Crossbow attack victims died of bolt, arrow injuries and strangulation: police

By Liam Casey, The Canadian Press

TORONTO – Detectives investigating a triple homicide in which two men died of crossbow bolt and arrow injuries and one woman was strangled are trying to figure out what motivated the attack at a home in Toronto’s east end.

Brett Ryan, 35, of Toronto, has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the slayings.

“Our role is to find out what set this off,” Det. Sgt. Mike Carbone told a news conference Monday.

Police called for anyone who may have come into contact with Ryan in the hours before the incident Thursday to come forward.

The identities of the victims and their relationship to the accused, who was due to be married later this month, can not be reported due to a court-ordered publication ban.

Carbone said autopsies conducted on the victims showed that the woman, whose body was found in a stand-alone garage, died from ligature strangulation, a man found in the same garage died from a crossbow bolt stab wound to the neck and a man found in the driveway died from a single arrowhead stab wound to the neck.

However, he would not say whether the bolt and arrowhead were shot or used as handheld weapons.

Carbone said officers found Ryan at the scene and he was taken to hospital for treatment before being released back into custody, where he remains.

Another man, a witness who was found nearby, was also treated in hospital and released, although no charges have been laid in connection with that person at this time, Carbone said.

Those closest to Ryan are co-operating with the investigation, Carbone said, adding that police believe there are others who may have information on Ryan, including his employer, who should come forward.

Police have said they received a 911 call around 1 p.m. on Thursday about a stabbing report. Once there, Carbone said, officers found the lifeless bodies of two men and a woman.

One neighbour, who said he made the call to 911, told reporters last week that a man who was not the accused knocked on his door covered in blood.

“I opened the door and this gentleman almost fell on me, so I sort of carried him half into the living room and he fell down on the floor, ” the man said Friday.

“He said, ‘Call 911…make sure the police come, make sure the police come.'”

Police also examined a waterfront apartment associated with Ryan last Thursday but found there was no threat to the public, Carbone said.

Ryan was charged in 2008 with a total of 29 counts of robbery, intent to commit a crime while disguised, and a weapons offence.

In January 2009, he pleaded guilty to eight counts each of robbery and intent to commit an indictable offence while disguised. The remaining counts were withdrawn. He was sentenced to 45 months in prison — less seven months for pre-trial custody. The court also imposed a lifetime weapons ban.

Carbone suggested the publication ban on the identities of the homicide victims may be lifted “in the near future.”

Ryan is due in court Friday.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today