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CBC
07-07-2025
- CBC
Verdict expected for Calgary man accused of killing 2nd sex trade worker
Social Sharing A verdict is expected today for a Calgary man accused of murdering a sex trade worker, 16 years after he killed another woman who worked in the city as a prostitute. Christopher Dunlop, 50, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Judy Maerz, 58, whose body was found butchered and burned in the Deerfoot Athletic Park in February 2023. On Monday, Court of King's Bench Justice Colin Feasby will release his decision after presiding over a three-week trial last month. The verdict will come 16 years after Dunlop killed Laura Furlan — who was also working in the city's sex trade at the time — after he picked her up from a known sex stroll in Calgary. 'Someone who wouldn't be missed' He took Furlan to the Deerfoot Athletic Park, fatally strangled her and then dumped her body 20 kilometres away at Fish Creek Park. Police later determined that Dunlop had searched online for "disposing a body using fire." Before the trial began, Feasby ruled that prosecutors Hyatt Mograbee and Greg Piper were allowed to argue that the similarities between the Furlan and Maerz homicides bolstered its case against Dunlop. After he strangled Furlan in 2009, Dunlop told undercover officers that he'd set out the night of the killing "looking for someone who wouldn't be missed," someone he could "f–k up." Prosecutors argued in the Maerz case that Dunlop "set out once again to find somebody who wouldn't be missed." In the Fuland case, Dunlop pleaded guilty to manslaughter and served a 13-year sentence. In the Maerz homicide, prosecutors are seeking a conviction for first-degree murder and have argued the evidence allows for two pathways to get there. The Crown says it has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the killing was planned and deliberate and that it was committed in the course of a sexual assault. On the morning of Feb. 16, 2023, Maerz's body was found in the park; her pants were pulled down and she had suffered 79 stab and slash wounds before her body had been set on fire. Maerz "fought for her life," prosecutors said, pointing to defensive wounds on her body. In the course of that fight, the Crown argued Maerz's attacker was injured, leaving blood behind in the snow. DNA evidence Some of the key evidence in the Crown's case comes from that blood found at the crime scene near Maerz's body which came back a match to Dunlop. Two weeks after Maerz was killed, police attended Dunlop's home to execute an arrest and search warrant. That's when officers discovered Maerz's purse in Dunlop's garage. The Crown also presented video evidence that it says tracks Dunlop to his wife's workplace where he swapped vehicles, onto the Forest Lawn area where it's alleged he picked up Maerz and then to the athletic park. The video, argued prosecutors, then tracks Dunlop in his wife's SUV back to her workplace. Prosecutors say CCTV video then shows Dunlop getting back into his truck and returning to the crime scene, just long enough to set a body on fire. Defence lawyer Allan Fay did not call any witnesses but argued that investigators made evidence "fit their theory instead of looking at evidence and forming a theory from it."
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Yahoo
CRIME SCENE: Oshawa woman charged, Oshawa man wanted in human trafficking case
A 46-year-old Oshawa woman is facing multiple charges, and police are searching for a male suspect following a human trafficking investigation. On May 1, Durham Regional Police say a probe was launched following allegations involving a young woman allegedly coerced into the sex trade and investigators determined the victim initially met the suspects in Oshawa in February. It's alleged that, over the course of several weeks, the female suspect exploited the victim and coerced her to engage in sexual acts with men in exchange for money. A male suspect was also identified in connection with this incident and investigators issued arrest warrants for both suspects. On Thursday, officers went to an Oshawa address near Bond St. E and Ritson Rd. N. for a disturbance call. Tina Baker was arrested and charged with multiple offences, including trafficking in persons, forcible confinement, material benefits from sexual services, procuring/exercising control, extortion, assault and robbery. The male suspect remains outstanding. Police are seeking assistance in locating Yvenord Hyacinthe, 43, of Oshawa, who is wanted for multiple offences including assault, assault with a weapon, forcible confinement, robbery, extortion, and procuring. Anyone who has been victimized by the accused or has any information about this or similar incidents is asked to contact police at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5600, or Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or at York Regional Police have charged two suspects in connection with a commercial robbery at a cellphone store inside a Richmond Hill mall. On Tuesday around 4 p.m., police responded to a report of a robbery at the store located in a mall near Yonge St.