By eastafricangazette and Agencies
Canadian authorities have confirmed that Robert Pickton, a Canadian serial killer notorious for his heinous crimes committed in the late 1990s and early 2000s, has passed away at the age of 74.
Pickton, who lured his female victims to his pig farm near Vancouver, met his demise after being assaulted while in prison.
The Port-Cartier Institution in Quebec, Canada, has reported that Pickton, a prisoner, passed away in the hospital due to injuries sustained during an assault by another inmate on May 19.
Pickton gained infamy as one of Canada’s most infamous serial killers, attracting global attention to his case.
According to police spokesman Hugues Beaulieu, a 51-year-old inmate who assaulted Pickton is currently in custody.
In 2007, Pickton was found guilty of six counts of second-degree murder and received a life sentence in prison.
The maximum period of parole ineligibility was set at 25 years. He was charged with the killings of 26 women.
Over 22 years ago, the police initiated a search at the Pickton farm located in Port Coquitlam, a suburb of Vancouver.
This investigation spanned several years and focused on the disappearances of numerous women from the most impoverished areas of Vancouver, including sex workers and drug users who were marginalized by society.
Pickton, at one point, boasted to an undercover police officer about his involvement in the killing of a total of 49 women.
During the trial, Andrew Bellwood, a witness for the prosecution, testified that Pickton confessed to him about strangling his victims and disposing of their remains by feeding them to his pigs.
In the past, health officials issued a warning to neighbors who may have purchased pork from Pickton’s farm, as there were concerns that the meat could have been contaminated with human remains.
Cynthia Cardinal, whose sister Georgina Papin was a victim of Pickton’s crimes, expressed that Pickton’s death brings her a sense of closure and allows her to finally move forward from her sister’s tragic murder.
Canada’s correctional service announced that they were launching an investigation into the incident involving Pickton.
“The investigation will examine all of the facts and circumstances surrounding the assault, including whether policies and protocols were followed,” the service said in the statement.
Pickton’s confirmed victims were six: Sereena Abotsway, Mona Wilson, Andrea Joesbury, Brenda Ann Wolfe, Papin and Marnie Frey.
The Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc released a statement, informing the public about the passing of an inmate at Port-Cartier Institution.
He went on to express his condolences to the families affected by the crimes committed by the individual.
During Pickton’s sentencing, British Columbia Supreme Court Justice James Williams emphasized that the severity of the case justified the maximum period of parole ineligibility.