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I'm Renee, and this is Beyond Contempt True Crime.

Thank you. I'm Renee, and this is Beyond Contempture Crime.

You're listening to Episode 38, the Sydney River McDonald's murders.

It was March 1992, and 18-year-old Derek Wood had just taken a job at McDonald's in Sydney,

Nova Scotia, Canada. Derek was fortunate since he was a high school dropout,

and unemployment was over 20% that year,

so many people were without work.

His parents divorced when he was young,

and his mom moved to British Columbia.

Derek was known as being the kid who was shy, quiet, and slightly out of sync with others.

One time, Derek's acquaintances were hanging out with him when he was drunk, and he spoke about

ending his life. He was not happy with the aimless path he was on.

The winter between 1991 and 1992, Derek hung out with two friends, Darren Mewes and Freeman McNeil.

Darren was also 18 years old and was the youngest of four boys.

With six mouths to feed, his family had little extra money,

but his parents were very supportive of all their children. Like Derek Wood, Darren Mews dropped

out of high school and lacked direction in life. Freeman McNeil was older at age 23. His dad committed suicide when he was young,

so Freeman was raised by his mother with the help of his older sisters.

...