Episode 282: Aurore Gagnon is probably one of the most tragic figures in twentieth-century Canadian history. She was only ten years old when she died of exhaustion and blood poisoning in her hometown of Sainte-Philomène-de-Fortierville, Quebec, on February 12, 1920. An autopsy revealed at least 54 wounds on her body, presumably inflicted over time by her stepmother Marie-Anne Houde and her father, Télesphore Gagnon. Both were later convicted for their roles in the little girl’s death. Aurore Gagnon’s story has left a lasting impact on Quebec's cultural memory, inspiring plays, films, and discussions about child abuse and children's rights in the province.
Sources:
Aurore! The Mystery of the Martyred Child
HISTORY OF SAINTE-PHILOMÈNE
Fortierville, Quebec, Canada: Church of Saint Philomena of Fortierville
Fortierville
GAGNON, AURORE – Volume XIV (1911-1920) – Dictionary of Canadian Biography
Généalogie Aurore Gagnon
Centre d'interprétation de Fortierville | Église Ste-Philomène de Fortierville
Monument funéraire d'Aurore Gagnon - Répertoire du patrimoine culturel du Québec
Marie-Aurore-Lucienne “Aurore” Gagnon (1909-1920)...

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The Child Martyr: Aurore Gagnon

True crime, legends, folklore, dark history and other creepy topics from the perspective of real live Canadians.

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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 Life of the Grey Fox: Bill Miner, Train Robber

Episode 313: Douglas Donald Moore, known in Meadowvale, Ontario,  as a drug supplier for young teens, gained notoriety in Mississauga for killing three young men before taking his own life in his jail cell while awaiting trial on 11 charges for sexual assaults on three boys. Peel Regional Police assert that Robert Grewal, 22, of Meadowvale, and Giuseppe (Joseph) Manchisi, 20, of Milton, who were close friends, were killed in 2003 by Moore. After Moore’s death, he was named the prime suspect in the murders of Grewal and Manchisi. Additionally, police believe Moore was responsible for killing Rene Charlebois, 15, also of Meadowvale.
All three victims disappeared in late 2003, and their bodies were discovered in spring 2004. Charlebois’ remains were found in an Orangeville landfill, while Grewal and Manchisi’s remains were located in wooded areas near Montreal. In 2005, Moore’s former common-law wife and an unidentified 16-year-old were convicted of accessory to murder after the fact. The teen assisted in disposing of evidence, including driving with Moore to Quebec to bury the bodies of Grewal and Manchisi. Moore believed the two men had stolen drugs and cash from him, but it was later revealed that the 16-year-old was responsible for the robbery. The police have never disclosed the motive behind the killing of Rene Charlebois.
Sources:
Mississauga | Canadian Encyclopedia
History of Mississauga | MIssissauga.ca
Canada's most notorious murder case happened in Mississauga in the 1970s
Improbable Cause: The Harrison Family Murders
Search: Douglas Donald Moore | Newspapers.com
Youth appealing in Manchisi case
Murder victim’s grieving mother still has questions
Dad seeks slain son’s body parts | Toronto Star
Douglas Donald Moore (1968-2004)
Cold North Killers by Lee Mellor | Everand
Douglas Donald Moore | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers
Opinion: The horrifying path of Douglas Moore
Ontario Newsroom | Coroner’s Inquest
50TH ANNIVERSARY: Notorious Meadowvale serial killer left suicide note
Didn't know killer's background, doctor testifies | The Star
Spree killer feared dangerous-offender status | The Star
`I'm sorry ... I'm finally free': Killer | The Star
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Murders in Meadowvale: Robert Grewal, Joseph Manchisi and Rene Charlebois

