?. On 22 October 2010, Williams was sentenced to two terms of life imprisonment, with no possibility of parole for 25 years. He admitted to the detective that he had originally planned to drive back to Tweed that day, and had earlier gathered a bunch of the womens panties and bras to burn in a field upon his return. Thats why its important that we make sure the people understand what they have to do, and what they dont have to do, when theyre talking to us, said Smyth. Used primarily by hunters, there were no homes or other buildings anywhere along the road. The detective broke the cold silence . Beginning in May 2008, a rash of similar crimes occurred in the vicinity of Williamss home in Orleans. . Although the Williams case was likely to be a very expensive one, by comparison the much more intensive investigation into serial killer Robert Pickton in British Columbia (which took several years to resolve) ran about $75 million, not including court costs. And they are absolutely not considering these whatsoever," Dafoe said. . Soon after, Williams tells Smyth to get a map. Sure, the colonel responded, rather foolishly. Circumstances. They look for a way to open up a suspect and to get them to start talking. . Well, I dont think you want the cold-blooded psychopath option. At six feet two, Williamss tall and lean build dominated the smaller-framed officer. Jim Smyth, a veteran investigator, is the other man seen in the video. . While appearing to be looking for drunk drivers, officers asked occupants of vehicles questions pertinent to the search for Lloyd, and examined tires. She did not know what was coming. This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. In September, a Calgary judge dismissed charges against a daycare operator who was charged with aggravated assault after a child suffered a serious head injury while under her watch. . really fast.. Sure, Williams said, his arms still folded tightly in front of his chest. He simply caved in to the tactics to which Staff Sergeant Smyth subjected him. If theres anything that comes up in our interview today, Russell, that you feel you want to talk to a lawyer about, you just let me know.. . Together they analyze the body language and behavior displayed in videos in the public interest. Robin McKay has been working as a Detective Sergeant and Identity Crimes Unit and Financial Crimes Services and at Ontario Provincial Police for 8 years. Police obtained judicial authorization to have her out searching with them, pointing out landmarks that she remembered. Reg Rackham of Ontario Provincial Police never drew his gun during 26 years of police work. His Nissan Pathfinder and his hoard of stolen garments were destroyed. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited. . I drove to Ottawa in the morning, he said as he sat up and folded his arms again. Some information may no longer be current. There were also detailed accounts of his break-ins, and a meticulously compiled inventory of all the items he had stolen. ), Monterey Park, CA Police Department FBINA 214th Session Member - International Association of Chiefs of Police, Police Investigative Operations Committee Email: Jim.Smith@ecoatm.com James Smith. Okay, you want discretion, we need to have some honesty, okay? McClintic's confession on May 19, 2009, led police to focus their search efforts on an area north of Guelph. "I got the impression that some of it was painkillers, but there were many different labels. . . Call me Russ, please. His congenial tone finally indicated a readiness to move forward. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. Comeau was also a member of the Canadian Forces who worked on the same base as Williams. Wisely, Smyth was careful not to overreact to the horrors he heard. Detective Inspector (formerly Detective Sergeant) James Martin Gordon "Jim" Smyth MOM is a Canadian Ontario Provincial Police officer known for his interrogations of Terri-Lynne McClintic, Michael Thomas Rafferty and Russell Williams. Smith of Peterborough District Headquarters and Detective Sgt. However, the confession contradicts McClintic's claims at the ongoing trial of Rafferty that she was the one who dealt the fatal blows to the eight-year-old girl. Perry said the killer's body language reveals that his defeat is beginning to sink in. They were settled with undisclosed financial payments in 2014. He looked at the floor dismissively, as though growing increasingly annoyed with repeating answers to questions that he had already answered. Jessica was a beautiful, gentle young woman, as you know. "Its a combination of the two. Van Allen concluded that the prowler posed an increasing danger for a hands on sexual assault.. But now his sly charm and relentless. The moment she died she was quite happy, because she believed I was going to let her go. McClintic had recounted for him how, after Tori was dead, they put her body in several layers of garbage bags and piled some rocks on top, court has heard. His interest was working in the Violent Crimes Division. "I could see a portion of a garbage bag underneath the rocks," Smyth testified, taking several long pauses as he appeared to compose himself. "Let's tear that Band-Aid off. Lloyds ordeal continued until about 8:15 p.m., when Williams cracked her skull with a flashlight and strangled her with a piece of rope. On the night of November 29, 1988, near the impoverished Marlborough neighborhood in south Kansas City, an explosion at a construction site killed six of the citys firefighters. During the Easter weekend in April 2010, guards prevented Williams from choking to death on a cardboard toilet-paper tube he had shoved down his throat. . 