On December 18, 2014, 101-year-old Ernest Côté, a decorated World War II veteran, became the target of a violent home invasion. The assailant, Ian Bush, gained entry to Côté's secure condo building using fake City of Ottawa identification. Bush proceeded to rob and terrorize the elderly war hero, binding his hands, taping his mouth shut, and leaving him to suffocate with a plastic bag over his head. However, Côté's remarkable strength and presence of mind allowed him to break free, cut a hole in the bag, and call for help.

Little did anyone know that Côté's bravery would not only save his own life but would also lead to the resolution of a gruesome unsolved triple homicide from 2007. The evidence Côté preserved, particularly the duct tape used to gag him, provided the crucial DNA link that connected Bush to the murders of retired tax court judge Alban Garon, 77, his wife Raymonde Garon, 73, and their friend Marie-Claire Beniskos, 78. These three victims, all in their 70s, had been found hogtied, beaten, and suffocated in the Garons' luxury condo, leaving investigators baffled for years.

Sources:

"Alban Garon" - Search - Newspapers.com™

Alban Garon | Wikipedia

Ernest Côté | Wikipedia

Ernest Adolphe Côté | The Canadian Encyclopedia

Riviera One and Two - 1500 and 1510 Riverside Dr

Remembering the life of Marie-Claire Beniskos

Marie-Claire Beniskos | News, Videos & Articles

Ernest Cote | News, Videos & Articles

D-Day 70th Anniversary: Battle by the numbers | YouTube

Ian Bush Charged in 2007 Triple Homicide | CBC Youtube

Ian Bush - Search | National Post

Gruesome details by pathologist in Ian Bush triple-murder trial

Man guilty in murder of Ot­tawa tax judge | Calgary Herald

Guilty verdict in 'brutal, gratuitous' Ottawa triple murder | CBC News

2017 ONSC 422 (CanLII) | R. v. Bush | CanLII

2017 ONSC 7426 (CanLII) | R. v. Bush | CanLII

2017 ONSC 7627 (CanLII) | R. v. Bush | CanLII

2024 ONCA 245 (CanLII) | R. v. Bush | CanLII

‘I was mad as a wasp,’ says 101-year-old war vet home invasion victim

Ernest Côté: 101-year-old veteran who survived home invasion dies - National

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