The Coldest Winter

Peter Sala (left), Courtesy of Avataq Cultural Institute

As World War II raged on in 1941 , the Inuit communities living on Belcher Islands in the Hudson’s Bay were experiencing one of the harshest winters yet. Seals, an essential food source for the Islands’ residents, had become scarce. The threat of starvation was coming quickly.

Searching for hope in their darkest hours, many turned to the Bible for comfort and answers. Most importantly, Christianity offered a promise of salvation, which some took to mean an imminent rescue from this brutal winter.

It was after a bizarre meteor shower one January night that their saviour appeared: Charley Ouyerack, a 27-year-old ‘angakok’ (shaman).

Ouyerack announced that he was Jesus Christ, and he brought harrowing news: the world was at its end. To support his cause, Ouyerack enlisted the help of the island’s most revered hunter, Peter Sala, and proclaimed him to be God. Together, Ouyerack and Sala would save their people through any means they deemed necessary. It was then that their reign of terror began, as they quickly amassed a large following who were willing to follow their saviours’ every order.

Their first task? The execution of every sled dog in the community because there was “no need for sled travel at the end of the world.”

The first to question the pair’s holiness was a 15-year-old girl, Sara Apawok, whose older brother Alec was one of Ouyerack and Sala’s most loyal disciples. Apawok was immediately branded a heretic and became the cult’s first victim. Alec and his fellow disciple Akeenik bludgeoned her to death. Soon after, two more non-believers were murdered by the cult.

That March, Sala’s sister, Mina, declared that the apocalypse had arrived and Jesus was coming. The cult’s followers (including men, women and children) were led out onto the sea ice and ordered to strip naked for the meeting of their saviour. In the midst of this hysteria some of the followers came to their senses, ordering their children to put their clothes back on and herding their families back to their igloos. In the end, six would perish from exposure; Mina’s mother and sister both died, along with four children, one of which being Sala’s son. 

Sanikiluaq (belcher islands), courtesy of sanikiluaq.ca

Meanwhile, Sala had been recruited by Ernest Riddell to guide him via dogsled to a Hudson’s Bay Co. post at Great Whale River. While away, Sala confided in a metis man by the name of Harold Ungarden, who was well known in the local Inuit community, about the killings on the island. Ungarden quickly notified Riddell, who contacted the RCMP.

Unfortunately, because of the island’s harsh climate and remote location, the RCMP was unable to send help until April; by then, the damage had already been done. Three members of the cult, Mina included, were taken into custody. However, to these starving people, the promise of three warm meals a day was the salvation they had been looking for.

Trials held following the horrific events on the Belcher Islands determined that they were most likely a result of dire circumstances. Ouyerack, Sala and four of their accomplices were charged with murder; Mina was deemed insane and unfit for trial, and was charged with the murder of one of the children who died of exposure on the sea ice. 

Interested in learning more? In 2017, author Lawrence Millman published his book At The End of the World, which gives a more in-depth account of the murders. The book can be purchased here.

Sources:
Iaciofano, C. (2017, January 17). Cambridge Writer Tells Of Little-Known 1941 Belcher Island Murders In 'At The End Of The World'. Retrieved from https://www.wbur.org/artery/2017/01/17/millman-end-of-the-world.
James, D. A. (2017, March 26). 'At the End of the World' tells a shocking tale of murder in the Arctic. Retrieved from https://www.adn.com/alaska-life/we-alaskans/2017/03/26/at-the-end-of-the-world-tells-a-shocking-tale-of-murder-in-the-arctic/.
Morton, J. C. (2014, March 30). When 'God' and 'Satan' battled in a barren land; the Belcher Islands Murders. Retrieved from http://jmortonmusings.blogspot.com/2014/03/when-god-and-satan-battled-in-barren.html.

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Kira Frazer

The 30 rats in a trench coat that form the entity known as Kira Frazer emerged from the sewers on Halloween of ‘97, and have been wreaking havoc upon humanity ever since. She hopes to be the first rat-formed-entity to get a college diploma.

How Could You, Mrs. Dick?

Evelyn Dick, courtesy of the Hamilton Spectator

“You cut off his legs..
You cut off his arms...
You cut off his head...
How could you Mrs Dick?
How could you Mrs Dick?”

