Forsaken: the Report of the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Forsaken: the Report of the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry FORSAKEN The Report of the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry Volume I The Honourable Wally T. Oppal, QC Commissioner FORSAKEN The Report of the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry VOLUME I The Women, Their Lives and the Framework of Inquiry: Setting the Context for Understanding and Change The Honourable Wally T. Oppal, QC Commissioner British Columbia November 19, 2012 Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication British Columbia. Missing Women Commission of Inquiry Forsaken [electronic resource] : the report of the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry / Wally T. Oppal, Commissioner. Complete contents: Vol. I. The women, their lives and the framework of inquiry, setting the context for understanding and change - v. II. Nobodies, how and why we failed the missing and murdered women - v. III. Gone, but not forgotten, building the women’s legacy of safety together - v. IV. The Commission’s process. - Executive summary. Issued also in printed form. Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 978-0-9917299-7-5 1. Serial murder investigation--British Columbia. 2. Missing persons--Investigation --British Columbia. 3. Murder victims--British Columbia. 4. Pickton, Robert William. 5. British Columbia. Missing Women Commission of Inquiry. 6. Downtown-Eastside (Vancouver, B.C.). 7. Governmental investigations--British Columbia. I. Oppal, Wallace T II. Title. HV6762 B75 B75 2012 363.25’9523209711 C2012-980202-6 Access to Report Please contact the following if you are interested in receiving a copy of the report or a CD-ROM of the report: Distribution Centre-Victoria PO Box 9455 STN PROV GOVT Victoria, BC V8W 9V7 Phone: 250 952 4460 Toll free: 1 800 282 7955 Fax: 250 952 4431 Email: [email protected] URL: http://www.bcsolutions.gov.bc.ca/opc/ For general inquiries, please call Service BC Call Centre Hours of operation are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST – Monday through Friday In Victoria call: 250 387 6121 In Vancouver call: 604 660 2421 Elsewhere in BC call: 1 800 663 7867 Outside British Columbia call: 1 604 660 2421 Email address: [email protected] Telephone Device for the Deaf (TDD) In Vancouver call: 604 775 0303 Elsewhere in BC call: 1 800 661 8773 TABLE OF CONTENTS “Simply Gone”: Last Sightings of Loved Ones ..........................................................................1 PART 1 – INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW .........................................................................4 A. Forsaken ..........................................................................................................................4 B. Overview of the Commission Mandate and Process ........................................................6 C. Acknowledgments ...........................................................................................................8 D. Overview of the Report .................................................................................................10 PART 2 - THE CRISIS OF MISSING AND MURDERED WOMEN ............................................14 A. Introduction ..................................................................................................................14 B. International ..................................................................................................................14 United States ...............................................................................................................15 Federal Bureau of Investigation database ...................................................................16 New York State ...........................................................................................................16 Houston, Texas ..........................................................................................................16 Cleveland, Ohio ........................................................................................................16 Alaska ........................................................................................................................17 New Mexico ..............................................................................................................17 Green River, Washington ...........................................................................................17 United Kingdom ..........................................................................................................18 Yorkshire murders ......................................................................................................18 Ipswich murders ........................................................................................................18 Latin America ..............................................................................................................19 C. Canada .........................................................................................................................20 Police-reported statistics in Canada ............................................................................21 Alberta .......................................................................................................................22 Saskatchewan ............................................................................................................22 Manitoba ...................................................................................................................23 Ontario ......................................................................................................................23 Aboriginal Women ......................................................................................................23 Native Women’s Association of Canada – Sisters In Spirit database ...........................24 Walk4Justice database ...............................................................................................27 CEDAW Inquiry under the Optional Protocol .............................................................27 D. British Columbia ...........................................................................................................28 PART 3 – THE WOMEN .........................................................................................................32 A. Introduction ..................................................................................................................32 B. In Memoriam ................................................................................................................36 Marlene Abigosis .........................................................................................................36 Sereena Abotsway .......................................................................................................37 Sharon Abraham .........................................................................................................38 Elaine Allenbach .........................................................................................................38 Angela Arsenault .........................................................................................................39 Sherry Baker ................................................................................................................39 Cindy Beck ..................................................................................................................40 Yvonne Boen...............................................................................................................40 Andrea Borhaven ........................................................................................................40 Heather Bottomley ......................................................................................................41 Heather Chinnock .......................................................................................................41 Nancy Clark ................................................................................................................41 Wendy Crawford .........................................................................................................41 Marcella Creison .........................................................................................................42 Dawn Crey ..................................................................................................................42 Sarah de Vries .............................................................................................................43 “Jane Doe” ..................................................................................................................44 Sheryl Donahue ..........................................................................................................45 Tiffany Drew ...............................................................................................................45 Elaine Dumba .............................................................................................................46 Sheila Egan .................................................................................................................46 Cara Ellis .....................................................................................................................46 Gloria Fedyshyn ..........................................................................................................47 Cynthia Feliks ..............................................................................................................48 Marnie Frey .................................................................................................................48
Recommended publications
  • Butcher Baker, Today, on Timesuck
    Cold Open: Alaska. The most remote part of the United States. So much uninhabited land. In total area, it’s twice the size of Texas. With over 375 million acres, it’s bigger than Texas, California, and Montana combined. And it has less people living there than North Dakota and just slightly more people than Vermont. You can really get away from people in Alaska. So many places where you can find yourself with NOBODY else around for miles and miles and miles. And Alaska resident Robert Hansen, an Anchorage-based baker, chose to use this uninhabited remoteness to his raping and murderous advantage for over a decade. In the late 1970’s, Anchorage police began receiving steady reports about missing prostitutes and topless dancers. Initially these disappearances caused little concern, as such girls were notorious for leaving at a moments notice, usually without telling anyone where they were going. But their bodies began to be found. And soon, Alaskan police knew they had a serial killer in their midst. We take a look at Alaska, America’s 49th state, and it’s most notorious serial killer, Robert Hansen aka the Butcher Baker, today, on Timesuck. PAUSE TIMESUCK INTRO I.Welcome! A.Happy Monday: Hello Meatsacks. Happy Monday! Welcome back to the Cult of the Curious. Welcome back to more True Crime after a brief historical break. I’m Dan Cummins, aka Master Sucker, aka the Suck Lord, aka Prophet of Nimrod and neither a butcher nor a baker. Unless tater tot casserole counts. I can bake the shit out of one of those.
    [Show full text]
  • Alternative North Americas: What Canada and The
    ALTERNATIVE NORTH AMERICAS What Canada and the United States Can Learn from Each Other David T. Jones ALTERNATIVE NORTH AMERICAS Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars One Woodrow Wilson Plaza 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, D.C. 20004 Copyright © 2014 by David T. Jones All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of author’s rights. Published online. ISBN: 978-1-938027-36-9 DEDICATION Once more for Teresa The be and end of it all A Journey of Ten Thousand Years Begins with a Single Day (Forever Tandem) TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction .................................................................................................................1 Chapter 1 Borders—Open Borders and Closing Threats .......................................... 12 Chapter 2 Unsettled Boundaries—That Not Yet Settled Border ................................ 24 Chapter 3 Arctic Sovereignty—Arctic Antics ............................................................. 45 Chapter 4 Immigrants and Refugees .........................................................................54 Chapter 5 Crime and (Lack of) Punishment .............................................................. 78 Chapter 6 Human Rights and Wrongs .................................................................... 102 Chapter 7 Language and Discord ..........................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Core 1..24 Committee
    Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights JUST Ï NUMBER 157 Ï 1st SESSION Ï 42nd PARLIAMENT EVIDENCE Tuesday, June 11, 2019 Chair Mr. Anthony Housefather 1 Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights Tuesday, June 11, 2019 eligible for release for parole”. It is not mandatory for the jury to provide a recommendation, and the judge is not beholden to the jury Ï (0950) in taking the recommendation, should it be made. [English] The Chair (Mr. Anthony Housefather (Mount Royal, Lib.)): We will now resume our meeting for our first meeting of studying I know there are some concerns around whether or not this Bill C-266, an act to amend the Criminal Code (increasing parole violates section 12 of the charter regarding cruel and unusual ineligibility). punishment. I should state again that this is strictly judicial Our first witness is our colleague Mr. James Bezan, the MP for discretion. The parole ineligibility period can be set at anywhere Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman. from 25 years up to 40 years, based upon the discretion of the judge. When determining the parole ineligibility period, the judge must Mr. Bezan, it's a pleasure to have you before the committee. The have “regard to the character of the offender, the nature of the floor is yours. offences and the circumstances surrounding their commission”. Mr. James Bezan (Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, CPC): Thank you, Mr. Chair and colleagues. It's indeed a pleasure to be able to appear on my private member's I modelled my bill after former Bill C-48, the Protecting bill, an act to amend the Criminal Code (increasing parole Canadians by Ending Sentence Discounts for Multiple Murderers ineligibility), Bill C-266, the short title of which is the respecting Act.