Episode 312: In a home in Shediac, New Brunswick, on February 13, 1805, Amos Babcock, driven by delusions of divine mission, subjected his family to a horrifying ordeal. He gathered his wife, children and sister, Mercy, instilling fear with his erratic behaviour and unsettling declarations. Spurred by imagined threats and seeing himself as an instrument of God, Amos prepared for a sacrificial act, treating his family with cruelty dressed up as a religious ritual. His deep descent into madness was evident as he inflicted violence upon his loved ones, sparing none from his erratic wrath. Babcock's final act of brutality saw him murder his sister, Mercy Babcock Hall, whom he saw as demonic, in a brutal frenzy of madness, bringing a tragic end to a night of unspeakable horror.
Sources:
Amos Babcock (1764-1805) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree
Squash, Pumpkin Pie and Mercy… | Part 1
Squash, Pumpkin Pie and Mercy… | Part 2
New Brunswick — History and Culture
The Babcock Tragedy, a Story of Madness and Murder
Hellfire in Shediac
Amos Babcock... Crazed Murderer, or...?
Full text of "The New Brunswick magazine"
Mar 08, 1939, page 14 - The Montreal Star at Newspapers.com
Apr 13, 1939, page 15 - The Kingston Whig-Standard at Newspapers.com
Jan 18, 1993, page 25 - The Leader-Post at Newspapers.com
Apr 20, 2013, page 79 - National Post at Newspapers.com
The Ballad of Jacob Peck by Debra Komar (Ebook)
Great Awakening - First, Second & Definition
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Moved by the Spirit: The Murder of Mercy Babcock Hall

Episode 311: On October 21, 2021, a tragic accident occurred on the set of the low-budget old-west movie Rust, filmed on a New Mexico ranch. Wife, mother and Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, 42, was fatally shot, and writer/director Joel Souza, 48, was injured. It was the lead actor and producer, Alec Baldwin, who was holding the prop gun that killed Hutchins and wounded Souza. Somehow, it contained a live round. Investigations also revealed other live rounds on set, which is never supposed to happen.
Baldwin and the film’s inexperienced armourer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, 24, were charged with involuntary manslaughter. Dave Halls, 63, serving as the first assistant director on the film, entered a no-contest plea per a deal made with prosecutors, accepting responsibility for the misdemeanour offence of negligent use of a deadly weapon linked to the death of Halyna Hutchins. Numerous civil suits have also been filed, with accusations of negligence being levelled against several parties, including the production company, Hannah Gutierrez and actor Alec Baldwin.
Sources:
Halyna Hutchins | IMDb
Joel Souza | IMDb
Rust | Western | IMDb
Alec Baldwin | IMDb
Hannah Gutierrez Reed Probable Cause Statement | DocumentCloud
Halyna Hutchins Post Mortem — 62fc0b327d166.pdf
Alec Baldwin - Halyna Hutchins - FBI and Medical Examiner Reports (Aug 2022)
American Cinematographer January 2022 Ac0122 | PDF | Pixel | Signal Processing
The moment Alec Baldwin is told of the death of his colleague Halyna Hutchins
The New Mexico Film Office Announces Rust is Currently Filming in New Mexico
The day Alec Baldwin shot Halyna Hutchins and Joel Souza
Search warrant reveals grim details of 'Rust' shooting and Halyna Hutchins' final minutes
A Timeline of the ‘Rust’ Shooting and Investigation
'Rust' timeline: Key events in the Alec Baldwin on-set shooting
Rust trial: How events unfolded after fatal shooting on Alec Baldwin film set
Raise Funds In Memory of Halyna Hutchins, organized by ICG Local 600
‘Rust’ Camera Assistant on Safety Issues, Pay Irregularities and Producer Behavior on “Brutal” Set
Bonanza Creek Ranch | About
Gun in Fatal Rust Shooting Used in Target Practice that Morning
FULL Alec Baldwin Police Interview About Rust Shooting Incident
Bodycam Released in Alec Baldwin Set Shooting
Alec Baldwin, ‘Rust’ producers reach settlement with slain cinematographer’s estate - National
Video shows 'Rust' rehearsal, Baldwin speak to officers after shooting | NewsNation
Halyna Hutchins’s Death on the Set of Rust Was “Not a Freak Accident”
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The Child Martyr: Aurore Gagnon

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