3 February, he dumped Lloyds body in the woods near Tweed. Police found tire tracks whose distinctive tread narrowed the range of potential suspect vehicles to a few, including the Nissan Pathfinder. Experts who have watched the video are impressed with the way Smyth handled the interrogation. By day Williams commanded the largest military base in Canada; by night he stalked single women in their bedrooms. In 2012, Smyth was promoted as detective inspector to the OPP's major criminal investigations branch as a major case manager. Jim Szarka; 43; goes to school when he isn't pursuing major fraud investigations. However, witnesses reported seeing a silver-coloured SUV parked in a field near Lloyds house on the night of her disappearance. ., Tire tracks are a major source of evidence for us.. He asked the colonel about an order that had allegedly been given at the base advising subordinates that they did not have to speak to the police and to seek legal counsel before they did so. I am so very sorry for having hurt you like this. . Russ, is there anything you want from me, is there anything you want me to explain. Also available from Amazon, With the purpose of writing about true crime in an authoritative, fact-based manner, veteran journalists J. J. Maloney and J. Patrick OConnor launched Crime Magazine in November of 1998. . How did DS Jim Smyth get Williams to confess! He is leaning forward, he's actually nodding in agreement with everything that's being said to him," he said. this place. . Williams spoke frankly and matter-of-factly, showing no emotion as he described how he had planned and carried out the rapes and murders. No doubt youll sleep a bit easier now that Ive been caught. I am persuaded that Mr. Armishaws will was overcome. Jim Smyth taking on Russell Williams in 2010. Smyth gets down to business by slowly revealing to Williams what police have found out about the murders of Jessica Lloyd and Cpl. In one home, he had left a taunting message on a computer. Was she excited about leaving with you?. For all of them, including Smyth, the question of consent and traumaare at the core of the One Little Goat Theatre Company and Seelig's initiative. He then stumbled over the pronunciation of their names and forgot the order in which the crimes occurred. Of course, the person is under no obligation to answer the questions and still has the right to speak with counsel; however, anything said after such a consultation remains fully admissible in court. . By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Smyth has also taught forensic interviewing and forensic behavioural science at Toronto's Seneca College. It may be consistent with other things, but consistent with a Pathfinder. He used rational arguments to convince Williams that he had been caught. Recognizing that the colonel was in a vulnerable state and close to breaking, Smyth continued to push. He felt cornered, and his fight-or-flight responses were in obvious conflict with each other. Jim Smith interrogated the killer for six hours before handing the interview over to Det. Less than five hours after he had driven to police headquarters in the same SUV he had used to abduct Jessica Lloyd and strode into the interview room wearing the same boots that he had used the night of her attack, the truth had finally surfaced. Stephanie Matteis is a senior reporter with CBC News, filing stories for television, radio & online. ., Well, you need to explain it, the detective told him as he prepared to unleash yet another shocking revelation to the already speechless commander. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Aside from this action, Dafoe like other friends and family of victims tries to stay out of the public discourse, worried that talking about it might intrigue people to attend. Smyth then paused the interview for twenty-two minutes while officers obtained the samples from a fully compliant Colonel Williams, who also surrendered his BlackBerry and brown leather boots for forensic examination. In June 1997 he began working with the OPP, moving to the behavioural sciences section of the force in. The detectives words fought gallantly for the women who no longer had a voice. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. They knew that if they did not have the search warrants and were not prepared to execute them while he was undergoing questioning, their suspect would likely have walked from the roomand possibly destroyed any evidence before they had the opportunity to find it. At this stage, Williams flashes an occasional grin and chews gum. Mark Mendelson, a retired homicide investigator, said Williams has the air of someone who does not think he is about to get caught. In 82 documented burglaries, Williams stole around 1,400 pieces of clothing, most of it underwear and lingerie. That suggests that Smyth had two possible levers to pull in the Williams interrogation: a growing mountain of evidence andWilliams' concern about his wife's reaction to the news that she was married to a killer. Ontario Provincial Police ~ Peterborough Detachment. And Im pretty sure the answers dont matter., Smyth could have disagreed, but instead kept the momentum going. Thats fine, now lets go back to the issue. Really fast," Smyth tells Williams, shortly before he confesses. After the detective had deftly planted the seed in the mind of his now-rattled opponent, he excused himself from the room for a break. Attorney General Merrick Garland on Friday tapped Jack Smith, a longtime federal prosecutor and former head of the Justice Department's public integrity section, as special counsel to oversee the . McClintic is already serving a life sentence after pleading guilty two years ago to first-degree murder. Jim Smyth, the star Ontario Provincial Police interrogator who famously pried a confession from sex killer