    [Show full text]
  • Interview of Robert Pickton – Project Evenhanded 2001E-1388 – February 23, 2002
    INTERVIEW OF ROBERT PICKTON – PROJECT EVENHANDED 2001E-1388 – FEBRUARY 23, 2002 Sgt. Bill FORDY: Just have a seat. Yeah, just have a seat there. Okay, so you got some juice down there this morning? Robert PICKTON: That’s right. Sgt. Bill FORDY: Was it, fresh juice? Robert PICKTON: Yeah, it’s orange juice. Sgt. Bill FORDY: Orange juice. (STARTS NOTES) (INDECIPHERABLE) Okay. I never got a chance to introduce myself downstairs Rob ah, my name is Bill FORDY and I’m a Sgt. and I’m with the RCMP. I’m a police officer okay um, but while we’re here today I don’t want you to get all caught up in official titles or anything like that. Ah, my friends call me Bill and I prefer that you call me Bill okay. Robert PICKTON: Okay. Sgt. Bill FORDY: Now, is it okay if I call you Rob? Robert PICKTON: Yeah. Sgt. Bill FORDY: Okay Rob. Um, like I said to you Rob, I am a police officer okay. Ah, I didn’t mean not to say anything to you on the way up there,it’s just ... Robert PICKTON: Um, hum. Sgt. Bill FORDY: Ah, I wanted to wait until I was in the interview room here with you so that everything that I say to you ah, is recorded, because we are being video recorded in here today okay. There’s a video recorder up there and that’s ah, for your protection and my protection okay. Before I start to talk to you ah, Rob there’s a couple of things that I want to make sure that you understand okay.
    [Show full text]
  • Sexual Burglaries and Sexual Homicide: Clinical, Forensic, and Investigative Considerations
    Sexual Burglaries and Sexual Homicide: Clinical, Forensic, and Investigative Considerations Louis B. Schlesinger, PhD, and Eugene Revitch, MD Burglary, the third most common crime after larceny-theft and motor vehicle theft, is rarely the focus of forensic psychiatric study. While most burglaries are moti- vated simply by material gain, there is a subgroup of burglaries fueled by sexual dynamics. The authors differentiate two types of sexual burglaries: 1) fetish burglaries with overt sexual dynamics; and 2) voyeuristic burglaries, in which the sexual element is often covert and far more subtle. Many forensic practitioners have informally noted the relationship of burglaries to sexual homicide, but this relationship has not otherwise been studied in any detail. In this article, the incidence of (sexual) burglaries by 52 sexual murderers whom the authors eval- uated, as well as the incidence in cases reported by others, is reported. Implica- tions of these findings for forensic assessments and profiling of unidentified offenders are discussed. Since the early 1990s, crime in general slightly more burglaries occurred during has declined in the United States, includ- the day (5 1%) when, supposedly, the oc- ing the overall rates for burglary (Federal cupants would not be home. The vast Bureau of Investigation: Unqorm Crinze majority of burglaries remain unsolved. Reports. Washington, DC: FBI, 1997). Of the 2.5 million burglaries reported Nevertheless, a burglary is committed ev- during 1996, there has been only a 14 ery 13 seconds, and the rates for burglar- percent clearance rate by law enforce- ies committed by juveniles increased ment. However, despite the seriousness three percent between 1995 and 1996.
