The Toronto serial killer Bruce McArthur on January 29th pleaded guilty to 8 counts of first degree murder. It was understood that the guilty plea would automatically trigger a life sentence, it is unclear at this point if the 8 counts would be served consecutively or concurrently. In the next week three court days have been allocated to more details, the victim impact statements and the sentencing from the judge. It is believed that evidence will emerge which motivated the guilty pleas.

The Toronto Police Service investigation into Bruce McArthur has been marred with questions. This past week also saw Sergeant Paul Gauthier being charged for insubordination and neglect of duty, which his lawyer revealed was related to an investigation in 2016. What we also know is that in 2016 a man who had fled strangling by Bruce McArthur went to the police, McArthur spoke to the police but was subsequently released. It is believed that after this time at least another 3 murders took place. The charges will be addressed in the next week.

The way that TPS handles missing persons more generally has come under incredible scrutiny. The Toronto Police Service Board had formed an Independent Civilian Review into Missing Persons Investigations. This was being headed up by the Honorable Gloria Epstein, this past week Epstein has challenged the TPS Board for specifically excluding the McArthur investigation from the purview of the Review. The TPS noted it is reviewing it’s options.

It is expected that the court case will reveal more details about the murders committed by McArthur, what was already revealed is that McArthur kept personal belongings of his victims, some of the crimes were sexual in nature, and that some of the bodies had been staged. The Toronto LGBT community and family and friends of the victims appear to be bracing themselves for the next few days, but there is a sense of relief that the guilty plea saves them from a months long court case.