-Carrville Rd. after the caller reported two suspects entered the store — one armed with a knife and the other believed to be armed with a firearm. Cops said the suspects stole multiple cellphones before fleeing in a waiting vehicle. At the time of the incident, two employees were inside the store but no one was seriously injured. Shortly after the suspects fled, investigators located their getaway vehicle and tracked them tracked to Toronto, where they were arrested and the stolen cellphones were recovered. Adun Tenseaw, 22, of Toronto, and Rashaun Tarence Bennett, 30, of Brampton, have both been charged with robbery, disguise with intent and two counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000. A third suspect, believed to be the getaway driver, remains outstanding. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 6630, or Crime stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS or at CRIME SCENE: Man allegedly harassed woman, entered her apartment building: Cops CRIME SCENE: Scugog man charged with allegedly luring a 14-year-old girl online A 38-year-old Clarington man has been arrested for drug trafficking. On Thursday, a Durham Regional Police investigation into a male suspect believed to be selling drugs from his residence was concluded and a search warrant was executed there with drug paraphernalia seized, along a quantity of cocaine. The man was located outside of his residence and arrested without incident. Dustin Cambell faces charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking schedule I – cocaine. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact pollice at 1-888-579-1520 at ext. 5825, or Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or at
CTV News
04-07-2025
- CTV News
Woman arrested, man outstanding in Durham human trafficking investigation
A 46-year-old Oshawa woman is facing multiple charges, and Durham police are searching for a male suspect following a human trafficking investigation involving a young woman who was coerced into the sex trade. A 46-year-old Oshawa woman is facing multiple charges, and Durham police are searching for a male suspect following a human trafficking investigation involving a young woman who was coerced into the sex trade. In a release on Friday, Durham police said their Human Trafficking Unit (HTU) launched an investigation into allegations involving the exploitation of a female victim on May 1. Investigators said the victim initially met the suspects in Oshawa in February of this year. 'Over the course of several weeks, the female suspect exploited the victim and coerced her to engage in sexual acts with men in exchange for money,' the release said. Police also identified a male suspect over the course of the investigation and issued arrest warrants for both suspects. On July 3, officers went to an address near Bond Street East and Ritson Road North in Oshawa for a disturbance call. The female suspect was found at the address and arrested. Tina Baker, 46, of Oshawa, is charged with multiple offences, including trafficking in persons, forcible confinement, extortion, assault, and several others. She was held for a bail hearing. Police are still searching for Yvenord Hyacinthe, 43, of Oshawa. He is wanted for multiple charges, including assault with a weapon, forcible confinement, robbery, and others. Police are concerned there may be additional victims and are asking anyone with information to contact the Human Trafficking Unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5600.
CTV News
03-07-2025
- CTV News
2 charged in Markham home invasions that targeted sex trade workers: police
Oniel Forrester (left) and Maryanne Cunanan have been charged for Markham home invasions. (York Regional Police) Two people have been charged following a series of home invasion robberies in Markham that police say targeted sex trade workers. The first incident happened on the evening of May 30 at a condominium near Verdale Crossing and Birchmount Road, south of Highway 7. York Regional Police said when the victim exited her unit, a man forced his way inside, assaulted the victim, and demanded cash. He fled in a blue sedan driven by a second suspect, police said. Almost a month later, on June 27, the two suspects were allegedly responsible for two more home invasions at condominiums near Highway 7 East and Rodick Road. 'In both cases, the suspects are believed to have specifically targeted individuals working in the sex trade,' police said in a news release on Thursday, noting that the victim in the first incident was also a sex trade worker. Their investigation also determined that one of the suspects is linked to a robbery in Barrie on May 6. Investigators also searched a residence in Toronto, where police said stolen property was recovered. The suspects have been identified as 29-year-old Oniel Joshua Forrester of Barrie and 30-year-old Maryanne Cunanan of Toronto. Forrester has been charged with armed robbery, three counts of robbery and four counts of disguise with intent. Cunanan is facing charges of armed robbery, possession of proceeds obtained by crime and two counts of robbery. Police have released the suspects' photos, saying investigators believe the two may be responsible for additional incidents and are urging other victims to come forward. Anyone with information is urged to contact police at 1-866-876-5423 ext. 7441 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS.
