Stories of Murder in Toronto's Gay Village
On the night of Tuesday, December 15, 2015, Donna Maloney was wrapping Christmas presents at her home on McGill Street in downtown Toronto. She heard screams, the Crown told a jury in May 2018. She went to her door. She saw a man standing over another man and stabbing him. “What are you doing?” Maloney … Read more
At about 5:30 on the morning of Saturday, February 26, 1994, Dr. Stephen Kirby left an after-hours club on St. Joseph Street in downtown Toronto. Just before, he had been involved in a minor confrontation with another man inside the club, Metro police said. Outside, he was knocked to the ground and kicked in the … Read more
On July 23, 1992, John Patrick Somerton, 42, was found beaten to death in his own apartment above a store at 3465 Lakeshore Boulevard. He died from 11 blows to the head with a metal bat made while he was sleeping. Just days later, a 14-year-old boy was arrested. There was evidence of a “sexual … Read more
Shortly before midnight on Tuesday, April 14, 1987, police found Paul Lopez Monte-de-Ramos, 38, dead in his Sherbourne Street apartment, the Globe and Mail reported. The Toronto Star’s year-end list of homicides said police forced their way in and found him strangled. According to the Star, investigators had received a telephone tip that he had … Read more
David and Clara Kasdan found their son on the floor of his Blackthorn Avenue condominium on Wednesday, August 6, 1986. David Kasdan told Canadian Press that Edwin was just inside the front door, face down and fully clothed, and that they saw blood on his face when they turned him over. Edwin Kasdan, 55, had … Read more
Former Alderman and accountant Donald William Weir died on April 5, 1983. He was found naked in his bathtub with more than 40 injuries. A banana had been shoved in his mouth. Weir, 50, was found by firefighters who had rushed to his apartment in response to a security staff person’s call: a fire alarm … Read more
Early on the morning of Sunday, August 27, 1978, in an apartment on St. Joseph Street, a man who had fallen asleep woke to find his room-mate unconscious and bleeding from a head injury. The injured man was Colin Nicholson, 41. That was how the Toronto Star told it after he died. The evening had … Read more
On the afternoon of Saturday, September 4, 1976, a man from Cooksville was walking through the bush near Enterprise Hill, looking for mushrooms. The spot was on the east side of Highway 115, north of Newcastle and about 60 miles east of Toronto. He came upon two garbage bags and ripped one open. Then he … Read more
Early on Sunday, June 15, 1969, a man’s body was found in a parking lot on Eastern Avenue. He lay between a parked car and a truck, behind an auto lubricating firm at Eastern and Empire Avenues. He had been struck repeatedly on the face and head. The lot was part of a block owned … Read more
Shortly after midnight on Sunday, June 25, 1967, people living in the apartment building at 100 Maitland Street heard a man yelling. The sound came from the 10th floor, through an open door to a balcony. Police later said at least half a dozen people heard him. No one phoned the police. At about 12:45 … Read more
On Wednesday, July 17, 1963, a black convertible carrying two youths went through a police speed trap on Lake Shore Boulevard West. Constable Grenville Dawkins chased it through Long Branch. He later testified that he was suspicious of the car. The driver turned onto a side street, pulled the keys from the ignition and ran. … Read more
On Monday, February 18, 1957, Cecil William Burns did not turn up for work. He was a chef with a catering firm in East York. By about noon his employers were making inquiries. They telephoned the Edwin Hotel on Queen Street East, where Burns had lived for the past two months, and asked that his … Read more