Rob Tripp's Blog: Cancrime

Millionaire murderer Peter Demeter denied freedom in first bid in two decades

Imprisoned wife killer Peter Demeter, once a millionaire Toronto businessman, has lost his first bid for freedom in 20 years. The Parole Board of Canada says the 85-year-old murderer, who is serving five life sentences, remains a threat, despite his age, because of his history of scheming to hire criminals to carry out murders, abductions […]

Killer Kelly Ellard keeps freedom despite decades of denial and lies

Murderer Kelly Ellard is one of the lucky ones – a killer permitted freedom despite her refusal to tell the truth about the central role she played in a savage murder. In 1997, 14-year-old Reena Virk was beaten by a group of teens and drowned near Victoria, B.C. Ellard was convicted of murder after a […]

Killer Paul Bernardo’s claim he “cured” himself rejected in parole denial

Imprisoned murderer Paul Bernardo claims that he has “cured” himself of the aberrant thinking that drove him to rape and murder young women and girls, and that’s why he should be set free. Bernardo also claimed, in an October 17 parole hearing that, although he may have once been considered a psychopath, sexual sadist and […]

Violent bank robber, murder suspect Micky McArthur gets freedom

The last time Micky McArthur was free from prison, he armed himself with a high-powered rifle, robbed a bank in a small central Ontario town and tried to kill three police officers blocking his getaway. He shot two others. Now, 24 years after the bloody bank heist, the career criminal has convinced authorities to give […]

Police discussed leads with brother of woman missing 40 years

Since posting recently about the 40-year-old unsolved murder of Christine Ziomkiewicz, I’ve learned that investigators approached a family member in the past few years and discussed leads that were being tracked. Bernie Ziomkiewicz, a younger brother of the missing Kingston, Ontario woman, says he met with a Kingston Police officer. He also revealed that he […]

Freed hockey coach-sex offender James can meet victims

The parole board has altered conditions of release imposed on a freed hockey coach who committed hundreds of sexual assaults on young players. The change, made in a decision June 21, 2018, would permit Graham James to meet face to face with his victims or their families, if they choose, as part of a restorative […]

40 years unsolved: “As if the Earth had opened up and swallowed her”

The middle child of working class, immigrant parents, Christine Ziomkiewicz built a comfortable and promising life by the time she reached her mid 20s. She had a bachelor of science degree, a good job at a lab at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario and a loving and close family. On Father’s Day weekend in 1978, […]

Strangling woman was “regrettable mistake,” Calgary killer says

Kristopher Guenther slapped a strip of industrial strength tape across the mouth of former fiancé Lacey Jones McKnight – because she was struggling and begging for her life, pleading that she still loved him. He tied her arms and legs with rope. He yanked a plastic bag over her head. He choked the life from […]

Serial rapist declared dangerous offender, can be held indefinitely

Serial rapist Rene Bourdon may die behind bars, because of a court decision this week in Kingston, Ontario. Bourdon – who incapacitates women with drugs, then rapes them while they are unconscious – was declared a dangerous offender and sentenced to an indeterminate period in custody. It means he can be held in prison until […]

Parolee charged in assaults already responsible for five deaths

An Ontario man charged with violently assaulting two people in southwestern B.C. is a paroled killer responsible for five deaths in a 25-year criminal career that includes a dramatic prison break, the kidnapping and rape of a woman and a shootout at a police roadblock. Documents acquired by Cancrime reveal that Thomas Brydges, 73, who […]