Episode 294: On the evening of December 21, 1883, near Bloomfield, Ontario, visitor Peter Lazier was murdered by two intruders at the farmhouse of Quakers Gilbert and Margaret Jones. The community, deeply affected, quickly organized a search. They traced footprints in the snow, leading to Joseph Thomset and the Lowder family's homes near West Lake. By the next day, Joseph Thomset and brothers David and George Lowder were arrested and charged with murder.
The legal process moved rapidly. The coroner's inquest began the next day, followed by formal proceedings within a week. The trial, held at the Prince Edward County Courthouse in Picton just five months later, suggested the motive was robbery, aimed at stealing the $555 Gilbert Jones earned from selling hops. George Lowder and Joseph Thomset were found guilty of murder and hanged in June of 1884. Many felt justice was served, but others believed the law got it wrong, acting hastily without sufficient evidence.
Sources:
Prince Edward County
The Canadian Encyclopedia | Quakers
The Lazier Murder: Prince Edward County, 1884 — Robert J. Sharpe
The Kingston Whig-Standard 24 Dec 1883, page 2
Ottawa Daily Citizen 24 Dec 1883, page 1
Manitoba Weekly Free Press 15 May 1884, page 2
The Lazier murder trial of 1884 – did they get the right men?
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The Quakers and The Killers: The Murder of Peter Lazier

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Episode 318: In the previous episode, we explored the shocking murder of Tim Bosma and the subsequent trial that brought two killers to justice. However, their trail of violence did not end there. In this second installment of our three-part series, we delve into the tragic case of Laura Babcock, 23, whose July 2012 disappearance from Toronto was eventually attributed to Dellen Millard and Mark Smich. We'll learn a bit about Laura’s life and examine the circumstances surrounding her vanishing and the painstaking yet unsuccessful search efforts to uncover her remains. You’ll hear disturbing details that emerged during the trial for her murder, shedding even more light on the twisted dynamics between Millard, Smich, and their unfortunate victim. This episode serves as a prelude to the final chapter, where we'll explore the most shocking revelation of all, that Dellen Millard also killed his father, Wayne, for his money.
Sources:
Search — Laura Babcock | Toronto Star
Laura Babcock had an intense fear of death since childhood, court hears in murder trial for Dellen Millard and Mark Smich
Laura Babcock had intense fear of death since childhood, court hears
Toronto family receives death certificate years after daughter was murdered
Who was Laura Babcock? A look into her life as the trial into her presumed death continues | CBC News
Dellen Millard, Mark Smich found guilty of murder in Laura Babcock’s death
What the jury didn't hear in the Laura Babcock murder trial
Laura Babcock, horoscope for birth date 12 February 1989, born in Etobicoke, with Astrodatabank biography
Dec 12, 2019, page A30 - Red Deer Advocate at Newspapers.com
Dec 07, 2017, page 2 - The Toronto Star at Newspapers.com
2015 ONSC 6206 (CanLII) | R. v Millard and Smich | CanLII
2017 ONSC 7584 (CanLII) | R. v. Millard | CanLII
R. v. Ward-Jackson, (2018) O.J. No. 163 | PDF | Sentence (Law) | Crime & Violence
2018 ONSC 178 (CanLII) | R. v. Ward-Jackson | CanLII
2018 ONSC 5602 (CanLII) | R. v. Millard | CanLII
2023 ONCA 418 (CanLII) | R. v. Millard | CanLII
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Shadows of Deception (Part 2): The Murder of Laura Babcock

