Robert William Pickton, infamously known as the Pig Farmer Killer or the Butcher, stands out as one of Canada's most notorious serial killers. His life and crimes have garnered significant attention due to their gruesome nature and the scale of his suspected offenses.
Early Life and Background
Born in 1949 in British Columbia, Canada, Pickton grew up on a pig farm in Port Coquitlam. His upbringing was marked by a rural, farm-based lifestyle, which many believe played a role in shaping his later criminal actions. The Pickton farm, while a functional agricultural site, would later become infamous as the ground zero for his heinous acts.

Crimes and Modus Operandi

Pickton's criminal activities came to light in the early 2000s. He was charged with the murders of numerous women, many of whom were from vulnerable backgrounds, including sex workers and drug addicts from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. The investigation revealed a disturbing pattern where Pickton would lure these women to his farm, where he would then commit his crimes.

The exact number of Pickton's victims remains unknown, but he is suspected of killing dozens of women. The investigation was complicated by the nature of his disposal methods; it was believed that he fed some of the remains to his pigs, while others were possibly processed and mixed with pork sold to the public, leading to allegations of cannibalism.

Investigation and Trial

The investigation into Pickton's activities was extensive and complex, involving multiple law enforcement agencies. He was eventually arrested in 2002, and the subsequent search of the farm uncovered personal belongings of missing women, as well as physical evidence linking him to the murders.

His trial, which began in 2006, was one of the most significant in Canadian history. Pickton was convicted of six counts of second-degree murder, although he had been charged with the murders of 27 women. He confessed to an undercover police officer that he had killed 49 women and had wanted to make it an even 50, but he got "sloppy".