Latest news with #CrimeBeat
Global News
11 hours ago
- Global News
What secrets did Calgary serial killer Gary Srery take to the grave?
Over the course of a year in the late 1970s, Calgarians woke up to horrifying headlines splashed across newspaper front pages. In just over 12 months, four young women's lives were extinguished under mysterious circumstances. Friends Eva Dvorak and Patsy McQueen, both 14, were found dead on the side of the Trans-Canada highway west of Calgary on Feb. 15, 1976. The body of Melissa Rehorek, 20, was found in a ditch on a quiet gravel road 22 km west of the city seven months later. And in February of 1977, the body of Barbara MacLean, 19, was discovered by a dog walker just outside the city's northeast quadrant. For years, despite evidence, interviews and autopsies, the explanations into all four deaths were scant. The cause of death for McQueen and Dvorak, who had been sent home the day they died after being caught drinking at their junior high school, was listed as undetermined. Autopsies revealed the pair had drugs and alcohol in their systems when they died, but their deaths were never ruled as murder. Story continues below advertisement Rehorek and MacLean's deaths showed similarities, leading investigators to believe they might have been victims of a single killer, but a suspect was never identified. For decades, the families and friend of each young woman waited for more information, for the cold cases to run hot. As the years ticked by, hope diminished. View image in full screen The photos of Eva Dvorak, 14, Patricia McQueen, 14, Melissa Rehorek, 20, and Barbara MacLean, 19, are displayed at a police press conference. Shane Struck / Global News Almost half a century later, in 2024, the RCMP released a bombshell press release. 'American believed to be serial killer behind deaths of 4 young Calgarians,' read Global News' headline on May 17, 2024, as police announced a break in not one, but all four cases. At a news conference in Edmonton, police announced that all four young women were victims of a serial killer by the name of Gary Srery — an American citizen living in Canada illegally at the time of the homicides. Story continues below advertisement Police said ahead of each of the four victims' deaths, they had been walking in the evening. All four died of asphyxiation and their bodies were left outside of Calgary's city limits. In each case, seminal fluid was found on the victims but police noted that at the time of their deaths there was no way to test for a DNA profile of a suspect. View image in full screen The underpass where the bodies of Patsy McQueen and Eva Dvorak were discovered. File photo / Global News Now, Global's true crime offering, Crime Beat, is looking back on the case, with exclusive interviews from the detectives who helped link the crimes, never-before-heard details from one of the victim's sisters and a jaw-dropping interview with the serial killer's own son, who provides insight into how his father became a serial killer — and the reasons he believes his dad is responsible for the death of another young Alberta woman. On May 17, 2024, the RCMP said Gary Srery was responsible for the deaths of four young Calgarians. Supplied by RCMP Keep reading to learn more about Srery, how advances in forensic technology helped link the Calgary murders and why investigators think he may be connected to additional murders and sexual assaults. Story continues below advertisement Who is Gary Srery? Gary Allen Srery was born in Illinois in 1942, the first of three siblings, and moved with his family to California in the mid-1950s. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy While little is known about his formative years, by the 1960s he began to rack up an extensive rap sheet, particularly for violent and sexual offences, starting with a forcible rape conviction in 1965. He faced additional charges of kidnapping, sexual perversion and burglary around that time, leading to the State of California to classify him as a 'mentally disordered sex offender,' and he was committed to a mental health facility. In and out of incarceration, the next few years saw Srery rack up additional charges, including rape, drug possession, kidnapping and sodomy. Gary Srery is shown in an undated photo. Handout / RCMP In 1974, Srery attacked a female hitchhiker in the San Fernando Valley in California, and, attempting to escape the Los Angeles rape charge, he crossed into Canada illegally. Story continues below advertisement He was a bit of a chameleon, ever-changing his appearance, his vehicles and his aliases. Once in Canada he became an under-the-table drifter, working as a salesman or in kitchens in Southern Alberta and B.C., and staying off the radar of police. He often used the names 'Willy Blackman' and 'Rex Long.' View image in full screen Gary Srery often changed his looks, vehicles and aliases. Handout / Alberta RCMP Srery's deception worked. It wasn't until his 1998 arrest in New Westminster, B.C., for a violent sexual assault, that his crimes north of the border caught up with him. Following a five-year sentence in Canadian prison, he was deported back to the U.S. in 2003. A trickle of tips and leads With Srery back in the U.S., investigators continued to pick away at the cold cases. In 2003, taking advantage of advancements in forensic technology, evidence from Rehorek and MacLean's crime scenes were sent in for DNA testing and confirmed what police suspected all along — seminal DNA found on their clothing matched a single, unknown offender. Story continues below advertisement It was almost another 20 years, in the fall of 2022, when Dvorak's sister, Anita Vukovich-Kohut, learned that the case of the two junior high students had been reopened after she called police to check in on the case. 