Digest

This episode of True Crime Garage delves into the chilling case of Robert Pickton, Canada's most notorious serial killer. The story begins in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, a poverty-stricken neighborhood known as the Low Track, where drug addiction, homelessness, and sex work were rampant. In the early 1990s, women started disappearing from the Low Track, with no clear explanation. Despite growing concerns and a list of missing women that continued to expand, the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) initially dismissed the disappearances as a result of the women's transient lifestyles and drug use. However, some detectives, like Kim Rosmo, began to suspect a serial killer was at work, but their concerns were largely ignored due to a lack of resources and a perception that the victims were low priority. The investigation was further hampered by the lack of specific dates for the women's disappearances, uncooperative witnesses, and the absence of bodies or evidence of foul play. In 1998, a tipster named William Hiscocks pointed the finger at Robert Pickton, a pig farmer who owned a business called P and B Salvage. Hiscocks described Pickton's farm as a creepy place where he held parties with sex workers and where he allegedly disposed of bodies. Despite this tip and other evidence that emerged, the RCMP failed to take decisive action against Pickton, allowing him to continue his reign of terror. It wasn't until 2002, when Pickton was arrested for an illegal gun purchase, that authorities finally searched his property and discovered the horrifying truth. The search of Pickton's farm uncovered a gruesome scene, with human remains found in garbage cans, freezers, and other locations. The investigation revealed a chilling pattern of violence and abuse, highlighting the systemic failures that allowed Pickton to operate for so long. This episode serves as a stark reminder of the importance of taking all missing persons cases seriously and the devastating consequences of ignoring the plight of vulnerable populations.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction

This Chapter introduces the episode and the topic of the podcast, which is the case of Robert Pickton, a Canadian serial killer. It also introduces the hosts, Nick and the Captain, and mentions the sponsor of the episode, Bat Squatch by Rogue Ails and Spirits.

00:00:13

The Missing Women of Vancouver

This Chapter delves into the background of the case, focusing on the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, a poverty-stricken neighborhood known as the Low Track. It describes the area's high rates of drug addiction, homelessness, and sex work, and how women began disappearing from the area in the early 1990s. It also discusses the initial reluctance of the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) to investigate the disappearances, attributing them to the women's transient lifestyles and drug use.

00:26:34

The Piggy Palace and Robert Pickton

This Chapter introduces Robert Pickton, a pig farmer who owned a business called P and B Salvage. It details the tip received by the police about Pickton's involvement in the missing women's case, including allegations of parties held at his farm, known as the Piggy Palace, where sex workers were brought in for entertainment. The tipster also claimed to have seen evidence of women's belongings and bloody clothing on the farm.

00:04:17

The Investigation and the Search for Evidence

This Chapter explores the investigation into the missing women's case, highlighting the challenges faced by law enforcement. It discusses the lack of specific dates for the women's disappearances, the uncooperative witnesses, and the absence of bodies or evidence of foul play. It also details the emergence of Robert Pickton as a suspect and the RCMP's initial reluctance to take decisive action against him.

00:47:18

The Discovery of Horrifying Evidence

This Chapter describes the search of Robert Pickton's farm and the discovery of human remains in garbage cans, freezers, and other locations. It details the gruesome evidence found, including a loaded revolver with a dildo stretched over the barrel, boxes of ammunition, handcuffs, and women's clothing stained with blood. The chapter also highlights the scale of the search and the cost to the Canadian government.

Keywords

Q&A

• What were some of the challenges faced by law enforcement in investigating the missing women's case?

  The investigation was hampered by several factors, including the lack of specific dates for the women's disappearances, the uncooperative witnesses, and the absence of bodies or evidence of foul play. The women's transient lifestyles and drug use also made it difficult to track their movements.

• Why did the Vancouver Police Department initially dismiss the disappearances as a result of the women's lifestyles?

  The VPD initially believed that the women had simply drifted away due to their transient lifestyles and drug use. They also perceived the victims as low priority and lacked the resources to dedicate to a full-scale investigation.

• What was the significance of the tip received about Robert Pickton?

  The tipster, William Hiscocks, claimed that Pickton was responsible for all of the missing women and described his farm as a creepy place where he held parties with sex workers and allegedly disposed of bodies. This tip, along with other evidence that emerged, eventually led to Pickton's arrest and conviction.

• What was found during the search of Robert Pickton's farm?

  The search of Pickton's farm uncovered a horrifying scene, with human remains found in garbage cans, freezers, and other locations. The evidence included a loaded revolver with a dildo stretched over the barrel, boxes of ammunition, handcuffs, and women's clothing stained with blood. The discovery of these remains confirmed Pickton's guilt and highlighted the extent of his crimes.

• What are some of the lessons learned from the Robert Pickton case?

  The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of taking all missing persons cases seriously, regardless of the victim's background or lifestyle. It also highlights the devastating consequences of ignoring the plight of vulnerable populations and the need for law enforcement to be more proactive in investigating crimes against marginalized groups.

Show Notes