    [Show full text]
  • Balancing the Scales: the State of Victims' Rights in Canada a Report Prepared by the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime
    BALANCING THE SCALES: THE STATE OF VICTIMS' RIGHTS IN CANADA A REPORT PREPARED BY THE CANADIAN RESOURCE CENTRE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME FOREWORD The Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime is a non-profit national lobby group that advocates for victims’ rights and an effective justice system. Formed in 1993 by the Canadian Police Association, the Centre has literally helped hundreds of victims of crime. The Centre has made dozens of presentations to both the Commons Justice Committee and the Senate Justice Committee on issues that affect victims of crime and potential victims of crime. Emerging as a leader in the fight for victims’ rights, the Centre works with many victims’ advocates and groups across the country. Because of this, the Centre formed the National Justice Network. The NJN is a grassroots network system of victim advocates/groups. Through the Centre, groups can share information and are kept up to date on legislation affecting victims. The following report is a compilation of the insight of the crime victims the Centre has worked with and helped over the last five years. The recommendations are based not on academic research, but on the real life experiences of people. It is to them that this report is dedicated. Their courage and bravery in the face of such tragedy and pain is an inspiration to all of us who work with them, and for them. It is our hope that this report will help ease the suffering of those who will unfortunately become victims in the future. 1 © 1998 Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime TABLE
    [Show full text]
  • On the Construction of a Social Problem : British Columbian Newspaper Coverage of Missing Children, 1981-1991
    Timothey Harrison B.A., Cni\-ersit? of Guelph, 199 1 THESIS SUBMITTED LY PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOQTSE DEGREE QF MASTER OF rZIiTS In the School of Criminof ogy @Timothey Harrison 1995 Simon Fraser University March 1995 Aft rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced in ir.ho!e or in part, by photocopy or other means, without permission of the author. The quality of this microform is La qualite de cette microforme heavily dependent upon the depend grandernent de la qualite quality of the original thesis de Ea Phhe soumise au submitted or microfiirning. rnicror'iimage. Nous avons tout Every effort has been made to fait pour assurer une qualite ensure the highest quality of superieure de reproduction. reproduction possible. If pages are missing, contact the S3i!manque des pages, veuillez university which granted the cornmuniquer avec I'universite degree. qui a confer6 le grade. Some pages may have indistinct La qualite d'impression de print especially if the originat certaines pages peut kisser B pages were typed with a poor dbsirer, surtout si les pages typewrbr ribbon or if the originales ont ete university sent us an inferior dactyfographiees a I'aide d'un photocopy. ruban use ou si I'universite nous a fait parvenir une photacopie de qualit6 infbrieure. Reproduction in full or in part of La reproduction, mBme partielle, this microform is governed by de cette microforme est soumise the Canadian Copyright Act, B fa Loi canadienne sur le droit A'C)~.CA% u C 0 4 fi P en * $970, C. GOand u aurr;L5t5 JRL r ~70,C.
