William Patrick Fyfe

Case overview

William Patrick Fyfe was a Canadian serial killer who was convicted of five counts of murder and claimed responsibility for the violent murders of nine people in the Montreal area beginning in 1979. He claimed to have killed four others in addition to those he was convicted for.

Fyfe was born in 1955 and was raised by an aunt. He moved from Western Canada to Montreal in 1958. He worked as a handyman as an adult.

Police charged Fyfe based on DNA evidence connected to the murders. He was arrested on December 22, 1999 while returning to his pick-up truck after eating in Husky Truck Stop by The O.P.P (Ontario Provincial Police). He confessed to only a portion of the crimes he was suspected of committing, leaving the exact number of his victims unknown.

Fyfe’s preliminary hearing began on November 6, 2000. Jean Lecours was the crown prosecutor heading up the case against Fyfe. He was serving a life sentence in a psychiatric hospital in Saskatchewan.

Timeline

• 1979 — Fyfe allegedly killed his first victim at age 24.
• September 21, 2001 — Fyfe was sentenced to life in prison.
• December 22, 1999 — Fyfe was arrested while returning to his pick-up truck after eating in Husky Truck Stop by The O.P.P (Ontario Provincial Police).
• November 6, 2000 — Fyfe’s preliminary hearing began.
• October 17, 1979 — Suzanne-Marie Bernier was stabbed and sexually assaulted in Cartierville, Montreal.
• November 14, 1979 — Nicole Raymond was stabbed and sexually assaulted in Pointe-Claire, Montreal.
• March 21, 1981 — Hazel Scattolon was stabbed to death and sexually assaulted.
• September 26, 1987 — Louise Poupart-Leblanc was stabbed and sexually assaulted in Saint-Adèle, Laurentides.
• June 9, 1989 — Pauline Laplante was stabbed and sexually assaulted in Saint-Adèle, Laurentides.
• September 21, 2001 — Sentencing to life in prison was recorded as occurring on this date.
• October 15, 1999 — Anna Yarnold was found dead in Senneville, Quebec.
• October 1999 — Monique Gaudreau was found dead in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec.
• November 1999 — Teresa Shanahan was stabbed to death in Laval, Quebec.
• November 1999 — Teresa Shanahan was stabbed to death.
• December 15, 1999 — Mary Glenn was beaten and stabbed in Baie-d'Urfé, Quebec.

The offence

Fyfe claimed responsibility for the violent murders of nine people in the Montreal area beginning in 1979. He was convicted of five counts of murder.

The murders involved victims who were beaten, and usually raped and robbed, with DNA evidence linking Fyfe to the crimes.

Fyfe confessed to only a portion of the crimes he was suspected of committing, so the exact number of his victims was unknown.

Investigation and arrest

DNA evidence led police to charge Fyfe for the murders. Canadian authorities arrested him on December 22, 1999 while he was returning to his pick-up truck after eating in Husky Truck Stop by The O.P.P (Ontario Provincial Police). He was apprehended because of a single fingerprint and intensive surveillance.

Trial

Fyfe was found guilty of 5 murders.

Sentencing

Fyfe was sentenced to life in prison on September 21, 2001.

Known victims

• Hazel Scattolon, a 52-year-old woman, was stabbed to death and sexually assaulted in March 21, 1981.
• Suzanne-Marie Bernier, a 62-year-old woman, was stabbed and sexually assaulted on October 17, 1979 in Cartierville, Montreal.
• Nicole Raymond, a 26-year-old woman, was stabbed and sexually assaulted on November 14, 1979 in Pointe-Claire, Montreal.
• Monique Gaudreau, a 46-year-old woman, was found dead in October 1999 in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec.
• Anna Yarnold, a 59-year-old woman, was found dead on October 15, 1999 in Senneville, Quebec.
• Teresa Shanahan, a 55-year-old woman, was stabbed to death in November 1999 in Laval, Quebec.
• Mary Glenn, a 50-year-old woman, was beaten and stabbed on December 15, 1999 in Baie-d'Urfé, Quebec.
• Louise Poupart-Leblanc, a 37-year-old woman, was stabbed and sexually assaulted on September 26, 1987 in Saint-Adèle, Laurentides.
• Pauline Laplante, a 45-year-old woman, was stabbed and sexually assaulted on June 9, 1989 in Saint-Adèle, Laurentides.

Other details

Fyfe claimed responsibility for the murders and confessed to four more crimes than the five for which he was convicted, according to the case summary’s description. His murder spree was described as spanning nearly 20 years and including murders beginning in 1979.

Fyfe lived under the radar and was described as a generous man, full of community spirit, with a penchant for preaching about his weight and other habits. He arrived in a small Quebec community for treatment for his drug addiction, eventually staying to counsel others like him.

Fyfe made a 650 km trip from Barrie to Montreal four times in the fall of 1999.