Between August and December 1983, Joseph George Sutherland committed two heinous crimes that remained unsolved for nearly four decades.
NBC Dateline will delve into the details of how these cold cases evaded justice for so long and how Sutherland’s victims were finally given closure in the upcoming episode “Evil Walked Through the Door”, scheduled to air on Friday, April 19, 2024. The episode will be available for streaming on Peacock and Hulu.
At the young age of 21, Joseph George Sutherland carried out the brutal attacks and murders of two women in Toronto in 1983. Despite no prior criminal record, Sutherland committed these heinous crimes, leading to the deaths of Susan Tice and Erin Gilmour. Susan Tice was a devoted wife and mother of four, known as the center of her children’s world. She was a social worker and counselor who had recently purchased a home for her family.
Tragically, on August 17, 1983, Sutherland broke into her home, sexually assaulted her, and then stabbed her to death in her own bed. Just four months later, on December 20, 1983, he struck again, this time targeting Erin Gilmour, a 22-year-old aspiring fashion designer. Gilmour, the daughter of mining magnate David Gilmour, was sexually assaulted, stabbed, and strangled in her Yorkville apartment.
Despite the passage of time, thanks to advancements in forensic genetic genealogy, Sutherland was finally apprehended on November 24, 2022. DNA evidence found at both crime scenes led police to Sutherland, who ultimately confessed to both crimes.
In October 2023, he pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder, expressing remorse for his actions. Detective Sergeant Steve Smith of the Toronto Police Service described the investigation as akin to finding a needle in a haystack, emphasizing that Sutherland was never on their radar.
On March 22, 2024, nearly 41 years after committing the brutal murders, Joseph George Sutherland was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 21 years by Superior Court Justice Maureen Forestell.
The families of Susan Tice and Erin Gilmour expressed gratitude for the closure brought by the sentencing. Erin Gilmour’s brother, Sean McGowan, deemed the decision fair, acknowledging that while they had hoped for a longer sentence, 21 years was a significant outcome.
Despite the possibility of parole in 2043, Sutherland will be closely monitored by the Correctional Service of Canada for the remainder of his life.