    [Show full text]
  • 80570NCJRS.Pdf
    If you have issues viewing or accessing this file contact us at NCJRS.gov. ., .. ~" .~-~-- -~---;-------- (; National Criminal Justice Reference Service nCJrs ,=,'; This microfiche was produced from documents r€d~ived for inclusion in the NCJRS data base. Since NCJRS cannot exercise control over the physical condition of the documents submitted, the individual frame quality will vary. The resolution chart on this frame may be used to evaluate the document quality. ! I t 1.0 1.1 25 111111. 111111.4 111111.6 ,. MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHART NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS-l~6:H . Microfilming procedures used to create this fiche comply with the standards set forth in 41CFR 101-11.504. Points of view or opinions stated in this document are' '", those of the allthor(s) and do not represent the official position or policies of the U. S. Department of Justice. y . ' . National Institute of Justice 3/8/82.,': . "'. " United States Department of Justice "\)." (.c" Washington, D.C. 20531 () , ••..••.. :,; ; '- . - ., ?, Q .................•..... '. ...•\\) ': ',l :~' ' •• . " " '.' 1)- -= - ,f I ,c. {) " .' .J .,--, r .~ htj til ; [ i :,,[ , ' ; .' '[, -, About O~r Cover..... On a patriotic background, a ,[ ,cycle officer patrols the Renaissance Center area duringth~ 1980 Republican National-Convention in [ Detroit. The line drawing was prepared by Police Officer [ Eugene Shaffer, Graphic Services Unit, based on photographs'taken during the [ convention, to commemorate \1 the excellent services rendered by each individual officer assigned to convention I coverage. U.S. Department of Justice 80570 National Institute of Justice TAB~ OF CONTENTS This document has been reproduced exactly fis recei~e~ from the I person or organization originating It. Points of view or OPIniOnS stat~d Board of Police " In this document are those of the authors and do.
    [Show full text]
  • Crime Prevention in Native Communities
    ARCHIVED - Archiving Content ARCHIVÉE - Contenu archivé Archived Content Contenu archivé Information identified as archived is provided for L’information dont il est indiqué qu’elle est archivée reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It est fournie à des fins de référence, de recherche is not subject to the Government of Canada Web ou de tenue de documents. Elle n’est pas Standards and has not been altered or updated assujettie aux normes Web du gouvernement du since it was archived. Please contact us to request Canada et elle n’a pas été modifiée ou mise à jour a format other than those available. depuis son archivage. Pour obtenir cette information dans un autre format, veuillez communiquer avec nous. This document is archival in nature and is intended Le présent document a une valeur archivistique et for those who wish to consult archival documents fait partie des documents d’archives rendus made available from the collection of Public Safety disponibles par Sécurité publique Canada à ceux Canada. qui souhaitent consulter ces documents issus de sa collection. Some of these documents are available in only one official language. Translation, to be provided Certains de ces documents ne sont disponibles by Public Safety Canada, is available upon que dans une langue officielle. Sécurité publique request. Canada fournira une traduction sur demande. ----~s~COLu~O:========================================================== -~-:~~· . .,~, ~ ;:: t" .. ;!! .(). t) ~~ ~0 PR£V£NT10N ====~v~NTIO~~~~======================================================= Vol. 3, No.4, February, 1986 A bi-monthly publication of the British Columbia Crime Prevention Association Copynght of th1s document does not belong to the Crown. >:oper authonzation must be obtained from the author for ; .;(]ymtended use j l_es droits d'auteur du present document n'appartiennent as aI'Etat.
    [Show full text]
  • Geographic Profiling : Target Patterns of Serial Murderers
    GEOGRAPHIC PROFILING: TARGET PATTERNS OF SERIAL MURDERERS Darcy Kim Rossmo M.A., Simon Fraser University, 1987 DISSERTATION SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in the School of Criminology O Darcy Kim Rossmo 1995 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY October 1995 All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without permission of the author. APPROVAL Name: Darcy Kim Rossmo Degree: ' Doctor of Philosophy Title of Dissertation: Geographic Profiling: Target Patterns of Serial Murderers Examining Committee: Chair: Joan Brockrnan, LL.M. d'T , (C I - Paul J. ~>ahtin~harp~~.,Dip. Crim. Senior Supervisor Professor,, School of Criminology \ I John ~ow&an,PhD Professor, School of Criminology John C. Yuille, PhD Professor, Department of Psychology Universim ofJritish Columbia I I / u " ~odcalvert,PhD, P.Eng. Internal External Examiner Professor, Department of Computing Science #onald V. Clarke, PhD External Examiner Dean, School of Criminal Justice Rutgers University Date Approved: O&Zb& I 3, 1 9 9.5' PARTIAL COPYRIGHT LICENSE I hereby grant to Simon Fraser Universi the right to lend my thesis, pro'ect or extended essay (the title o? which is shown below) to users otJ the Simon Fraser University Library, and to make partial or single copies only for such users or in response to a request from the library of any other university, or other educational institution, on its own behalf or for one of its users. I further agree that permission for multiple copying of this work for scholarly purposes may be granted by me or the Dean of Graduate Studies.
