Robert Pickton: The Final Chapter
BRITISH COLUMBIA
A FOUR-PART SERIES BEGINNING JANUARY 19.
Robert Pickton confessed to murdering 49 women on his pig farm near Vancouver — many of them sex workers and Indigenous women. He’s known as Canada most prolific serial killer.
In 2024, Pickton was murdered in prison in an act of vigilante justice.
His final chapter might be closed, but the story is far from over.
The evidence suggests Pickton did not act alone.
This series revisits the case, moving past the grotesque caricature of a lone monster in buddy boots.
It restores the humanity of the vulnerable women who disappeared through personal stories of those who loved them, and asks:
Why did the authorities fail them for so long?
And why are their families left with so many unanswered questions — and a prevailing sense of injustice?
CONTENT WARNING: graphic details that will be distressing for many listeners to hear. Mention of sexual assault, residential schools, Indigenous issues, child abuse and suicide.
Please see crisis referral services below.
Canadian True Crime donates monthly to help those facing injustice.
Proceeds from this series are being donated to the WISH Drop-in Centre Society, supporting street-based sex workers on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside since 1984.
Part 1 available now:
The series begins by tracing a disturbing childhood on the Pickton farm where cruelty was normalized, morality was optional and vulnerable people were exploited and intimidated.
It tracks how that culture escalated after Robert and his brother took over the farm, and the many police failures that followed… as women went missing from Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
Parts 2, 3 and 4 will be released each Monday.
Crisis referral services:
Free National Indian Residential School Crisis Line: call 1-866-925-4419 toll free
Hope for Wellness free chatline - 1-800-721-0066 or using the chat box on the website
Government of Canada Crisis and Mental Health support
Resources for Sexual assault survivors
Credits:
Producer, famiy outreach, Indigenous content consultant: Danielle Paradis
General script consultant: Carol Weinberg
Audio editor, voice of disclaimer: Krosby Audio
Senior producer: Lindsay Eldridge
Researcher, writer, narration, sound design: Kristi Lee
Special thanks to Left of Dial Media
Music Credits:
Series signature tracks by Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen - Cosmic Pulse, Astral, Pandemonium (via Epidemic sound)
Kai Engel - Mercy
Theme song by We Talk of Dreams
All other music by Blue Dot Sessions and Epidemic Sound
Information sources:
Court documents
2006 BCSC 995 (CanLII) | R. v. Pickton | CanLII - TRIAL
2009 BCCA 299 (CanLII) | R. v. Pickton | CanLII - APPEAL
2009 BCCA 300 (CanLII) | R. v. Pickton | CanLII - APPEAL
2007 BCSC 1297 (CanLII) | R. v. Pickton | CanLII (Louise Pickton’s will)
2007 BCSC 30 (CanLII) | R. v. Pickton | CanLII (Survivor Wendy)
2005 BCSC 1463 (CanLII) | R. v. Pickton | CanLII (Bellwood)
2007 BCSC 42 (CanLII) | R. v. Pickton | CanLII (evidence)
2007 BCSC 1293 (CanLII) | R. v. Pickton | CanLII (Gina Houston, Pat Casanova)
2020 BCSC 1200 (CanLII) | R. v Pickton | CanLII
2024 BCSC 1262 (CanLII) | Pickton (Re) | CanLII (disposal of evidence)
2024 BCSC 2025 (CanLII) | Pickton (Re) | CanLII
2025 BCSC 1921 (CanLII) | de Vries v. Pickton | CanLII
Book
On The Farm: Robert William Pickton and the Tragic Story of Vancouver's Missing Women. (2010) By Stevie Cameron
Audio
Robert “Willie” Pickton — Prolific serial killer’s jailhouse confession to undercover cop - Mob Reporter
More Revealed from Robert Pickton Police Tapes - Anews Vancouver Island
Newly Released Tapes of Robert Pickton - CBC News
Pickton police video released - CBC News
World Expo 86 commercial
Missing Women Commission of Inqiry
Forsaken: The Final Report of the Missing Women Inquiry with commissioner Wally Oppal KC
Archived website - The Missing Women Commission of Inquiry (transcripts and other evidence)
The Pickton Inquiry Story - CPAC documentary
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada - NCTR
News archives, articles, studies and research (in no particular order)
Pickton’s mother was a key influence by Stevie Cameron, published in Toronto Star, June 17, 2007
Death Farm, by Charles Mudede, published in The Stranger, Oct 30, 2003
The Robert Pickton Case: A Timeline, CityNews, 2007
Who Were Pickton's Alleged Victims?, CityNews, 2007
Woman sexually assaulted by brother of serial-killer robert pickton
Pickton said 'I'm just a devil'
Body parts found at Pickton farm
Police end search for evidence at Pickton farm
The women Robert Pickton was convicted of killing
Alert issued about meat from Pickton's pig farm
Body found hanging in Pickton's farm, witness says
Friend testifies Robert spoke of six bodies
Crown witness in Pickton trial denies he's a liar
Victim Impact statements delivered at Pickton trial
Pickton gets life, no chance of parole for 25 years
Why did the jury choose second-degree murder?
