Digest

This episode of the podcast delves into the chilling case of Candice Dirkson, a 13-year-old girl who vanished in Winnipeg, Canada in 1984. The hosts meticulously chronicle the events surrounding her disappearance, the extensive search efforts, and the initial police investigation, which initially suspected a runaway scenario. The episode then reveals the tragic discovery of Candice's body in a rundown shed near her home, highlighting the conflicting statements from witnesses and law enforcement. The hosts explore the autopsy results, confirming Candice's cause of death as hypothermia, and delve into the evolving theories of the police, including the possibility of a prank gone wrong. A new development emerges with the abduction of another young girl, leading investigators to believe a connection might exist between the two cases. The episode then focuses on the cold case investigation, highlighting the efforts of John Birchell, a cold case investigator who linked graffiti at the crime scene to a movie. The hosts also discuss the family's frustration with the lack of progress and the police's renewed investigation. The episode culminates in the arrest of Mark Grant, a man linked to the murder through DNA evidence found on the twine used to bind Candice. The hosts discuss Grant's criminal history, including previous convictions for sexual assault and his history of violence. The episode details Grant's release from prison in 2005 and the subsequent DNA match that led to his re-arrest. They explain the process of mitochondrial DNA testing and how it was used to connect Grant to the crime scene. The episode covers Grant's trial, where he pleaded not guilty. The hosts discuss the prosecution's case, which relied heavily on DNA evidence, and the defense's arguments that the evidence was flawed and potentially contaminated. The hosts reveal that Grant allegedly confessed to the murder in 1988 but later retracted his statement. They discuss the testimony of Tonya LaChance, who claimed to have overheard Grant confess to the crime. The episode covers Grant's appeal, which resulted in a new trial. The hosts discuss the defense's arguments that the police ignored evidence pointing away from Grant and contaminated the crime scene. The hosts detail Grant's retrial, which was a bench trial. They discuss the defense's continued questioning of the DNA evidence and the judge's ultimate decision to find Grant not guilty. The episode concludes with the aftermath of Grant's acquittal, highlighting the family's disappointment and the ongoing debate about his guilt. The hosts also discuss the establishment of Candace House, a space for victims of crime and their families.

Outlines

00:00:00

The Disappearance and Murder of Candice Dirkson

This episode investigates the disappearance and murder of Candice Dirkson, a 13-year-old girl who vanished in Winnipeg, Canada in 1984. The hosts meticulously chronicle the events surrounding her disappearance, the extensive search efforts, and the initial police investigation, which initially suspected a runaway scenario. The episode then reveals the tragic discovery of Candice's body in a rundown shed near her home, highlighting the conflicting statements from witnesses and law enforcement.

00:18:55

The Investigation and Initial Theories

The hosts explore the autopsy results, confirming Candice's cause of death as hypothermia, and delve into the evolving theories of the police, including the possibility of a prank gone wrong. A new development emerges with the abduction of another young girl, leading investigators to believe a connection might exist between the two cases.

00:23:37

The Cold Case Investigation and Arrest of Mark Grant

The episode then focuses on the cold case investigation, highlighting the efforts of John Birchell, a cold case investigator who linked graffiti at the crime scene to a movie. The hosts also discuss the family's frustration with the lack of progress and the police's renewed investigation. The episode culminates in the arrest of Mark Grant, a man linked to the murder through DNA evidence found on the twine used to bind Candice. The hosts discuss Grant's criminal history, including previous convictions for sexual assault and his history of violence.

00:30:34

Grant's Trial and Conviction

The episode details Grant's release from prison in 2005 and the subsequent DNA match that led to his re-arrest. They explain the process of mitochondrial DNA testing and how it was used to connect Grant to the crime scene. The episode covers Grant's trial, where he pleaded not guilty. The hosts discuss the prosecution's case, which relied heavily on DNA evidence, and the defense's arguments that the evidence was flawed and potentially contaminated.

00:39:34

Grant's Confession, Retrial, and Acquittal

The hosts reveal that Grant allegedly confessed to the murder in 1988 but later retracted his statement. They discuss the testimony of Tonya LaChance, who claimed to have overheard Grant confess to the crime. The episode covers Grant's appeal, which resulted in a new trial. The hosts discuss the defense's arguments that the police ignored evidence pointing away from Grant and contaminated the crime scene. The hosts detail Grant's retrial, which was a bench trial. They discuss the defense's continued questioning of the DNA evidence and the judge's ultimate decision to find Grant not guilty.

00:56:56

The Aftermath and Candace House

The episode concludes with the aftermath of Grant's acquittal, highlighting the family's disappointment and the ongoing debate about his guilt. The hosts also discuss the establishment of Candace House, a space for victims of crime and their families.

Keywords

Q&A

• What were the circumstances surrounding Candice Dirkson's disappearance?

  Candice was walking home from school on November 30th, 1984, when she was last seen near a variety store. She called her mother for a ride, but her mother was unable to pick her up. Candice promised to go shopping later, but she never made it home.

• How was Mark Grant linked to the murder of Candice Dirkson?

  Grant was linked to the murder through DNA evidence found on the twine used to bind Candice. The DNA was a maternal match to Grant, and he had a history of violent and sexual deviant behavior.

• What were the main arguments presented by the defense during Grant's retrial?

  The defense argued that the DNA evidence was flawed and potentially contaminated, and that the police ignored evidence pointing away from Grant. They also highlighted the similarities between Candice's case and the abduction of another young girl, suggesting that there may have been another perpetrator.

• What was the outcome of Grant's retrial?

  Grant was found not guilty of second-degree murder. The judge accepted the defense's argument that the DNA evidence was fundamentally flawed and that the totality of evidence presented did not meet the standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

Show Notes