Convicted Canadian serial killer Robert Pickton, whose crimes led to one of the largest murder investigations in Canadian history, has died at the age of 74 after being assaulted inside a prison facility.
According to the Correctional Service Canada, Pickton was attacked by another inmate on May 19 while incarcerated at Port-Cartier Institution. Officials said he later died in a hospital from injuries sustained during the assault.
Authorities confirmed that an investigation is now underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Pickton had been serving an indefinite prison sentence since 2007 after being convicted of six counts of second-degree murder. His case became internationally known due to the scale and brutality of the crimes linked to his farm in British Columbia.
Investigators believe dozens of women disappeared over several decades before authorities arrested Pickton in 2002. Many of the victims were vulnerable women, including Indigenous women from marginalized communities.
During the investigation, human remains and evidence connected to multiple victims were discovered on Pickton’s pig farm near Port Coquitlam, British Columbia.
Reports later revealed that Pickton confessed to killing numerous women during conversations with an undercover officer while in custody, though not all alleged cases resulted in criminal convictions.
Eby stated that Pickton’s actions caused lasting trauma across Canada, particularly among Indigenous communities, and said reactions to his death may bring both closure and renewed pain for those impacted by the case.
He also emphasized the importance of recognizing the dignity and safety of vulnerable individuals to help prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The Pickton investigation remains one of the darkest criminal cases in Canadian history and significantly changed discussions surrounding missing women investigations, law enforcement response, and protections for marginalized communities across the country.
