A true crime exposé on the horrific murders of two Toronto women in 1983 has shed light on the capture and sentencing of Joseph George Sutherland, the man responsible for the brutal crimes.
Initially eluding authorities for decades, Sutherland was finally brought to justice after advancements in DNA technology helped detectives link him to the murders.
Born in Fort Albany First Nation, Ontario, Canada, Sutherland had a troubled upbringing marred by physical and sexual abuse. Turning to substance abuse as a coping mechanism, Sutherland committed the murders of Susan Tice and Erin Gilmour in 1983. With little evidence available at the time, the cases went cold, leaving the families without answers for decades.
It wasn’t until advancements in genetic genealogy and DNA testing emerged that police were able to make a breakthrough in the case. By narrowing down their list of suspects to Sutherland’s family and eventually obtaining a DNA sample, authorities confirmed his involvement in both crimes.
Sutherland, who confessed to the murders to a retired police officer, was finally apprehended in 2022, nearly 40 years after committing the heinous acts. He pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 21 years.
Detective Andrew Doyle credited the diligence of old-fashioned detective work combined with modern advancements in genetic genealogy for cracking the case. Sutherland is currently serving out his sentence at the Toronto South Detention Centre, finally giving closure to the families of Susan Tice and Erin Gilmour after decades of uncertainty.