In March of 1946, schoolyards across Hamilton, Ontario would be hearing this song from their students for months after the disembodied torso of John Dick, a street car conductor, was found at the side of what Hamilton locals refer to as “the Mountain”. The body (well, body part) was found by a group of five children, who first believed what they’d seen to be a headless pig. The other body parts were nowhere to be found, and investigators found a deep wound in the abdomen that led them to believe the murderer had attempted to cut the torso in half. 

Dick’s cousin, Alexander Kammerer, told investigators that Dick had been missing for ten days, and had been living with him since his marriage had failed. Dick’s marriage had been far from conventional—him and his wife Evelyn lives in separate homes for a month into their marriage before Evelyn purchased a home for them, leaving Dick’s name off of the mortgage. The two lived together, along with Evelyn’s daughter from a previous relationship, in a house on Carrick Avenue for only about three months before Dick left. 

Evelyn Dick leaving the court after being charged with manslaughter, courtesy of the hamilton spectator (1946)

Unsurprisingly, Evelyn quickly became a suspect in the investigation, behaving incredibly strangely when investigators questioned her. She brushed off their questions, proceeding to tell a bizarre story about an Italian hit man coming to their door and threatening to “fix” Dick for “messing around with his wife”. Evelyn’s story became even stranger after police found blood covering the front seat of a car she’d borrowed, with seat covers missing and bloody clothing in the back of the car. Evelyn’s response? The blood belonged to her daughter Heather, who had cut herself. She then told police that she had received a call from a man claiming Dick had gotten a woman pregnant and that he would “get what was coming to him”. Even stranger, apparently this man also asked her to borrow a car, which she actually agreed to; when the man showed up, he carried a large sack which he claimed contained Dick’s remains. 

Evelyn Dick continued to bring the police on a wild goose chase, even adding another Italian hit man, hired by her former lover Bill Bohozuk, to the story—but it was all for nothing. While Evelyn was dragging the police around Hamilton, officers investigating the Dicks’ home found a suitcase filled with both concrete and the remains of Evelyn’s infant son, who had been born two years prior. The rest of the evidence was found in Evelyn’s father Donald McLean’s basement: a revolver, saws, and Dick’s bloodstained shoes. 

Evelyn Dick, Bill Bohozuk, and Donald McLean were all charged for the murder of John Dick. 

Why did they do it? It’s unclear whether any of Evelyn’s stories had truth in them, but while she may not have been the one to actually kill and dismember John Dick, she was responsible for the death of her son, for which she was sentenced to life in Kingston’s Prison for Women. Unfortunately, she only served eleven years of this sentence, after which she was paroled and never heard from again. 

Sources:
1. The 'Torso' Murder. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://web.archive.org/web/20060902232234/http://home.cogeco.ca/~mrcarle/evelyn.htm.
2. https://evelyndick.com/

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Kira Frazer

The 30 rats in a trench coat that form the entity known as Kira Frazer emerged from the sewers on Halloween of ‘97, and have been wreaking havoc upon humanity ever since. She hopes to be the first rat-formed-entity to get a college diploma.

Thrill Kill Kyle

On January 18th, 2009, Robin Burton Jr. accepted Kyle Morgan’s offer for a dry and warm shelter in good faith, not knowing it’s where he would die in a gruesome murder. Morgan offered Burton food and beer for the night. Earlier that day, Morgan had met Burton at a train station, and the pair attempted to buy drugs in Chicago and Crystal Lake. Later at Morgan’s apartment, the two were drinking beer and playing video games when Morgan struck Burton on the head with a hammer.

A couple weeks later, maintenance was called after complaints of foul odor coming from Morgan’s apartment, and what they found was horrific. Burton was stabbed 30 times and pieces of flesh were cut off his body. Uno cards with the numbers “666” were placed on top of his chest. The movie, “Natural Born Killers” was in the DVD player. Morgan had even taken the time to write, “It is better to reign in hell than serve in heaven” on the walls using Burton’s blood. Police had collected bizarre and disturbing poetry, writing, and photographs. They found fan letters Morgan had written to Dennis Rader and Richard Ramirez, both are serial killers.

Morgan was later caught a few states away after a traffic accident had led to a high speed chase. He hit two pedestrians in the process. In court, a Judge had sentenced Morgan to 30 years in prison. He previously pleaded guilty to first-degree murder for the death of Burton.

