Today is Thursday, May 7th, 2020. On this day in 1992, three employees of McDonald's in Sydney River, Nova Scotia were murdered in an armed robbery. It was the first fast food murder to occur in Canada.

Welcome to today in True Crime, a parcast original. Due to the graphic nature of today's crimes,

listener discretion is advised. Extreme caution is advised for listeners under 13.

Today we're covering the Sydney River McDonald's murders.

Let's go back to Nova Scotia on May 7, 1992,

just after midnight. The still and silent night in Sydney River was disrupted when a car rolled to a stop along a dirt road. The McDonald's

iconic golden arches glowed in the distance as three young men exited the

vehicle. Freeman McNeil, Derek Wood, and Darren Muse.

18-year-old Wood had been working at the fast food chain for a couple of months,

but he wasn't content to get by on minimum wage.

He and his two friends were going to break into the store and steal the contents of its safe.

By Woods estimation, it held some $200,000. Split between the three of them, it would be quite the pay day.

At some point during his employment, Wood had discovered a little used basement door that led into the McDonald's.

After finishing his shift that evening, he had left it propped open.

The plan was to sneak in once the establishment was closed and break into the safe.

But they'd be ready in case there was trouble. Wood carried a 22 caliber pistol while Muse had two knives.

McNeil brought a shovel handle and ropes.

They were ready for any eventuality.

A few minutes after midnight, the three young men crept into the basement, but they weren't alone.

They encountered two of Woods co-workers, the restaurant's manager, 22-year-old Donna Warren,

and 20-year-old Arlene McNeil,

no relation to the robber.

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