Teacher. Meteorologist. Winnipeg Jets play-by-play voice. Accountant. Professional wrestler. Like most kids growing up, I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to be when I “grew up.” But I certainly had plenty of ideas, some of which were admittedly far-fetched. I mean, an accountant?? C’mon!
It wasn’t until late in my final year of high school that things began to come into focus, thanks largely to a meeting with a guidance counsellor. He helpfully suggested some of my interests and skills might be suited for the communications industry and pointed out a local post-secondary program that might be right up my alley. The rest, as they say, is history. Wonderful, memorable history.
I was accepted that year, at the tender age of 18, into the Red River College Creative Communications program. It is there I first developed a love for writing, especially of the non-fiction variety. Local news especially piqued my interest. Much of this was fostered by my incredible journalism instructor, Donald Benham. He helped chart a course for future success—one that included a fantastic work placement at the Interlake Spectator newspaper following completion of my first year of college. I covered it all that summer—local politics, crime, feature stories and all kinds of quirky tales about local residents. As I returned for my second year, my focus was clear. And the planets began to align in a way that I still look back and thank my lucky stars over. A three-week stint at the Winnipeg Sun would prove to be my big chance. They happened to have a job opening and offered it to me as I neared graduation in the spring of 1995, barely 20 years old. Incredibly, they weren’t just offering me a job. They were offering me their prized beat—covering cops and crime. Here I was, a wide-eyed kid who grew up on the not-so-mean streets of North Kildonan in Winnipeg, about to immerse myself in a crazy world I knew very little about. But like everything in life, I jumped in with both feet. And what resulted has been a wild, 20-year journey that I still find hard to believe at times.
I left the Winnipeg Sun after two-and-a-half years, taking a job opportunity at the Winnipeg Free Press to remain on the crime trail. I moved to the justice beat in 1999, parking myself down at the downtown Winnipeg Law Courts where I’ve remained ever since. I have a daily front row seat to some of the worst society has to offer. But I remain proud and passionate about my hometown. Whether it’s sitting down with a grieving victim’s family or staring down a criminal behind bars at Stony Mountain, I’ve always strived to get all sides of the story.
Preparing for this, my sixth true crime book, was an emotional experience. It required many long nights of going through old story archives, re-living many of the notorious cases I’ve covered and drudging up long-buried memories. All of what you will read in these pages is based on interviews conducted by me and colleagues, sworn testimony, first-person accounts from the courtroom, documents and exhibits filed in the hearings, parole documents and previously published newspaper stories and columns with full credit and attribution. No dialogue or scenarios have been improvised, assumed or re-created.
There are so many people to thank for the first 20 years of my career: Former teachers, editors and my extremely talented colleagues. Staff at the courthouse who have helped me in so many ways. Lawyers, judges and yes, even those criminals who have permitted me access. And all of those victims of crime—the survivors, the grieving family members—who have opened their lives to share their stories.
And, finally, my incredible supportive family. My parents, my wife and my two amazing children.
I believe the stories you are about to read are important ones which have helped shape the fabric of our community. It is a trip down memory lane well worth taking. Thank you for joining me on my journey.
Mike McIntyre