'I don't know what the trigger was that got [police] to start looking into it,' she told Crime Beat, 'but when I asked about it they had already begun the process.' View image in full screen Anita Vukovich-Kohut was surprised to learn her sister's case had been reopened. Crime Beat / Global News RCMP told Crime Beat that two months before receiving Vukovich-Kohut's call, they had received a tip that spurred further investigation: an inmate had found McQueen's name in the notes of another inmate. While the tip turned out to be a dead end, the investigator handling the case realized there were exhibits in the McQueen and Dvorak case that hadn't been tested using new DNA technology. Story continues below advertisement While waiting for the results of the testing to come back, and inspired by the capture of the Golden State Killer using investigative genetic genealogy (IGG), police, in partnership with the RCMP, reopened the cases of Rehorek and MacLean. When they uploaded the DNA samples from the cases into the genetic genealogy databank, it spit back a family tree of more than 6,400 people related to the unknown offender, dating back to the early 1700s. Within months, they narrowed down their search to a small group of brothers. One of the siblings, Gary Srery, had already made headlines about being a serial rapist, giving investigators their No. 1 suspect. Meanwhile, police were able to link Srery to the Calgary area during the time of the four murders, and reviewed the cases of eight other women who survived attacks by Srery, painting a picture of how the suspected serial killer moved and operated. When the DNA results came back, police were finally able to confirm that Srery had violently raped and murdered all four young women. View image in full screen Left to right: Calgary serial killer victims Melissa Rehorek, 20, Patricia 'Patsy' McQueen, 14, Eva Dvorak, 14, and Barbara MacLean, 19. Alberta RCMP Are there other Canadian victims? While the families of each Calgary victim say they were relieved to finally have some closure, Srery was long dead, having died from natural causes in an Idaho prison in 2011 while serving a life sentence for another violent rape. Story continues below advertisement Investigators say he's likely responsible for other unsolved murders, but his death means there's a good chance Srery took secrets of other committed crimes to the grave. Even his son, Richard, believes there are other crimes at the hands of his dad that are waiting to be uncovered. View image in full screen Gary Srery's son, Richard, told Crime Beat in an exclusive interview that he believes his dad is responsible for more crimes. Crime Beat 'He is one of the most charismatic, convincing, intellectual people I have ever actually ever encountered,' he told Crime Beat in an exclusive interview, explaining he believes his dad used his smarts and social skills to prey on his victims. 'I can't help thinking, even to this day, how many do we not know about?' 0:33 Gary Srery's son speaks out about his father's crimes The case of Kelly Cook One of the unsolved cases he believes is connected to his dad, said Richard, is the mysterious 1981 kidnapping and murder of a 15-year-old girl in rural Alberta. Story continues below advertisement Revealing a letter written to him by his father from prison, Richard said the note mentioned several aliases Srery had used in the past, including the name 'Bill Christensen.' Bill Christensen was also the name used by a man in Standard, Alta., 70 km north of Calgary, who called up an unsuspecting teenager by the name of Kelly Cook, luring her to her death under the guise of a babysitting job. View image in full screen Kelly Cook disappeared from her home in Alberta in 1981, in one of the highest profile cases in the province's history. File / Global News Two months later, Cook's body was found in the Chin Lake Reservoir, east of Lethbridge, tied up with ropes and anchored by concrete blocks. Years later, anticipating a visit from RCMP to his home in the U.S. to talk about cases linked to his father, Richard said he had stumbled across Cook's case in another Crime Beat episode: The Case of Kelly Cook: The Backup Babysitter. Story continues below advertisement 'I was convinced from watching it, this is him, this is the (case) they're going to talk to me about,' he said. 'He lived there, the aliases…everything about it just adds up.' Surprised when Cook's case didn't come up in their conversation, Richard said he brought it up with the investigators, who quickly shot him down, saying they didn't have a connection between the case and his dad. The RCMP claims there's no mention of the alias Bill Christensen in Srery's file, nor evidence that connects him to Cook's death. — Crime Beat airs its penultimate episode of the season at 10 p.m. ET on Global, examining a series of serial killings in Calgary in the 1970s and how the man responsible, Gary Srery, might have had more victims. Check your local listings for airtimes. Episodes appear streaming and on the StackTV app the following day. Story continues below advertisement — Global News and Global TV are both properties of Corus Entertainment.
