TIMELINE: Key dates in the case of serial killer Bruce McArthur
Posted January 29, 2019 10:53 am.
Last Updated January 29, 2019 10:56 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A timeline of key events in the case of Toronto serial killer Bruce McArthur based on information released by police:
September 2010 – Skandaraj Navaratnam, 40, disappears from Toronto’s gay village.
Dec. 29, 2010 – Abdulbasir Faizi, 42, is reported missing to Peel Regional Police, west of Toronto. He was last seen in Toronto’s gay village.
October 2012 – Majeed Kayhan, 58, of Toronto, is reported missing.
November 2012 – Police launch Project Houston to investigate the disappearances of Faizi, Navaratnam and Kayhan.
April 2014 – Police close Project Houston, saying none of their findings would classify anyone as a suspect of a criminal offence.
August 2015 – Soroush Mahmudi, 50, of Toronto, is reported missing.
May 2016 – July 2017 – Police believe Dean Lisowick, 43 or 44, of no fixed address, was killed by McArthur during this time span.
April 14, 2017 – Selim Esen, 44, is reported missing.
June 26, 2017 – Andrew Kinsman, 49, is reported missing.
August 2017 – Police launch Project Prism to investigate the disappearances of Esen and Kinsman.
September 2017 – Project Prism officers identify McArthur “as someone to be included or excluded as being involved in the disappearance of Andrew Kinsman.”
Dec. 8, 2017 – Police Chief Mark Saunders says the force will review its practices in missing persons investigations. He says there’s no evidence to suggest a serial killer is walking the streets of Toronto.
Jan. 17, 2018 – Police uncover evidence suggesting McArthur was responsible for both Kinsman and Esen’s deaths, along with the deaths of other unidentified people.
Jan. 18, 2018 – McArthur is arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of Esen and Kinsman. Police say McArthur is believed to be responsible for other deaths.
Jan. 19, 2018 – McArthur has his first court appearance.
Jan. 29, 2018 – McArthur is charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of Mahmudi, Kayhan and Lisowick. Police say more victims may be identified.
Feb. 8, 2018 – Police say they’ve recovered the remains of six people from planters at a house where McArthur worked as a landscaper, and say they expect more charges.
Feb. 13, 2018 – Police say excavation at the home’s backyard turned up no human remains, but suggest they may “revisit the scene” when the weather warms up.
Feb. 23, 2018 – Police lay a sixth charge of first-degree murder against McArthur, identify Navaratnam as one of the alleged victims whose remains were found in the planters.
March 5, 2018 – Police say they’ve recovered the remains of a seventh person linked to McArthur.
April 11, 2018 – Police lay a seventh murder charge against McArthur in Faizi’s death.
April 16, 2018 – Police lay an eighth murder charge against McArthur in the death of Kirushna Kumar Kanagaratnam, who came to Canada from Sri Lanka.
Jan. 29, 2019 – McArthur pleads guilty to all eight charges of first-degree murder.
