brought to you by Aura. Imagine waking up to find your bank account drained, bills for loans you never took out, a warrant for your arrest. All because someone stole your identity. Hackers aren't waiting. Why are you? That's why we're thrilled to partner with Aura. Your personal data is a goldmine for hackers and Aura helps lock it down. Aura monitors the dark web, blocks data brokers from selling your information. Includes a VPN for private browsing and a password manager to secure your accounts before criminals break in. For a limited time, Aura is offering our listeners a 14 day free trial plus a dark web scan to check if your personal information has been leaked. All for [e-mail] safety that's aura.com safety to sign up and start protecting yourself and your loved ones. That's a u r a.com safety terms apply. Check the site for details.

[Paul Polango]

ACAST powers the world's best podcasts. Here's a show that we recommend hey.

[Paige DeSorbo]

Guys, we have an exciting announcement about our podcast.

[Paul Polango]

For the past seven years, the Holderness Family Podcast has been the most favorite thing we do.

[Paige DeSorbo]

We love getting to talk to experts. We love having meaningful conversations just the two of us.

[Hannah Berner]

And we also love hearing from you. But the thing we love most is.

[Paul Polango]

Being a place where you can laugh.

[Paige DeSorbo]

A lot has changed in the last.

[Paul Polango]

Seven years and we feel very lucky.

[Paige DeSorbo]

That our audience is growing older with us.

[Hannah Berner]

So in this in the spirit of.

[Paul Polango]

That, we are relaunching our podcast. We are excited to introduce Laugh Lines with Kim and Penn Holderness.

[Paige DeSorbo]

The Laugh Lines podcast will be all about aging together better and also being able to laugh about getting older.

[Hannah Berner]

We hope you'll join us Search Laugh Lines with Kim and Penn Holderness New episodes every Tuesday.

[Paul Polango]

ACAST helps creators launch, grow and monetize their podcasts everywhere.

[Paige DeSorbo]

Acast.com.