Update: Toronto Billionaires Deaths Now Classifed As Double Murders

[DonLever]

from the CBC:

 

Homicide detectives have now taken over the investigation into the deaths of two pharmaceutical billionaires that police have deemed "suspicious."

Apotex founder Barry Sherman, 75, and his wife, Honey Sherman, 70, both died from "ligature neck compression," meaning strangulation, police said in a statement issued Sunday.

The influential couple were found dead in their North York home on Friday.

• Apotex founder Barry Sherman and wife, Honey Sherman, found dead in North York home

 

A police source previously told CBC News that someone outside the Sherman family discovered the bodies, but police remain tight-lipped about the investigation.

As questions mount about the cause of the deaths, some news outlets are quoting police sources, saying the case is being investigated as a murder-suicide. 

 

In a statement released Saturday, the family said "our parents shared an enthusiasm for life and commitment to their family and community totally inconsistent with the rumours regrettably circulated in the media as to the circumstances surrounding their deaths."

 

"We are shocked and think it's irresponsible that police sources have reportedly advised the media of a theory which neither their family, their friends nor their colleagues believe to be true," the statement continued.

 

Toronto homicide Det. Brandon Price told reporters outside the couple's home on Friday that police "cannot say 100 per cent with certainty" whether or not foul play was involved.

Price said there were no signs of forced entry into the home, and that police were not searching for any outstanding suspects.

• Family of billionaire couple Barry and Honey Sherman slams rumours circulating ahead of autopsy results

 

The couple had listed their home at 50 Old Colony Rd. in Willowdale near Bayview Avenue and Highway 401, shortly before they died, for $7 million

[Lancaster]

For such a high profile and rich couple, I would assume there would be those state-of-the-art HD cameras around the place. 

[hammertime]

Kung Fu: The legend continues.

[danjr]

When you are worth this much you should have a security team.  If they spent 10 mil a year on security they could have finaced it for 20 years and not even gone down to the 2.99 billion range.

I would have 24/7 security if I was worth over 100 mil.

[Ghostsof1915]

It was Professor Plum in the Library with the Candlestick. 

[nucklehead]

Some things we know

They were found hanging by the neck near their lap pool

Their company Apotex was involved in about 150 civil cases in the Superior Court of Justice.

Their deaths have not yet been classified as homicides

police are not actively seeking a suspect at present and there is no risk to the public

 

[DonLever]

From National Post:

 

Toronto police say a six-week examination of an enormous amount of evidence leads them to believe billionaire pharmaceutical giant Barry Sherman and his philanthropist wife Honey Sherman were the targeted victims of a double murder.

 

Barry Sherman, 75, who founded the generic drug manufacturing giant Apotex, and Honey Sherman, 70, were found dead in their Toronto mansion on Dec. 15, 2017.

After weeks of police silence on the case, Det. Sgt. Susan Gomes of the Toronto police homicide unit gave a public update Friday afternoon, shortly after the Sherman mansion was finally handed back to the control of their family.

 

Barry and Honey Sherman were last seen alive on the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 13, and had no known contact with friends, family or associates from that point until their bodies were discovered inside their home two days later, Gomes said.

 

She confirmed earlier reports the couple’s bodies were found together in the lower-level pool area of their mansion, hanging by belts from a poolside railing in a semi-seated position on the pool deck. They were wearing clothes.

 

Police found no signs of forced entry on all access points to the home, she said.

 

“The Shermans were targeted in this event,” Gomes said but she refused to discuss possible suspects or motives.

 

The investigation has been difficult and is ongoing.

 

“We are in the process of obtaining or have executed 20 judicial authorizations and searches. Legal complexities in some executions have been challenging given the litigious nature of Barry Sherman’s businesses, in particular the search and seizure of electronics in Barry Sherman’s workspace at Apotex,” Gomes said.

 

Two residential properties of the victims have been extensively searched. The size of their three-story mansion, their primary home, made the search a time consuming task.

“To date, close to 150 bulk or packaged items have been seized and are currently being reviewed and forensically analyzed.”

[Lancaster]

If I was as rich as them, I would have instructions left behind in my will to hire the top ex-CIA/FBI investigators, former SAS/Navy Seals/JTF2, etc., to find and capture/eliminate whoever the perpetrators are.  

[Dazzle]

It seems to have all the fingerprints of a professional hit.

 

Motive: why?

 

Who seeks to benefit from their deaths?