Episode 317: Tim Bosma, a 32-year-old family man from Ancaster, Ontario, went missing in May 2013 after taking two men for a test drive of his truck. The two men were later identified as Dellen Millard, a 27-year-old heir to a Canadian aviation empire, and Mark Smich, a 24-year-old drug dealer and aspiring rapper. This case would expose the disturbing reality of Millard and Smich's cold-blooded violence and web of deceit.
The investigation into Bosma's disappearance was just the beginning of uncovering the harrowing events surrounding Millard and Smich. In 2012, before Bosma's murder, they had killed Millard's 23-year-old ex-girlfriend, Laura Babcock. Later that same year, they shockingly took the life of Dellen's father, Wayne Millard.
As the details of the Tim Bosma case unfold, the stage is set for the equally horrific events of the murders of Laura Babcock and Wayne Millard to come to light in parts 2 and 3 of this true crime series. The disturbing stories of these two killers, Dellen Millard and Mark Smich, reveal a chilling trail of devastation left for the families and communities impacted by their callous acts of violence.
Sources:
Tim Bosma: A timeline of the police investigation and murder trial
Cellphone records to play big role in Tim Bosma murder trial | CBC News
The Murder of Tim Bosma : The Devil Had a Name | CBC News
Kijiji Statement
Millard roommate testifies about visiting hangar on day Bosma disappeared | CBC News
Hundreds attend Tim Bosma memorial service
Wife of Tim Bosma pleads for his safe return - Toronto
Clairmont: Whatever it takes to find Tim Bosma
Hamilton will always remember Tim Bosma
Tim Bosma remembered: father, husband, son and friend | CBC News
Everything We Learned at the Tim Bosma Murder Trial
Tim Bosma: The beginning. and the end
‘We have waited for justice’: Tim Bosma’s widow speaks Millard, Smich guilty verdict | Watch News Videos Online
Tim Bosma Found Dead | Global News | YouTube
Bosma Murder Charge | Global News | YouTube
Search: Dellen Millard | Canadian Legal Information Institute | CanLII
2015 ONSC 6206 (CanLII) | R. v Millard and Smich | CanLII
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Shadows of Deception (Part 1): The Murder of Tim Bosma

Episode 316: On January 18, 1987, 20-year-old University of Victoria student Marguerite Telesford disappeared during a morning jog in Saanich, British Columbia. Her bloody earmuffs, bloodstains, a discharged shotgun shell, and a pry bar were found, suggesting foul play, but her body was never located. In 1989, Scott Ian MacKay was convicted of second-degree murder concerning Telesford's death despite maintaining his innocence. MacKay had a history of violent assaults on women. Recently, after serving a life sentence, MacKay was controversially granted day parole, raising concerns from the community and victim advocates about public safety risks and his lack of remorse.
Sources:
Marguerite Telesford - Mount Doug Alumni Association
Archive dive: The 1987 murder of a UVic student who vanished on her morning run
The 35th Anniversary of the Saanich Indian Territorial Declaration
Neighbourhood History Tillicum
"Marguerite Telesford" - Search - Newspapers.com™
1988 CanLII 2888 (BC SC) | B.C. (A.G.) v. Pac. Press Ltd. | CanLII
1992 CanLII 5990 (BC CA) | R. v. MacKay | CanLII
Dead Ends: B.C. Crime Stories
CANADA - Marguerite Telesford, Missing since January 18, 1987 from Saanich, Victoria, BC; 2nd degree murder conviction
Jack Knox: Marguerite Telesford murder a story without end
Jan 20, 1987, page 1 - The Vancouver Sun at Newspapers.com
Jan 20, 1987, page 3 - The Province at Newspapers.com
Jan 21, 1987, page 8 - The Leader-Post at Newspapers.com
Jan 22, 1987, page 4 - The Province at Newspapers.com
Jan 23, 1987, page 3 - Times Colonist at Newspapers.com
Apr 14, 1988, page 1 - Times Colonist at Newspapers.com
Apr 21, 1988, page 1 - Times Colonist at Newspapers.com
Jan 19, 1989, page 12 - The Province at Newspapers.com
Jan 19, 1989, page 1 - Times Colonist at Newspapers.com
Jan 19, 1989, page 9 - The Vancouver Sun at Newspapers.com
Jan 25, 1989, page 5 - The Province at Newspapers.com
Jan 25, 1989, page 13 - The Vancouver Sun at Newspapers.com
Jan 26, 1989, page 11 - Times Colonist at Newspapers.com
Jan 28, 1989, page 9 - The Vancouver Sun at Newspapers.com
Feb 02, 1989, page 3 - Times Colonist at Newspapers.com
Feb 04, 1989, page 3 - Edmonton Journal at Newspapers.com
Feb 05, 1989, page 8 - The Province at Newspapers.com
Feb 06, 1989, page 3 - Times Colonist at Newspapers.com
Feb 08, 1989, page 1 - Times Colonist at Newspapers.com
May 15, 1993, page 1 - Times Colonist at Newspapers.com
Jan 27, 1998, page 2 - The Province at Newspapers.com
Mar 17, 2024, page A4 - The Province at Newspapers.com
Man convicted of murdering UVic student 37 years ago gets day parole
‘Baffling’: B.C. murderer who killed university student granted day parole - BC
High-risk offender to reside in Vancouver - Vancouver Police Department
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Morning Run Cut Short: The Murder of Marguerite Telesford

