Tied and Tortured

Grave marker for murder victim Brian Dana Latocki
Grave marker for murder victim Brian Dana Latocki

Brian Dana Latocki was 24 years old when he was murdered. On January 25, 1977, a still-unknown assailant stabbed Latocki in his home at 141 Erskine Avenue. Police said he was believed to be the “victim of a homosexual assault” after his nude body was found tied to his bed. He had been tortured, stabbed and strangled. There were knife wounds in the back and chest, but no knife was found on scene.

Photo of murder victim Brian Latocki
Photo of murder victim Brian Latocki

At about 9:40 a.m., police received a call to the residence, where they found him inside an apartment. Some items were stolen from the home, and the murderer took extreme care to remove his fingerprints from the scene.

By the end of 1977, Latocki and other gay men – Neil Wilkinson, Harold Walkley, Bernard Guay, James Stewart Kennedy and James Douglas Taylor – were dead within a two year period (1975-1977), and police were concerned about a serial killer stalking the gay community.

Police sketch of the suspect in Brian Latocki's murder
Police sketch of the suspect in Brian Latocki’s murder

Police Inspector George Sellars said he had not proved all the murders were related, but Latocki, like many of the other victims, “frequented Yonge St. homosexual bars” and had hitchhiked home from the St. Charles Tavern the night before.

In November 1978, Latocki was included in the list of 14 gay men murdered in 3 and a half years in Toronto.

 

Photo of murder victim Brian Latocki
Photo of murder victim Brian Latocki

Murder Village Map

 

 

Vital Statistics

Name: Brian Dana Latocki
Age: 24
Gender: Male
Date of Death: January 25, 1977
Manner of Death: Blunt force trauma, strangulation, stabbed
Location: 141 Erskine Avenue
Suspect Name: unknown

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