David John Gorton

Mass murderer

5known / alleged victims

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Case Facts

Gender: male
Country: Canada
Location: Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
Date of birth: 1960
Age at first offence: 37
Characteristics: jealousy
Victim profile: Heidi Challand, 28 (his fiance) and her children Robert, 12, David, 9, Calvin, 6 and Jewel, 2
Method of murder: Beating with an axe
Date(s) of murder: September 16, 1997
Years active: 1997
Date of arrest: 12 days after
Status: Life imprisonment
Sentenced to life in prison with no parole for at least 25 years on December 11, 1997

Case Summary

Case record: David John Gorton

Status

David John Gorton was sentenced to life in prison with no parole for at least 25 years on December 11, 1997.

The offence

On September 19, 1997, Heidi Challand and her four young children were bludgeoned to death with an axe in their Black Creek home on Vancouver Island.

David John Gorton, who was Heidi Challand’s fiancé, pleaded guilty on December 11, 1997, to murdering Heidi Challand and her four children. Gorton told police he "snapped" because he thought his fiancee—who he was to marry a month later—was being unfaithful. After Gorton became suspicious that Challand was having an affair, the victims were bludgeoned repeatedly in the head last September.

The children were named as Robert (12), David (9), Calvin (6), and Jewel (2). Heidi Challand was named as 28.

Gorton had pleaded guilty to the first-degree murders of Heidi Challand, 28, and her children Robert, 12, David, 9, Calvin, 6 and Jewel, 2.

Investigation

Police launched a nationwide manhunt after a woman and her four children were found bludgeoned to death at the family home in Black Creek.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said they were looking for the woman's common-law husband, 37-year-old David John Gorton.

Staff Sgt. Russ Grabb said that although the autopsies were yet to be performed, the deaths appear to have taken place three to four days ago.

Arrest

David John Gorton was sentenced by a judge on December 11, 1997, after pleading guilty to first-degree murders.

Gorton was on a suicide watch in prison.

Trial

David John Gorton pleaded guilty to the first-degree murders of Heidi Challand and her four children.

As a judge sentenced him to life in prison for the axe-murder of his fiancé and her four children, Gorton said:

"I am sorry for what I've done and I pray God will forgive me and have mercy on my soul,"

Gorton stood shoeless in front of a judge and in a courtroom packed with relatives of his victims.

Sentencing

On December 11, 1997, David John Gorton was sentenced to life in prison with no parole for at least 25 years.

Background

David John Gorton was 37.

Gorton’s motive was described as suspicion that Challand was having an affair and Gorton thinking she was being unfaithful.

Evidence presented in the British Columbia Supreme Court showed that in 1977 Gorton lured his 16-year-old girlfriend to a secluded spot and stabbed her 19 times. She was hospitalized for a month.

In 1983, Gorton attacked his then-wife with a knife and served two years for aggravated assault.

Other details

Heidi Challand’s fiancé stated he was to marry her a month later.

Police were seeking Gorton when the deaths were discovered at the family home in Black Creek, a tiny rural community between Courtenay and Campbell River on Vancouver Island.

Timeline

September 19, 1997 — Heidi Challand and her four young children were found bludgeoned to death with an axe in their Black Creek home on Vancouver Island.
December 11, 1997 — David John Gorton pleaded guilty to the first-degree murders of Heidi Challand and her four children and was sentenced to life in prison with no parole for at least 25 years.

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