Russell Williams, has a reputation that demands a screenplay. . That earlier letter had read: I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the men and women of 8 Wing Trenton to express my sincere condolences on the tragic death of your daughter. It wouldn't be until July 17, 2009, that police got the break they needed to find Tori's remains. Smyth then explained the reasons that police had focused their attention on him: the obvious geographical connections with three of the women and his military relationship with Comeau. . Marie-France has been deeply missed by all that knew her. When youre dealing with footwear impressions, we have a gentleman on the OPP whos basically world-renowned. The couple, who were childless, lived for 13 years in a house on Wilkie Drive in the Ottawa suburb of Orleans. Over the next few hours he admits to the murders and rapes he committed while holding down his day-job as the commander of Canada's largest air force base. Marie-France Comeau. "I've covered courts and policing, [but] I've never seen anything like this. Williams exhaled deeply. No, Williams said, still sitting with his arms folded in front. That day, the reserved detective would lead a commanding officer of Canadas military to room 216, a small second-floor unit just as nondescript as the interviewer. Frustrated by their inability to find Jessicas body, they recruited the help of Williams himself. Sgt. 1) O.J. Sgt. Insp. Carolyn Kendrick and Alicia Lampert. I know she loved you very much. I want to minimize the impact on my wife, he said, as though it were part of a boardroom negotiation. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers. I spent 10 years on the road, 3 of which I was on the Emergency Response Unit. Do you have any recollection of being off that road?. Rafferty has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, sexual assault causing bodily harm and abduction. Okay, um, footwear impressions? Smyth continued. Williams looked bemused. sexual misconduct in the Canadian military, OPP officer whose mastery in interrogation, CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. Straight shooter Sgt. Shortly after this investigation started, they identified those tires as the same tires on your Pathfinder, said Detective-Sergeant Smyth. Retired OPP investigator Dave Perry said it is compelling to watch as Smyth calmly presses Williams on his links to the crimes. He writes that Det.-Sgt. I think it was a one-day trip. [5] The detectives response was not in keeping with standard protocol for dealing with a suspect who, like Williams, displays body language that suggests a confession is imminent. . A third lawsuit, filed by Laurie Massicotte, targeted not only Williams and Harriman, but also the Ontario Provincial Police which Massicotte accused of failing to warn Tweed residents about a predator in their town, and for suggesting that she had made a false, copycat claim when she reported her assault to police. cause Ive met guys who actually kind of enjoyed the notoriety. [8] His efforts to keep the conversation alive sometimes seemed strained and contrived. He was an avid photographer, and he stored and categorized all of his digital photos in his office on individual memory keys, with each key assigned to its own cardboard box and clear plastic baggy. But I do want to talk to you, Jim, the colonel said wistfully as the officer turned to leave the room. "We need to have some honesty, okay? A forced frown displayed his apparent disbelief. These are identical, okay? He suspects Williams would have weighed the judicial process that lay ahead when making his decision to confess. Absent any other solid evidence against him, Mr. Armishaw was acquitted and the prosecution abandoned as having no reasonable prospect of success. Marie-France Comeau, along with 86 other charges. When Detective-Sergeant Smyth returned to the interrogation room, Williams was sitting with his arms folded and his legs leisurely stretched out and crossed at the ankles. Smyth began his career with the York Regional Police (in Ontario, Canada) in 1988 before joining the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in 1997. Williams said he was in a hurry because he had a sick child at home. Though I forced her to have sex [He then stopped midsentence and scribbled lines through the sentences. The police had laid a carefully crafted plan to trap Williams. All right? McClintic told them she and Rafferty had stopped at a Home Depot in the city, where she had purchased garbage bags and a hammer before they drove to a rural area. What do you need?, Well, do you want to supply things like fingerprints, blood samples. Williams contemplated in quiet for another twenty-two seconds before he suddenly surrendered and his clenched lips spoke. Williams hunches his shoulders. If this didnt come to the point its at right now. I know she loved you very much because she told me she did, again and again. Williamswas sentenced in October 2010 and is serving two life terms in prison for the murders of Comeau and Lloyd, and additional sentences for 86 other charges. An image of the animal served as the wallpaper on the colonel's BlackBerry. Cause you know this would have a very significant impact on the base if they thought you thought I did this.. Det.-Sgt. Williamss next victim was Jessica Lloyd. Photo by Northern News / KL . By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. [He then stopped writing and scribbled out the lines he had written.]. But after several days of driving her around in police cars and helicopters, they came up empty-handed. Loran Chaptis attended a house on Concession 13, Snowdon Township, Haliburton County. A Sergeant at Ontario Provincial Police Ed Johnson is a Sergeant at Ontario Provincial Police based in Orillia, Ontario. . A recurring theme in Det.