Shortly after Burton’s death, police uncovered a social media page where Morgan called himself “Thrill Kill Kyle.” His Myspace profile displayed his fascination with true crime literature and drinking blood. His profile was filled with images of women bound, serial killers, and the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombings. According to Morgan’s family, there were many previous attempts to have him involuntarily committed, but they were turned down by a Judge because he hadn’t harmed anyone.

According to his lawyer, a wrong change in medication was to blame for his actions the day Burton was murdered. Morgan was taking Vyvanse when he had murdered Burton. This drug is particularly dangerous for those with bipolar disorder. With the drug increasing the dopamine levels in the brain, Vyvanse can cause psychosis and can even cause those with bipolar disorder to become increasingly irritable or even prone to violent outbursts. Morgan’s first ever violent outburst was in 2008, a few weeks after starting the medication. He cut his then girlfriend with a knife before jumping from a second-story balcony, believing he could fly.

In court, Morgan's family had watched from the front row of the courtroom as their son stood in front of the Judge to enter his guilty plea. Morgan glanced twice at his family, but showed no emotion either time.

Source: https://www.buzzfeed.com/norbertobriceno/true-crime-stories

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Kimberly Tremblay

Just a girl who loves to tell stories, and uses words to do so.

Country Roads, Take Me Home

photo courtesy of Pexels

Public transportation is a nightmare. This is something everyone has either heard or said at least once in their life. Whether you’re travelling across the city or across the country, you’ll inevitably be met with sticky floors, stained seats and an acrid smell you can’t seem to place nor get rid of. The only way we make this commute bearable is by putting on our headphones, closing our eye, and pretending we’re anywhere else until we reach our stop. 

It’s likely that 22-year-old Tim McLean was thinking the same thing as he settled in for his long ride home to Winnipeg in July of 2008. McLean, a carnival worker, had left Edmonton around noon on a Greyhound bus after working a fair, and spent several hours sitting peacefully alone at the back of the bus until, after a scheduled rest stop, someone decided to sit next to him. There was nothing unusual about this new passenger: he was tall, likely in his mid-forties, the only unusual thing about him being his decision to move from his seat near the front of the bus to the seat beside McLean. McLean didn’t seem to mind, however, and did exactly what any of us would do: put his headphones on and leaned against the window, quickly falling asleep.

In another universe, the man sitting next to McLean might have introduced himself. They might have talked, and McLean might have learned that this man, Vince Li, was heading to Winnipeg for a job interview after losing his job at Wal-mart. Li might have told McLean about his wife, Anna, or his former job as a computer software engineer in Beijing. In this universe, McLean awoke several minutes later to Li stabbing him in the neck. 

Tim Mclean’s memorial. (karen pauls, cbc news)

The events that followed were nothing short of horrific: as the driver frantically pulled the bus over, Li proceeded to stab McLean multiple times in the neck and chest, before beheading him completely, severing other body parts, and even beginning to eat McLean’s flesh, eyes and a part of his heart. RCMP officers arrived at the scene at 9 pm, a stand-off between them and Li ensuing until he tried to escape through a window around 1:30 am, and was then quickly apprehended. 

Li, who was later diagnosed as schizophrenic, believed that God was speaking to him: it was God that told him to sit next to McLean, saying that McLean was a “force of evil” who intended to kill him. Dr. Stanley Yaren, Li’s psychiatrist, explained that Li’s continued mutilation of the body was an effort to keep McLean from coming back to life, which, in his state of psychosis, he believed was still possible. While he pleaded insanity, it was clear that Li felt the weight of what he had done, saying this at his trial: "I'm sorry. I'm guilty. Please kill me."

At this point, you’re probably thinking that someone who committed such a vile act would be confined to a psych ward for life, right? Wrong. Li, who now goes by Will Baker, was granted an “absolute discharge” in February of 2017, and is presumably living a fairly normal life in Winnipeg thanks to many years of therapy and medication. Vince Li is no longer a threat to society: but how many others are out there just like him? We may never truly know how many people live on the brink of psychosis, but at least Li’s story has taught us one thing: never fall asleep on the bus.