Episode 315: Barbara Gayle Stoppel, a 16-year-old waitress, was tragically murdered on December 23, 1981, in the women's washroom of Ideal Donut Shop in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She was strangled with a twine, and despite being found alive, she succumbed to her injuries after six days on life support. The murder case quickly became notorious not only due to its brutal nature but also because of the wrongful conviction of Thomas Sophonow, who was initially accused of the crime.
Sophonow underwent three separate trials: the first ended with a hung jury, and the second and third led to convictions ultimately overturned by the Manitoba Court of Appeal. The Supreme Court of Canada refused to hear a Crown appeal, leading to Sophonow's final acquittal. This case is frequently cited as a significant example of a miscarriage of justice involving flawed eyewitness identifications and police misconduct during the interrogation process.
Despite Sophonow's exoneration, the actual perpetrator remained at large until a re-investigation of the case pointed to another suspect, Terry Arnold, who was already known to police for similar offences, having left a trail of depravity, sexual assaults and suspected murder in his wake. This revelation came too late to be pursued thoroughly, as Arnold died by suicide in 2005.
The impact of this case has been profound, leading to public scrutiny over police procedures and the reliability of eyewitness testimony. It has also been the subject of several books and a public inquiry which sought to prevent such injustices in the future.
Sources:
barbstoppel.com
Thomas Sophonow | Innocence Canada
City of Winnipeg
1984 CanLII 2912 (MB CA) | R. v. Sophonow | CanLII
1984 CanLII 3811 (MB CA) | R. v. Sophonow (No.1) | CanLII
1986 CanLII 104 (MB CA) | R. v. Sophonow (No.2) | CanLII
1999 CanLII 6576 (BC SC) | R. v. Arnold | CanLII
2001 BCCA 374 (CanLII) | R. v. Arnold | CanLII
2005 BCCA 611 (CanLII) | R. v. Arnold | CanLII
Body of suspect in Winnipeg killing found in Victoria
Drifter
Thomas Sophonow Inquiry
Letter of Apology to Tom Sophonow
1bpm85fqb_903420
Stoppel
Exclusive: Thirty years later, survivor details encounter with serial killer Terry Arnold
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More than Meets the Eye: The Murder of Barbara Stoppel

Episode 314: Ezra Allen Miner, more commonly known as Bill Miner, was an infamous American stagecoach and train robber born in Michigan in 1846. Bill Miner's criminal career included an early arrest on April 3, 1866, for robbery, leading to a three-year sentence at San Quentin. Over thirty-five years, Miner was incarcerated for a cumulative total of nearly 30 years, experiencing two official releases and making five escapes from custody. He became infamous in Canada for robbing the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) and securing his status as a legendary figure in Canadian outlaw lore, which included an escape from the B.C. Penitentiary in New Westminster.
Known by nicknames such as “The Grey Fox” and the “Gentleman Bandit,” Miner was celebrated for his courteous demeanour during his heists. Furthermore, he is often credited with popularizing the now-iconic command during robberies, “Hands up!”; however, this may be hyperbole. Miner’s blend of politeness and notoriety helped cement his legacy in the annals of Canadian criminal folklore.
Sources:
This Week in History: 1906 - The legendary outlaw Bill Miner robs a train near Kamloops
Bill Miner | Canadian Cowboy Country Magazine
Bill Miner | The Canadian Encyclopedia
The Grey Fox (1982 film) | The Canadian Encyclopedia
"The Grey Fox" (1982) - Movie on Bill Miner - Western Stagecoach Robber | YouTube
The Grey Fox: The True Story of Bill Miner - Last of the Old-Time Bandits
Billy Miner Pie Recipe
Billy Miner | Mission Museum
Bill Miner | Historica Canada Education Portal
Bill Miner | BC Penitentiary Collection
Bill Miner – The Gentleman Outlaw – Golden BC Museum
Bill Miner | NFB Vignette
Old Bill Miner: Last of the Famous Western Bandits
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The Quakers and The Killers: The Murder of Peter Lazier

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