Robert Pickton, a Canadian serial killer, has died after being assaulted in prison, the Correctional Service of Canada confirmed. Pickton, who was 74 years old, was serving time at Port-Cartier Institution in Quebec when he was attacked by another inmate. Pickton was known for taking female victims to his pig farm near Vancouver during a crime spree in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He was convicted of six counts of second-degree murder in 2007 and sentenced to life in prison with a maximum parole ineligibility period of 25 years.
During a years-long investigation into the disappearances of dozens of women from Vancouver’s seediest streets, authorities found the remains or DNA of 33 women on Pickton’s farm. Throughout his trial, Pickton boasted to an undercover police officer that he killed a total of 49 women. A prosecution witness claimed that Pickton had bragged about strangling his victims and feeding their remains to his pigs. Health officials even issued a tainted meat advisory to neighbors who may have bought pork from Pickton’s farm, fearing it might contain human remains. The case made international headlines and brought attention to the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women.
Pickton’s confirmed victims include Sereena Abotsway, Mona Wilson, Andrea Joesbury, Brenda Ann Wolfe, Georgina Papin, and Marnie Frey. Cynthia Cardinal, whose sister Georgina Papin was murdered by Pickton, expressed relief at his death, stating that it brings a sense of closure and healing for her family and others affected by his crimes. Vancouver police were criticized for not taking the cases of the missing women seriously, as many of them were sex workers or drug addicts living on the margins of society. The impact of Pickton’s crimes has been devastating for communities in British Columbia and across the country, particularly Indigenous peoples, victims, and their families.
The Canadian correctional service is conducting an investigation into the assault on Pickton to determine if policies and protocols were followed. Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc offered his condolences to the families of Pickton’s victims, acknowledging the heinous nature of the crimes committed by Pickton. At the time of his sentencing, the British Columbia Supreme Court Justice James Williams described Pickton’s case as rare, warranting the maximum period of parole ineligibility available to the court. Pickton’s death marks the end of a dark chapter in Canadian history, bringing some closure to those impacted by his heinous actions.
The 51-year-old inmate responsible for assaulting Pickton is in custody, and authorities are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the attack. Pickton’s case raised awareness about violence against women and marginalized communities, prompting a reevaluation of how law enforcement and society as a whole address such cases. Though Pickton’s death may bring a sense of relief to many, it also serves as a reminder of the lasting impact of his crimes on victims, families, and communities. The legacy of Robert Pickton and the women he killed will not be forgotten, as efforts continue to seek justice and support for those affected by his actions.
