Swimming Leads To Murder

Police remove Shirley Hauser's body from schoolyard, photo by Boris Spremo
Police remove Shirley Hauser’s body from schoolyard, photo by Boris Spremo

Shirley (Peter Christopher) Hauser, 20, was stabbed to death on August 19, 1978 on the school grounds of Western Technical Commercial High at 125 Evelyn Crescent. Police reported that Hauser, who lived on Westminster Ave., was a trans woman, dressed as a woman and was undergoing a sex change. She was stabbed in the back, neck and chest. In all, there were 17 stab wounds.

Shirley Hauser also went by the name Christine. Hormone pills were found in her purse “way above therapeutic dosage,” said Dr. Luciano Sereno, who performed the autopsy. Hauser had gone to the school with a man at about 4 a.m., having met earlier in the evening at the Sunnyside swimming pool.

Photo of the man who found Ms. Hauser's body, photo from Toronto Star
Photo of the man who found Ms. Hauser’s body, photo from Toronto Star

Police found four pools of blood in a trail leading away from the body, making them conclude it was not Hauser’s. The wandering trail lead to Glendonwynne Road where it weaved back and forth along the street.

Continued investigation led the police of an apartment three kilometres away, where they found a blood-spattered motorcycle and a white helmet. The building superintendent told police she had been cleaning blood off the front stairs, and stairs leading to the second floor. That tenant told police they had been visited by a friend who was wounded and bleeding badly.

William Richard Andes, 20, of San Romano Way in North York, was charged with her second-degree murder.

We think this is Shirley (Peter Christopher) Hauser's grave marker
We think this is Shirley (Peter Christopher) Hauser’s grave marker

In court, Andes claimed he flew into a rage upon discovering Hauser was a transsexual, stabbing her 17 times. He pleaded guilty on April 9, 1979, but claimed he had originally walked away. Andes claimed Hauser had somehow gotten his knife and stabbed him, before he gained the knife back and murdered her.

Upon hearing the sentence, a newspaper reported that his mother shouted “Oh no. Don’t punish him for the homosexual. Oh please he is the victim. Don’t punish him.”

Andes was later arrested for assaulting two sisters who had refused his sexual advances. On April 20, 1984, the killer was on parole. He beat and kicked the women and tried to rape one who was unconscious and bleeding. At this trial, he was described as an incurable psychopath. He was convicted of assault causing bodily harm, and sexual assault causing bodily harm. On March 29, 1985, he was sentenced to 8 years in total.

 


Murder Village Map

 

 

Vital Statistics

Name: Shirley Hauser, aka Peter Christopher, aka Christine
Age: 20
Gender: Female
Date of Death: August 19, 1978
Manner of Death: Stabbed
Location: 125 Evelyn Crescent
Suspect Name: William Richard Andes
Conviction & Sentence: Manslaughter, 8 years, reduced to 6 years on appeal

5 thoughts on “Swimming Leads To Murder”

  1. I am looking for info on Peter Christopher Hauser and was told that the above information is for the person that I am looking for. The only difference is I know that he was born December 31, 1957 and passed away August 19, 1978 at the age of 20. Your stats show that he was 23 at the time of death and on the grave marker it shows the years 1959-1978 which make him only 19. Can you give me some clarification on this?! Would be much appreciated, thank you.

    Reply
    • Sent a private message. News articles list both ages, 20 and 23. But there is the grave marker photo, which indicates 20 years old. The article is corrected. Thanks for letting us know.

      Reply
  2. I truly hope/trust that I will receive a reply, sooner then later, to my inquiry above! It would mean the world to me to put the ‘story’ to rest, once and for all!! Many thanks. ~D~

    Reply
    • Hello,
      After many, many years have passed I recently thought about this crime. In our current pandemic times, all thoughts race around and clash together. When I found this posting I saw your enquiry. I may not be able to clarify your request for confirmation, but I do know a little about the family. Be in touch if you think any info would be helpful. C. Rowley

      Reply
  3. Wow. I went to primary school with both Peter Hauser and Bill Andes, so learning about this back in 1978 was a shock. Both knew each other and I knew both of them.

    Reply

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