In small-town Innisfail, Alberta, everyone knew your name, doors were left unlocked, and a sense of tight knit community was never far away.

But in 2011, that peaceful prairie innocence was shattered forever when a deadly package—disguised as a holiday gift—was left on the doorstep of 23-year-old single mother Victoria Shachtay.

What initially looked like a random act of violence- quickly unraveled into a calculated story of financial greed, stolen lives, and the ultimate betrayal.

This week, I examine how a highly trusted family friend - weaponized his familiarity to commit an exceptionally rare crime that changed Canadian true-crime history forever.

with files from:

The Calgary Herald

Red Deer Advocate

The Calgary Sun

Canadian Press

Alberta RCMP

For decades, American fugitive Gary Allen Srery moved silently across borders, changed names, and left unspeakable violence in his wake.

In the conclusion episode, we follow the dark trail of a predator that lead directly to Calgary, Alberta —and reveal the horrific secrets buried deep within the Foothills for nearly 50 years.

If you are into atmospheric, deep-dive sleepy-town Canadian true crime- you're in the right place. Please hit that FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE button...it tells the algorithm to keep pushing these lesser-known yet equally as compelling homicide cases.

**For our international listeners: Calgary is a major city nestled in the foothills of the Rockies in Alberta, Canada.

#GaryAllenSrery #CalgaryTrueCrime #CanadianTrueCrime #ColdCaseSolved #TrueCrimePodcast #GeneticGeneology #MurderMysteries

Part 1: The Book of Gary Allen Srery — When Science Didn't Forget

Four young women.

Four lives brutally interrupted.

Nearly five decades of unanswered questions.

Then, science came knocking...

As investigators revisit four forgotten cold cases in Calgary, DNA begins to reveal a chilling connection — and finally gives four women the voice they were denied in life.

*With source files from:

RCMP-GRC Alberta

CTV National

Canadian Press

Radio-Canada

In the summer of 2010, Lyle and Marie McCann set out on a road trip from Alberta to British Columbia to visit their daughter. They never made it.

Their burned-out motorhome was discovered near Edson, Alberta — but there was no sign of the elderly couple.

What followed was a massive investigation, a suspect with a disturbing criminal history, years of courtroom battles, and a family desperate for answers.

But even after a conviction, one haunting question remained:

Where are Lyle and Marie McCann?

And their story wouldn't end in the courtroom. Their disappearance would eventually inspire a proposed change to Canadian law — one that could affect how no-body murder cases are handled for generations to come.

With files from:

CanadianPress

CBC

CrimeStoppers

CTV Edmonton - David Ewasuk

Edmonton Journal

Edmonton Sun

Music:

Music licensed through Soundstripe.

Code: 8D4Z9DPNEBKNX3TQ

Three people vanished from a Calgary home - and what investigators uncovered would turn a missing persons case into one of Canada’s most chilling triple murder prosecutions.

The conclusion to the series closes the loop on the Lickness family case, tracing the evidence, the motive, and the courtroom fight that followed.

The Nathan O’Brien Children’s Foundation:

https://nathanobrienfoundation.com/

With files from:

CanadianPress

CBC

music courtesy of @pixabay:

Emand Erdroff - “Where we meet again...”

What happens when a quiet prairie town hides dark secrets?

In this episode we uncover hidden Items, strange evidence & the disturbing mind of a killer...

Youtube link to thermal imaging video of HAWCS @calgarypolice capture of Douglas Garland via @calgaryherald:

https://youtu.be/_TOpGJMhG8k?si=pRIzE58rvz7VACz4

music used in this episde:

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Germany

Pixabay is a user-contributed stock content website. The above-named Licensor is responsible for this audio file. Pixabay monitors uploaded audio files only to a reasonable extent. Pixabay cannot be held responsible for the acts or omissions of its users and does not represent or warrant that any required third-party consents or licenses have been obtained.

For any queries related to this document please contact Pixabay via [email protected].

On a warm June morning, everything changed.

She walked into an unlocked home and right into an unimaginable horror.

What happened next became one of Calgary's darkest cases. What's the detail that hit you the hardest? #TrueCrime #Calgary #Airdrie #CrimeStory #SoundBite

Hi! Welcome to my podcast "Gettin' the Tea with Leila C" - where i try to uncover stories that reveal universal truths, celebrate human resilience, and explore what we can do to make a positive impact.

How Calgary’s Community Spirit Turned Into the Key to Unlock a Dark Family Tragedy.

**Audio excerpt: Jennifer O’Brien press appeal, courtesy of the Calgary Police Service. Used with permission where required.

What started as an ordinary night with grandparents in a quiet Calgary neighborhood ended in a nightmare no one saw coming....