    [Show full text]
  • Robert Hansen
    Robert Hansen Information summarized by Emily McLaughlin Megan Donnally Carrie Draper Jennifer Duncan Department of Psychology Radford University Radford, VA 24142-6946 Date Age Life Event Birth or Robert Christian Hansen, Esterville, Iowa. Left handed, parents tried to 02/15/39 0 force him to become right handed; stuttered Returned to Iowa from California; father strict disciplinarian, authoritarian; worked 1949 10 in father’s bakery at an early age (paid 35/45 cents to $1 per day) Junior High School, humiliated in school b/c of stuttering, girls teased him, hated 1951 12 school, rejection by classmates made him feel inadequate High school, workload in family business, strict religious parents and little money prevented him from participating in social activities. Loner. Participated in boy’s 1953 14 chorus, pep club, driver’s ed., typing. Participated in basketball, didn’t letter. Letters in track- long distance and broad jump. Enjoyed solitary activities- hunting, fishing, and archery. 1957 18 Graduated from high school in a class of 31. Name misspelled in yearbook. 1957 18 Joined Army Reserves, basic training at Fort Dix, N.J. First sexual encounter- ended up in hotel room with prostitutes; Fort Know, KY, 1957 18 more encounters with prostitutes Returned to Iowa, worked in Bakery; in Army Reserve Military Police; Drill 1959 20 Instructor for Junior Police 1960 21 Married first wife Volunteer Fireman; set fire/arson to school bus garage with friend-sentenced to 3 12/07/1960 21 years, only served 20 months 1960 21 First wife divorced him 1963 24 Met and married second wife 1967 28 Moved to Alaska 1969 30 Had animals entered into Pope & Young's trophy hunting world-record books 1970 31 “ “ “ 1971 32 “ “ “ Megan Emerick (WF, 17) disappears from Anchorage, AK.
    [Show full text]
  • Lifelong Incarceration in Canada by Matthew Derek Spencer BA University of Saskatchewan, 2009 JD Unive
    Hope for Murderers? Lifelong Incarceration in Canada by Matthew Derek Spencer B.A. University of Saskatchewan, 2009 J.D. University of Saskatchewan, 2014 A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF LAWS at the Faculty of Law, University of Victoria © Matthew Derek Spencer, 2016 University of Victoria All rights reserved. This thesis may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without permission of the author. ii Supervisory Committee Hope for Murderers? Lifelong Incarceration in Canada by Matthew Derek Spencer B.A. University of Saskatchewan, 2009 J.D. University of Saskatchewan, 2014 Supervisor Distinguished Professor Gerry Ferguson (Faculty of Law) Co-supervisor Professor Elizabeth Brimacombe (Department of Psychology) iii Abstract Supervisory Committee Supervisor Distinguished Professor Gerry Ferguson (Faculty of Law) Co-supervisor Professor Elizabeth Brimacombe (Department of Psychology) Abstract This thesis explores the issue of lifelong incarceration in the Canadian context. Lifelong incarceration, defined as a criminal sentence which forecloses hope of prospective release from its outset, is a new sentencing option in Canada, only possible after legislative amendments enacted in 2011. Sentencing for murder in Canada is examined from a historical and comparative point of view to contextualize the issue of lifelong incarceration. An interdisciplinary approach is also used, drawing on the field of psychology to explore the meaning and importance of hope. I argue that all sentences in Canada should leave an offender with hope of prospective release. My argument situates hope within the principles of sentencing law codified in s. 718 of the Criminal Code as well as the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
    [Show full text]