Sources:
Abedi, M. (2017, February 10). Freedom Granted To Man Who Beheaded Greyhound Bus Passenger. Retrieved September 30, 2019, from https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/02/10/will-baker-greyhound-bus_n_14682796.html?utm_hp_ref=ca-vince-li.
McIntyre, M. (2009, March 6). "I saw the entire attack, heard the screams ...". Retrieved September 30, 2019, from https://web.archive.org/web/20090315135511/http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Health/Beheader+criminally+responsible/1356476/story.html.
Puxley, C. (2009, March 3). Man pleads not guilty in bus beheading. Retrieved September 30, 2019, from https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2009/03/03/man_pleads_not_guilty_in_bus_beheading.html.

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Kira Frazer

The 30 rats in a trench coat that form the entity known as Kira Frazer emerged from the sewers on Halloween of ‘97, and have been wreaking havoc upon humanity ever since. She hopes to be the first rat-formed-entity to get a college diploma.

He Bit My Head Off, I Cut Off His

     Angelina watched as her husband marched up the stairs. After having yet another row with him about work and money, he finally went to bed. She would follow along shortly. A minute later she quietly crept up the stairs to their room. Seeing her husband’s sleeping form curled up in bed. She walked up to his side and, with one swift motion, she severed his head with an axe. Angelina returns the axe to the woodshed, and for the next hour cuddles with her youngest. In the little Sault Ste. Marie row house, Angelina called her neighbour, she said to them “I just a killed a pig.”

It was the year 1911, a time when the average household wife was not a stranger to domestic abuse. Angelina Napolitano was no exception.

At the age of 16 Angelina married her husband Pietro Napolitano in Naples, Italy. After he packed them up and moved to America. They settled in New York for the next seven years before travelling north with four children to Sault Ste. Marie. They landed a year later in their final home in the Soo’s west end, Little Italy.

Angelina’s husband made a living working at the Algoma Steel plant, but even with securing this full-time job wasn’t enough for Pietro to support his family. This was hard on Pietro, so he began to drink. And when he drank, he got nasty. This is when Angelina became his target. Pietro wanted his wife to sell herself on the streets for more money. As time went on Pietro’s beatings got worse every time Angelina refused to comply.

In November of 1910 Pietro disappeared. Angelina thought her husband was gone for good, and so she took in a boarder, a man whom she started an affair with right away. This didn’t last for long as a couple weeks later Pietro showed up and chased the boarder away. Furious, Angelina told Pietro she didn’t want to have him for a husband anymore. Pietro didn’t take his well, he then proceeded to stab her with his pocketknife nine times in her chest, arms, shoulders, and her face. For the next three weeks Angelina stayed in a hospital when her husband was arrested for attempt to ‘maim.’ He pleaded guilty. The judge who took the case sympathized with him. The judge believed that Mr. Napolitano’s actions were triggered by his wife’s aliased affair. So, in the interest of the family, he let Mr. Napolitano off easy with a short sentence, deeming it best that he be out of jail to support his family.

In his last remaining months Pietro tormented his wife and demanded she sell her body; sending clients over to his house while he was at work, but Angelina refused to let them in.

It was Easter morning, after Pietro’s night shift, and right away they got into it; Pietro demanded his wife prostitute herself or he would throw her out of the house, then kill her for abandoning their family. She wasn’t ready to meet the end by her husband’s hands, so she decided she would have to end him first. After she sliced her husband’s head off, Angelina placed the axe back in the woodshed without feeling an ounce of regret, only relief.

In May of 1911, at seven months pregnant, Angelina stood before an all-male jury and pleaded guilty. The judge assigned to her case, Judge Bryon Britton, wanted nothing more than to watch her swing. He silenced Angelina’s lawyer and convinced the jury that she was in no imminent danger with her husband fast asleep in his bed. The final nail in her coffin was when the Judge promised that they wouldn’t hang Angelina until after she gave birth. “The legal principle of “immediate threat” would be a key issue in the 1990 court case, R. v. Lavallee, that ultimately established battered wife syndrome as a defense in Canada: It meant women who fought back and killed their abusers could be acquitted of the crime.” (Fifteen Canadian stories, pg. 25) Even though the jury recommended lenience, the Judge was adamant that Angelina be hanged by the neck until she was dead.

Sources:

Duffy, A. (2019, April 10). Fifteen Canadian stories: A murder trial like no other. Retrieved September 30, 2019, from https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/fifteen-canadian-stories-a-murder-trial-like-no-other.

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Kitty Snapp

As a person who loves the arts, Kitty Snapp especially loves the art of writing horror. Being able to make people jump with just the written word, is a truly great writer. That's what she aspire to be.