Decades after two Toronto women were brutally murdered in 1983, justice has finally been served with the capture and sentencing of Joseph George Sutherland.
The horrific crimes committed by Sutherland went unsolved for years until advancements in DNA technology helped detectives link him to the murders of Susan Tice and Erin Gilmour.
Joseph George Sutherland, a Cree descent, had a troubled upbringing marked by physical and sexual abuse. He turned to substance abuse as a coping mechanism and ended up committing the heinous crimes that shocked the city of Toronto. Sutherland was just 21 years old when he killed Tice and Gilmour in separate incidents in 1983.
Despite initial investigations treating the crimes as separate incidents, new DNA evidence linked the murders to one suspect. Sutherland was apprehended in November 2022, nearly four decades after committing the murders. His arrest came after confessing to a retired police officer, who then contacted authorities.
Sutherland, who had no previous criminal record, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder in October 2023. In March 2024, he was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 21 years. The judge emphasized the brutal nature of the crimes and the vulnerability of the victims in handing down the sentence.
Thanks to diligent detective work and advancements in genetic genealogy, the families of Susan Tice and Erin Gilmour finally have closure. The use of DNA technology to narrow down suspects and eventually link Sutherland to the crimes showcases the power of modern science in solving cold cases. Sutherland is currently serving out his sentence at the Toronto South Detention Centre, where he will spend the rest of his days paying for the crimes he committed in 1983.
