Canadian serial killer Robert Pickton dead prison assault

Notorious Canadian serial killer Robert Pickton dies after prison assault. Pickton was convicted of six murders and fed victims to pigs.

Robert Pickton, a Canadian serial killer infamous for luring female victims to his pig farm during a crime spree near Vancouver in the late 1990s and early 2000s, has passed away after being assaulted in prison at the age of 74. The Correctional Service of Canada confirmed his death, stating that Pickton, an inmate at Port-Cartier Institution in Quebec, succumbed to injuries sustained in the May 19 attack by another inmate. Pickton's case garnered international attention, with his conviction on six counts of second-degree murder and a life sentence with a maximum parole ineligibility period of 25 years in 2007 for the murders of 26 women.

The investigation into Pickton's crimes began over two decades ago, with police uncovering the remains or DNA of 33 women on his farm in Port Coquitlam. Pickton once boasted to an undercover officer about killing a total of 49 women and described how he disposed of their bodies by feeding them to his pigs. The gruesome details of his crimes, including the possibility of human remains in meat sold from his farm, shocked the public and haunted the families of his victims.

The death of Pickton has brought a sense of closure for some, like Cynthia Cardinal, whose sister was among his victims. She expressed relief at being able to finally move on and heal from the trauma of her sister's murder. However, the impact of Pickton's crimes on the communities, particularly Indigenous peoples, victims, and their families, continues to resonate. The Correctional Service of Canada is conducting an investigation into the assault on Pickton, ensuring that policies and protocols were followed.

Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc acknowledged the death of Pickton and expressed sympathy for the families of his victims. At the time of sentencing, Justice James Williams deemed Pickton's case as warranting the maximum period of parole ineligibility, recognizing the heinous nature of his crimes. The legacy of Robert Pickton, a man who preyed on vulnerable women and caused immeasurable pain, serves as a reminder of the importance of justice and accountability in the face of such atrocities.