Pickton: Vancouver top cop apologizes police didn't 'catch this monster sooner'
Children of alleged Pickton victims launch civil lawsuit
To see her you wouldn't think she's dangerous
'I don't know how I got set up on this here'
Did Pickton have a partner in crime?
3 others arrested in Pickton probe, jury told
Pickton defies Police in interview from prison
Pickton siblings get more time for suit against government
Missing women marginalized
Thousands participate in Women’s Memorial March in Downtown Eastside
Boy Blamed In Part for Own Death, The Vancouver Sun, March 13, 1968, via Newspapers.com
Boy of 14. Found Dead In Ditch, The Vancouver Sun, October 17, 1967
Missing Women feature THE VANCOUVER SUN, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2002, page 2, page 3, page 4,
Missing Women feature The Vancouver Sun, February 11, 2002, page 2
The women Robert Pickton was convicted of killing by Lori Culbert, Vancouver Sun, Aug 5 2010 (List of DNA and remains)
Some things you didn't know, about the Pickton case, Vancouver Sun, February 14, 2004.
Loss of pet calf haunted the young Willie, The Vancouver Sun, January 25, 2007.
A PATTERN OF MURDER by Kim Pemberton and Neal Hall, The Vancouver Sun, February 4 1989
2 Women might not have died (Gilbert Paul Jordan), The Vancouver Sun, October 24, 1988
Mother (Marie Laurah Mah) was mistakenly listed among 65 missing women by Lori Culbert, The Vancouver Sun, April 3, 2009
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-province-obituary (Wendy)
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-province/188318401/ (Wendy)
Nancy Clark article, Times Colonist 1991. Second article
Pickton defence set to call witnesses by Lori Culbert and Neal Hall, Vancouver Sun, August 14 2007
News of missing teen eludes police, mother (Angela Arseneault), by Doug Alexander, Surrey Leader, 6 Aug 1995
COLD CASE - MISSING TEEN IN BURNABY, BRITISH COLUMBIA – ANGELA ARSENEAULT, 17 – LAST SEEN AUGUST 19, 1994 - MissingPeople.ca
15 lives lived dangerously by Mark Hume, National Post, January 11 2003 via newspapers.com
Vancouver Sun special after guilty verdict
Courageous reporter Stevie Cameron was a pioneer of investigative journalism in Canada - Globe & Mail
Woodlands School (New Westminster) - Wikipedia
Tell-all book' found after death of serial killer Robert Pickton | CBC News
Sex worker says Pickton raped her in 1991 - The Globe and Mail.
Robert Pickton's brother named in lawsuit for alleged assault | CBC News
Pickton farm buzzed with activity: witness | CBC News
Robert Pickton not the killer in B.C. cold cases: RCMP - Toronto Star
New Pickton allegations emerge | CBC News
Unauthorized material could be dumped at rendering plant, Pickton jury hears | CBC News
Police look for leads in cold case serial killings - Globe & Mail
The History of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside | Union Gospel Mission
Indigenous Heritage
The Truth About the Green River Killer | The Tyee
Pickton inquiry slams 'blatant failures' by police | CBC News
CBC News Historical Robert Pickton archives
Criminal profiling studies
The Criminal Profiling Illusion What's Behind the Smoke and Mirrors?. by Snook, Brent & Cullen, Richard & Bennell, Craig & Taylor, Paul & Gendreau, Paul. (2008). Criminal Justice and Behavior - CRIM JUSTICE BEHAV. 35. 1257-1276. 10.1177/0093854808321528.
The usefulness of criminal profiling. by Jackson, Craig & Wilson, David & Rana, Baljit. (2011). Criminal Justice Matters. 84. 6-7. 10.1080/09627251.2011.576014.
Analysing criminal profiling validity: Underlying problems and future directions, by Rita Alexandra Brilha Ribeiro, Cristina Branca Bento de Matos Soeiro (2021) International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, Volume 74, 101670, ISSN 0160-2527
2024 Parole and death
Case Summary: Investigation into the Death of Robert Pickton - Canada.ca
Quebec inmate who killed notorious serial killer Robert Pickton pleads guilty - Montreal Gazette
Robert Pickton's killer tells court he did it 'for the victims' during guilty plea | CBC News
'Always going to be that fear': Pickton victim's relative decries day parole chance
Serial killer Robert Pickton eligible to apply for day parole, but no hearing set
Families of Robert Pickton’s victims brace for his ‘horrific’ day parole application eligibility
Inmate killed B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton with broken broom handle, investigation finds | CBC News
‘It is a warning’: Former Pickton warden urges other prisons to learn from murderer’s killing
Fatal prison assault on serial killer Robert Pickton was carried out with broken-off broom handle: report
Release of Investigation Findings related to the Death of Robert Pickton - Canada.ca
Inmate charged with 1st-degree murder in death of serial killer Robert Pickton | CBC News
Man accused of murdering serial killer Robert Pickton to plead guilty | CBC News
Robert Pickton's killer tells court he did it 'for the victims' during guilty plea | CBC News
B.C. judge rules that evidence not needed in lawsuit against serial killer's brother - Castanet.net