A chilling crime in Toronto's upscale Yorkville neighborhood sparks a four-decade investigation. The brutal murder of Erin Gilmore unveils a complex investigation involving suspects and unforeseen DNA evidence. Detectives navigate twists and turns, leading to a shocking arrest in California. The intricate web of unsolved mysteries culminates in a moment of emotional betrayal and justice as the killer is unveiled.
The challenges of solving cold cases through complex DNA profiling
The importance of perseverance in seeking justice for victims' families
The use of investigative genetic genealogy to identify the killer in a 40-year-old case
Deep dives
Mysterious Murders of Aaron Gilmore and Susan Tice
The cold case of Aaron Gilmore and Susan Tice, two victims of brutal murders, remained unsolved for decades. Aaron, bound and gagged, stabbed multiple times in upscale Toronto, came from a well-known family. Susan, a therapist, was brutally murdered in her home. Though DNA linked both murders to one killer, the complexity of the genetic profile, including a Native American component, presented challenges for investigators.
Investigative Genetic Genealogy Breakthrough and Challenges
Toronto Police turned to Advancements in DNA technology to solve the cases, employing investigative genetic genealogy used in the Golden State Killer and Christine Jessup cases. The DNA profile difficulties from the Gilmore and Tice cases, with Native American ancestry markers, made the familial tree tracing challenging, akin to solving a puzzle without the cover picture. It required expertise from Detective James Atkinson, a genealogist.
Dogged Pursuit of Justice and Unwavering Hope
Despite years of disappointments, Aaron's brother Sean persisted in seeking justice. The families coped with unimaginable grief and the ongoing search for closure. Detective Stacey Gallant's Project Never Give Up aimed to crack the cases. The relentless pursuit of truth in the face of difficult DNA profiles exemplified the dedication of Toronto Police in seeking answers and closure for the families of Aaron Gilmore and Susan Tice.
Unraveling the Genetic Puzzle
Investigators in a remote area of Canada decipher a genetic puzzle to narrow down the killer's identity by tracing familial connections through DNA samples from 26 families. This process involves meticulous genealogical work using more DNA matches, ultimately reducing the suspect pool to five brothers.
The Arrest
After years of investigation, the final suspect, George Sutherland, an IT professional living in a small town in Northern Ontario, is approached for DNA collection. Sutherland, alone in his house, confesses to two murders, ultimately leading to his arrest after a friend persuades him to turn himself in. His confession closes a 40-year investigation, providing closure to the victims' families.
The separate murders of two women in Toronto ignite an investigation that spans four decades, taking detectives from the big city to a remote, northern town. Josh Mankiewicz reports.
Josh Mankiewicz and Andrea Canning go behind the scenes of the making of this episode in ‘Talking Dateline’: