Shadow in the Gay Village: The Serial Killings of Bruce McArthur

Killer Psyche

Wondery | Treefort Media

True Crime, Exhibit C

4.6 • 4.2K Ratings

🗓️ 16 May 2023

⏱️ 48 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong explores the case of Bruce McArthur: a serial killer that terrorized Toronto's Gay Village, often targeting immigrants. McArthur was finally arrested in 2018, after police discovered evidence of his crimes on his property. He pled guilty to eight counts of first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison. The case drew national attention in Canada and highlighted issues around police response to missing persons cases, particularly in marginalized communities.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, Prime Members! You can listen to Killer Sikie add free on Amazon Music. Download the app today!
0:09.0	A listener note, this episode contains adult content and is not suitable for everyone. Please be advised.
0:18.0	The first guest is a guest.
0:25.0	Nestled at the intersection of Church and Wells-Lee Street, Toronto's gay villages considered an iconic LGBTQ friendly neighborhood in the heart of the city.
0:38.0	Queer folk from around the world consider the village a welcoming destination.
0:44.0	Here they can embrace their sexuality and identity without fear of judgment.
0:50.0	But this has not always been the case.
0:55.0	The history of the village dates back to the early 1800s when a local judge Alexander Wood first acquired the land.
1:05.0	While investigating a controversial rape case, Wood, who was also a merchant of Scottish descent, became embroiled in a scandal where he allegedly made sexual advances to other men.
1:21.0	Because of this incident, his estate was mockingly described as, quote, Molly Woods Bush.
1:31.0	At that time, Molly was an offensive term for homosexual people.
1:37.0	When Wood died in 1844, a portion of his land became a haven for the city's emerging gay subculture, with bath houses, bars and restaurants.
1:50.0	However, in the mid-1970s, its colorful Halloween parade would become a target for homophobia and discrimination.
2:01.0	The mounting prejudice would result in the 1981 Toronto bath house raids when 286 gay men were rounded up in a massive police sting.
2:16.0	This pivotal moment politicized and activated the gay community, sounding a rallying cry of outrage.
2:25.0	This led to many progressive resolutions which recognized the rights of the homosexual population.
2:34.0	But in 2010, a serial killer targeting middle-aged gay men sent shockwaves of fear through this peaceful LGBTQ utopia.
2:47.0	This is a story of a man who, right under the nose of the Toronto police, was able to kill and dismember his victims, burying their remains in flower pots and planters.
3:03.0	No one ever suspected that this friendly mall Santa would be revealed as one of Toronto's most prolific serial killers, and the oldest serial killer of record in all of Canada.
3:25.0	Hello, I'm Hannah.
3:27.0	And I'm Sirete.
3:28.0	And we are the hosts of a Redhanded, a weekly true crime podcast.
	...

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