CBC
13-06-2025
- CBC
Murder trial hears from convicted killer's wife who led police to key evidence in sex worker homicide
It was an emotional day in a Calgary courtroom as the wife of a man accused of killing a second sex trade worker testified at his first-degree murder trial, telling the judge that she led police to a key piece of evidence — the victim's purse. The courtroom gallery was full as Christopher Dunlop's wife April, who was called by prosecutors Hyatt Mograbee and Greg Piper, took the stand on Thursday. The 54-year-old was visibly upset and shaken at times throughout her testimony. April made it clear after court she wasn't present in support of her former spouse and confirmed they are no longer together. "Our hearts go out to the victims and their families," April said. "This has been devastating for our whole family and we just want to heal and move forward." In 2009, Dunlop fatally strangled Laura Furlan and then dumped her body in Fish Creek Park. He was released from prison in 2020 with his manslaughter sentence expiring in 2022, meaning he was no longer under court-ordered conditions. In 2023, Dunlop is accused of picking up Judy Maerz for sex, taking her to the Deerfoot Athletic Park where prosecutors say he fatally stabbed her before setting her body on fire. The Crown has already presented CCTV and cellphone evidence supporting its theory that Dunlop drove his truck to the Peter Lougheed hospital, switched into her RAV4, then picked up Maerz on the Forest Lawn prostitution stroll and took her to Deerfoot Athletic Park. Calgary police crime analyst Mark Ruggieri presented video evidence showing a vehicle entering the park at 3:03 a.m. and leaving at 3:12 a.m. April finds car open, purse inside Prosecutors allege in those nine minutes, Dunlop fatally stabbed Maerz 79 times. Dunlop is then accused of driving his wife's SUV back to the hospital and getting back into his truck. Ruggieri then presented further CCTV footage that the Crown says shows Dunlop's truck being tracked from the hospital to the Deerfoot Athletic Park, arriving at 3:32 a.m. During the two minutes the truck was at the park, another CCTV camera captured a large flash of light which the Crown alleges is Maerz's body being set on fire after it was doused in gasoline. 'It didn't make sense' April testified that when she finished her shift at the hospital, she walked to her car to find the door ajar. Then she noticed a purse on the dash and a bag of empty bottles in another bag on the passenger side floor. April testified that she was panicked at first, trying to make sense of what she'd found. There was no damage and nothing missing from her SUV. April said she believed she might have left her vehicle open and a homeless person may have used her car to sleep in. "A lot of people come to the hospital to sleep when they're cold," April said. "I felt pretty violated, pretty shook up … It didn't make sense that someone didn't rummage through, I couldn't make sense of it." 911 call played April checked the purse and found a government-issued ID for a woman in her 50s, a bus pass and some Walmart gift cards. She also found a little bottle of THC. She testified that she threw out the purse's contents but decided to keep the purse to donate. April said she tossed it into a donation pile in her garage. Meanwhile, Dana Krupp was about to make a "horrific" discovery. Justice Colin Feasby heard testimony from Krupp, earlier this week. Krupp testified that around 10:30 a.m. on the morning of February 16, 2023, she arrived at the Deerfoot Athletic Park with three dogs. 'Tell me this isn't real' Almost immediately she testified that she spotted Maerz's butchered, charred body. "It was the most horrific thing I've ever seen," Krupp said. "It didn't look like a real person." "Her face was burned, her hands were burned, her feet were burned … please somebody tell me this isn't real." Krupp testified that she rounded up her dogs, got them back into her car and immediately called 911. That call was played in court. "I hope it's just a stunt," she told the operator. "I'm hoping it's a mannequin … I'm really hoping it's not a body." 'Here we go again' Police arrived and began collecting evidence. Their smoking gun came back in the form of blood at the scene belonging to a man. Within two weeks, the RCMP lab confirmed the blood belonged to Christopher Dunlop, whose DNA was in the system after his previous conviction for the manslaughter of Laura Furlan. On March 1, 2023, the tactical team arrived, busting down Dunlop's door. "The tac-team had come and tackled me," said April, crying. She was handcuffed until homicide detectives showed up and removed the cuffs. Retired homicide detective Reagan Hossack testified earlier this week that when police were in the former couple's home to execute the search and arrest warrants, she told April that her husband was a suspect in a murder investigation. Hossack testified that April sat at her kitchen table and said, "Here we go again." April answered detectives' questions, eventually telling them about the night of the suspected vehicle break-in. She told them about the purse. Then she took them to it. Forensic testing later confirmed Maerz's DNA was on the purse. On Thursday afternoon, prosecutors Mograbee and Piper finished calling evidence. Defence lawyer Allan Fay told Justice Colin Feasby he would not be calling any witnesses.