Global News
09-05-2025
- Global News
U.S. police arrest Ontario gun trafficker on Canada's most wanted list
A wanted, convicted gun trafficker that Toronto police have been looking for has been found and arrested south of the border by American authorities. Toronto Police say Kamar Cunningham, 43, was located by the U.S. Marshals Service in the Atlanta, Ga., region on Wednesday. Cunningham was arrested as part of Project Patton in June 2018 for his involvement in an organized crime ring that trafficked firearms over the U.S. border. Seventy-five people were arrested in Project Patton, which at the time resulted in the single largest seizure of firearms in Toronto's history. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Two years later, on Nov. 27, 2020, Cunningham was convicted of several firearms trafficking charges. On May 4, 2021, he was sentenced in absentia to nine years in custody, but Cunningham did not appear for his court date. Cunningham had been released on bail for a third time and skipped his sentencing, police said at the time. Story continues below advertisement Police have been searching for Cunningham and he was put on Canada's 25 most wanted list, run by the BOLO Program. A reward of up to $50,000 was being offered for any information leading to the capture of Cunningham. Cunningham is being held pending extradition to Canada, Toronto Police said. Global News has produced two episodes about Cunningham on Crime Beat — a show that looks into some of Canada's most infamous criminal cases.
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Hrithik Roshan can't help but swoon over girlfriend Saba Azad's gorgeous selfie - check out his romantic reaction!
and have never been shy about publicly expressing their love. Recently, Saba posted a radiant sunlit selfie, and Hrithik wasted no time in showing his admiration. He liked the post and dropped a heart emoji in the comments, leaving fans swooning over their sweet exchange. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Check out the post here: Saba Azad posted a stunning sun-kissed selfie on Instagram with the caption, "Good morrow early risers… I'm fairly new to your world but I like it so very much." Hrithik Roshan, always supportive, showed his love by leaving a heart emoji in the comments, making fans gush over their sweet interaction. A Relationship Built Over Time Hrithik Roshan and Saba Azad have been together for over two years, often spotted at various events — from birthdays and weddings to family gatherings and vacations, showcasing their strong bond. How Their Romance Began Hrithik Roshan and Saba Azad's romance reportedly began in 2022 after they connected on Twitter. Hrithik liked and shared a video of Saba with a rapper, leading to a thank-you message from her. This exchange is said to have sparked their first conversation and blossomed into a deeper connection. A Glimpse Into Their Private Lives While Hrithik Roshan and Saba Azad keep their relationship private, they've made a few public appearances together, including at The Archies premiere. Their social media profiles occasionally share sweet moments, giving fans a glimpse into their deep connection. Their Upcoming Projects On the professional front, Hrithik Roshan is set to headline War 2—Ayan Mukerji's sequel to the 2019 blockbuster in the YRF Spy Universe—alongside Kiara Advani and Jr NTR, with an August 14, 2025 release date. Meanwhile, Saba Azad recently featured in Zee5's series Crime Beat, sharing the screen with Saqib Saleem, Sai Tamhankar, Rahul Bhat and others.
Khaleej Times
12-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Saqib Saleem, Saba Azad to be seen in thriller 'Crime Beat'
Actors Saqib Saleem, Sai Tamhankar, Rahul Bhat and Saba Azad will be seen sharing screen space in a new thriller series Crime Beat. Crime Beat follows the "journey of a rookie crime journalist, struggling to find his footing both professionally and personally. His breakthrough comes when he uncovers a lead on a fugitive gangster's return to India. As he delves deeper into the investigation, which has the potential to make him a journalistic sensation, he is pulled into a dangerous web of deceit and hidden agendas. The more he uncovers, the more perilous his situation becomes, forcing him to make choices that challenge his morals, threaten his relationships, and put his life on the line." Saqib said, "From the moment I took on this role, I knew Crime Beat would be an intense and unforgettable journey which would push and test me as an actor. Portraying a crime journalist caught in the complex web of investigative reporting, power dynamics, and dire threats has been both thrilling and challenging. The story is packed with suspense, high stakes, and moral dilemmas, creating an edge-of-your-seat experience. I'm excited for the audience to dive into this gripping narrative, and I truly hope they connect with the twists and turns that make Crime Beat so compelling". Accordng to Saba, "The show goes into the world of investigative reporting and each character encounters their fair share of risks within it. My character is driven, passionate, super independent and navigates within a world filled with constant moral dilemma. The story highlights the complexities journalists face while uncovering some of society's darkest secrets and the personal cost they pay for the same. I'm thrilled for the world to see what we have made." Sudhir Mishra and Sanjeev Kaul have directed the series, which will be released on ZEE5 starting February 21.
