Robert Pickton’s tragic and disturbing case left an indelible mark on Canada. Pickton, a serial killer known for his brutal murders of as many as 26 women, was convicted on six counts. Pickton, who was born and raised on a Vancouver pig-farm in British Columbia, had been convicted of six murder charges. Pickton wasn’t convicted or found guilty of the murders that led to the mysterious disappearances in Vancouver during the 1970s. Pickton was freed from prison to carry on his evil and murderous plans. Pickton’s involvement in the disappearing women was evident by the biases of Vancouver police. Pickton’s revelations exposed flaws in the justice process, and encouraged and revolutionized important changes needed to prevent this tragic crime from repeating.
Many of these women went missing were sex-trade workers, often Indigenous women, addicts or mentally-ill. These women are often seen as a threat to society’s image. The Vancouver police force’s inability to make an effort to find these women became evident as more reports began to come out about them. The harsh opinions surrounding the Aboriginal women who were a part of the sex trade only made capturing and murdering these women easier for a predator like Robert Pickton (thecanadianencyclopedia.ca). Pickton lured the vulnerable women into his vehicle using drugs, money, and then they were taken to Pickton’s farm to meet their tragic end. Pickton would go after these vulnerable, poor women from Vancouver’s Eastside. This area is a dangerous, grungy, and filled with crime. While relatives of the disappeared were able to report the instances, the police did not consider whether the disappearances could all be attributed one way: murder. Vancouver Police Department believed that the Aboriginal women were either returning to their reserves or had overdosed on drugs. The police had claimed that their disappearances were inevitable, considering their high-risk and dangerous lifestyles (canadianencylopedia). According to the police, the disappearances were inevitable because the women had high-risk and dangerous lives. If they find themselves in a danger situation, they should deal with it. Not only did the police ignore a serious problem, but media also failed to pay attention to it. Robsoncrim.com reports that the media and police have been ignorant since Aboriginal children were sent to residential schools. Although many years have passed since residential schools, Canada’s negative and biased views of Aboriginal women are still being ingrained in society. The police did not prioritise searching for their whereabouts, despite the fact that the residential school days were over. Pickton was able to murder and kidnap these women without causing suspicion in society due to the Vancouver Police Department’s apparent lack of concern. The RCMP also failed to investigate Robert Pickton’s claims over the years. Pickton was a victim of several suspicious reports. Pickton was, for example in March 1997, handcuffed one his victims, whom he had brought back from his farm to perform sex. Pickton managed to escape the handcuffs of the unidentified woman. Both were left with multiple stab wounds. The woman, who is still unknown, was able grab a knife to protect herself. Pickton and Pickton were both admitted to the same hospital for treatment of their stab wounds. An attendant discovered a key inside Pickton’s possessions that corresponded to the handcuffs on the wrist of the woman. Pickton was later charged with assault. Butts said that the charges were dropped because the victim had been a known drug addict. The police ignored the victims’ claims based on their personal lives and did not investigate further. Pickton was never considered. Two years later, at the beginning of 1999, Bill Hiscox, a man who worked for Picktons, approached the police to report the discovery of clothing and identification on the property belonging to women. Hiscox, however, had obtained this information through Lisa Yelds, a Pickton friend. Hiscox couldn’t provide evidence because Yelds wouldn’t reveal any further information to police. Hiscox wasn’t the person who saw Pickton’s women’s belongings (Butts). Pickton continued his murder spree despite the absence of eyewitnesses or evidence. Robert Pickton was being accused by Vancouver police as they continued to receive information. Pickton might have been considered a suspect in the disappearances if both agencies had combined their information. Pickton’s multiple killings were not linked, which further proves that Pickton was responsible. Despite numerous similar reports against Robert Pickton’s, no serious investigation was initiated by authorities. Pickton wasn’t arrested until many years later.
Although Pickton’s story was terrible and heartbreaking, it raised important issues about the need for change in Canada. Pickton, who had been murdering many women for years, was finally caught and held in 2002. Pickton did not kill multiple women on his pig farms, but rather a related report. Pickton had illegal weapons inside his trailer house (Butts), according the RCMP. Pickton was taken into custody and his farm searched. The search revealed that Pickton had handcuffs and items for women, as well as DNA linking to missing women. Pickton, who was arrested for 26 murder charges, was sentenced to life imprisonment. Pickton’s story was investigated by an official inquiry, which examined the circumstances and analysed why Pickton wasn’t caught in time (cbc.ca). This inquiry dealt with discrimination in police departments against missing women as well as poor investigations. Wally Oppal, Commissioner of Police, discussed key issues in the investigation. The commissioner first mentioned that there were no investigative techniques available during the murders to have revealed Robert Pickton. To improve the efficiency of the system and avoid the same neglect as in the case with the missing women, a new Vancouver police department was created (cbc.ca). Vancouver Police Department created a better guideline to help with similar reports in future. It included rules like reporting back to the victim’s family and starting investigations as soon as possible. In order to help women in dangerous, life-threatening and difficult situations, corporations and services were also created. Emergency shelters were built for women who are a part of the sex trade and compensation for the missing women’s children was provided (thecanadianencyclopedia.ca). The “Sister Watch Program”, which was created to address the violence experienced by East Vancouver’s women, was also created. Vancouver Police Department also released an apology in order to redeem the bad image they held in Canadian society. Police have become more aware of the severe issues that women face in society, particularly aboriginals and sex workers, since Pickton. According to Pickton’s constable, the relationship between police and community has strengthened over the years (theglobalmail.com). Vancouver and Canada as a whole has exemplified the significance of an unbiased perspective.Vancouver has grown as a city and although many suffered from Pickton’s ways, the police department has now improved its tactics and has formed a safer environment for its citizens.
Robert Pickton is a serial killer who will be remembered by Canada forever. Pickton, who committed horrible and terrible crimes, will spend the rest a prison sentence. Vancouver Police Department admits to their mistakes and past biases. Robert Pickton may not have fled to safety if the authorities had not discriminated against the missing girls, failed to investigate and generally ignorant him. Pickton is a case that has helped Vancouver make significant improvements to its justice system. Even though Robert Pickton has been captured for years, Vancouverites still remember and mourn the loss of these women and the injustices committed by the Vancouver Police Department (RCMP).
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