Robert Pickton, a notorious Canadian serial killer, has passed away at the age of 74 after being assaulted in prison. The Correctional Service of Canada confirmed that Pickton, who was serving a life sentence at Port-Cartier Institution in Quebec, died in hospital from injuries sustained in the assault by another inmate on May 19.
Pickton gained infamy for his heinous crimes committed in the late 1990s and early 2000s near Vancouver. He was convicted of six counts of second-degree murder in 2007 and sentenced to life in prison with a parole ineligibility period of 25 years. The case of Robert Pickton garnered international attention due to the gruesome nature of his crimes.
The investigation into Pickton's crimes began over two decades ago when police started searching his pig farm in Port Coquitlam. The farm yielded the remains or DNA of 33 women, with Pickton confessing to killing a total of 49 women. During his trial, chilling details emerged, including Pickton's admission of feeding his victims' remains to his pigs.
Family members of Pickton's victims expressed mixed emotions upon hearing of his death. Cynthia Cardinal, whose sister was murdered by Pickton, shared that his passing brings a sense of closure and healing for many families affected by his crimes.
The Vancouver police faced criticism for initially overlooking the disappearances of sex workers and drug users, many of whom were among Pickton's victims. The Correctional Service of Canada has launched an investigation into the assault on Pickton to determine if proper protocols were followed.
Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc extended his condolences to the families of Pickton's victims, acknowledging the impact of his crimes on communities across Canada. At the time of sentencing, the judge emphasized the severity of Pickton's crimes, stating that the maximum parole ineligibility period was warranted in this rare case.