-Sgt. To assist police in their grim task of finding the girl's remains, McClintic had drawn a sketch of the area where she said she and boyfriend Michael Rafferty left the body. Seelig said, "I'm not staging a conflict," the production was not meant as a provocation. Close to a minute of stark silence passed as Williams sat stock-still. [6] Honours [ edit] His interest was working in the violent crimes division. Jim Smyth questions Terri-Lynne McClintic about her involvement in Stafford's death. OPP Det. During this exchange, the colonels words became more assertive, his mind clearly focused, and his body language much more confident. When you talk about perception, Williams said, my only two immediate concerns. Smyth began his career with the York Regional Police in 1988 before joining the OPP in 1997, according to the Toronto Sun. Colonel Russell Williams appears in a Belleville, Ont., courtroom on Oct. 7, 2010, as depicted by a sketch artist.Alex tavshunsky. Doug Bradley. Cpl. What are we going to do?. Lifetime hobby: OPP Detective Sgt. I dont see that in you. Smyth later made attempts to gain an understanding of the psychology behind his quickly escalating attacks. 30: Feds end flights out of Sudan, Canadian woman on dangerous journey to flee Sudan. Marie-France Comeau opens tonight in Toronto, those close to the victims are outraged and plan to do something about it. The detective took a strategic pause to build his quarrys anticipation before revealing another photograph. Recovering alcoholic and divorced father of a young daughter, DS Jim Bergerac is a true maverick who prefers doing things his own way, and consequently doesn't always carry out his investigations the way his boss would like. Thanks for contributing to The Canadian Encyclopedia. ", While Seelig said he and the theatre company have responded to concerns like this, Dafoe said it's a "stockreply. Colonel David Russell Williams was a decoratedair forcepilot and commander at theCanadian Forces Base(CFB) atTrenton,Ontario, when he was arrested in 2010, and charged with the murders of two women, and numerous other sexually related crimes. I had sort of a stomach flu, he said. The OPP settled out-of-court with Massicotte in 2015, but as of 2016 her lawsuit against Williams and Harriman was still active. Okay. Colonel Russell Williams appears in a Belleville, Ont., courtroom on Oct. 7, 2010, as depicted by a sketch artist. .. Smyth referenced the field near Jessicas house where the colonel had been stopped at the roadside check and asked, Has there been a time in the recent one or two weeks that your vehicle has left that road for any reason whatsoever. Numbers. Williams sat with his head bowed forward, his hands on his knees. whether its you or whether its anybody else, all right?. So your wife now knows whats going on, Smyth said. Probably the most famous example is Smyth's 9-hour interrogation of Colonel Russell Williams. Sgt. When he asked the colonel what he had done on Friday, January 29, 2010, the day following Jessica Lloyds disappearance, Williams explained that he had stayed home for most of the day. No, I was not off the road, no, he said. The searches of Williamss properties turned up his camera, a duffel bag containing a black skull cap, a manual for lock picking, and boxes and pillowcases stuffed with underwear and lingerie. Instead, the colonel would find himself sleeping in a cold concrete bunker in the much-maligned segregation unit at Quinte Detention Centre, located in Napanee, Ontario. Detective-Sergeant Smyth provided him with a pad of paper and a pen and suggested that he write some letters of apology to his victims, another common tactic used by police to avoid later allegations of a false confession. He interjected his high-ranking military status strategically by adding, I guess the closest. Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be a registered Torstar account holder. It was behind that rock pile and underneath an evergreen tree that police would find Tori Stafford, she said. It was likely even he knew that. . As a top Canadian practitioner of the modern art of police interrogation, it is his job to bring forensic psychology to life, using conviviality and guile to convince murderers to skip trial and go straight to jail. One does not need a diploma in psychology to understand that a person with the psychological and mental impairments [that Mr. Armishaw has] is a uniquely vulnerable individual when confronted with a vastly more clever interrogator who is in a position of authority in relation to him, Judge Langdon wrote. . He sat defensively, with his arms folded in front of him and his left leg extended. Smyth gave him another chance to complete the voluntary exercise and left him alone again. CSI officer couldve come in three, four days from now, did some swabs here, and he wouldve found your DNA and my DNA. Smyth had chosen to use logic as his primary weapon of choice against the colonels cognitive military mind, but was now targeting something else he held in high regard: his personal and professional reputation. I want you to see what I mean.. "We have one of the best justice systems in the world. "It's a smart man, outsmarted by a smarter man," OPP Det. [6] Glenn Woods, former director of the RCMPs behavioral sciences unit, doubts the investigation would have cost this much, and suggested the figure was likely a guesstimate thrown out by Smyth. CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. With three simple, yet ominous, words, the distinguished base commander, respected colonel, and trusted pilot for the prime minister and Queen Elizabeth II had sealed his fate and was set to shock an entire nation.