When a 21-year-old woman’s lifeless body is found in a popular Toronto neighborhood park, authorities are hard-pressed to find her killer. A mysterious shoeprint becomes a key clue for investigators, but somehow the suspect eludes their grasp.
- If you know anything about the murder of Margaret McWilliam on August 27th, 1987, please contact the Toronto Police Service homicide division at 416-808-7400, or at homicide@torontopolice.on.ca. You can also submit information anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 416−222−TIPS (8477); or via the internet at www.222tips.com.
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Margaret McWilliam (Photo Source) The Ottawa Citizen
Margaret McWilliam (Photo Source) The Mirror via Brampton Guardian
Warden Woods Park Crime Scene Photo (Photo Source) Toronto Police Service
Athletic shoe track impression (Photo Source) Toronto Police Service
Person of Interest composite sketch (Photo Source) To Catch a Killer: Season 1, Episode 2. Via Youtube
Toronto Star Route Map (Source) The Toronto Star
Charlotte McWilliam speaking publicly about her daughter’s case on September 22, 1988. (Photo Source) The Toronto Star, Rick Eglinton. Toronto Public Library Archive
Example athletic shoe that Toronto Police displayed for members of the press on October 2, 1987. (Photo Source) The Toronto Star, Jeff Goode. Toronto Public Library Archive.
Warden Woods Park running path aerial image (Photo Source) Toronto Police Service
Warden Wood Park Map (Source) Google Map
Episode Source Material
- Toronto Police Service: 24 Shades of Blue, Cold Case Edition. Margaret McWilliam Via Youtube.
- To Catch a Killer: Season 1, Episode 2. Margaret McWilliam. By Ocean Digital Entertainment Via Youtube.
- The Toronto Star: Woman found slain in Warden Woods. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Toronto Star: Police intensify hunt for killer of woman jogger strangled in park. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Ottawa Citizen: Town of Deep River mourns for woman found strangled in suburban Toronto park. By David Gamble Via newspapers.com.
- The Toronto Star: Murdered jogger was ‘small town moral kid’ By Kevin Donovan Via newspapers.com.
- The Ottawa Citizen: Quiet Deep River woman found strangled in Toronto Park. By David Gamble Via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Ottawa Citizen: Quiet Deep River woman found strangled in Toronto Park. By David Gamble Via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Ottawa Citizen: Margaret McWilliam Obituary. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Ottawa Citizen: Police say slain Deep River woman probably victim of random violence. By Ian MacLeod and Carell Johnson Via newspapers.com.
- The Toronto Star: Police hotline and computer put to work in rape-slaying. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Ottawa Citizen: Slain woman would want us to forgive, says priest. By David Gamble Via newspapers.com.
- The Toronto Star: Seniors plan memorial service for jogger raped, slain in park.. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Toronto Star: Drivers quizzed in hunt for jogger’s killer. By Judy Nyman Via newspapers.com.
- The Toronto Star: Police hope to attract new leads by re-enacting jogger’s slaying. By Cal Millar Via newspapers.com.
- The Toronto Star: Homicide squad requests help to solve park slaying of jogger. By Sergeant Robert Lord Via newspapers.com.
- The Toronto Star: Shy woman’s slaying numbs home town. By Jim Wilkes Via newspapers.com.
- The Toronto Star: ‘Small town girl’ slain in Metro grieved by friends in her home town. By Jim Wilkes Via newspapers.com.
- The Toronto Star: Murdered jogger was special friend for senior citizen. By Dana Flavelle Via newspapers.com.
- The Ottawa Citizen: Police task force tackles Deep River woman’s death. By Ian MacLeod Via newspapers.com.
- The Toronto Star: Jogger’s killer may hit again detectives fear. By Don Dutton Via newspapers.com.
- The Toronto Star: Are Metro’s parks safe for women? By Dana Flavelle Via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Toronto Star: Are Metro’s parks safe for women? By Dana Flavelle Via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Toronto Star: Landscapers defend the safety of parks. By Dana Flavelle Via newspapers.com.
- The Toronto Star: Shoe owners sought in jobber’s murder. By John Temple Via newspapers.com.
- The Toronto Star: Shoes spark tips in jogger’s murder. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Toronto Star: Police seek witness in jogger’s sex slaying. By Tom Spears Via newspapers.com.
- The Ottawa Citizen: Deep River woman likely random victim, says profile of killer. By Ian MacLeod Via newspapers.com.
- The Toronto Star: Help me find man ‘who murdered my child’. By Desmond Bill Via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Toronto Star: Help me find man ‘who murdered my child’. By Desmond Bill Via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Toronto Star: Reward of $100,000 urged in park killing. By Jim Wilkes Via newspapers.com.
- The Ottawa Citizen: Deep River woman hopes open letter will find daughter’s killer. By Carell Johnson Via newspapers.com.
- The Toronto Star: Police reward in park slaying set at $100,000. By Darcy Henton Via newspapers.com.
- The Toronto Star: 3 rapes in Scarborough are linked, police say Via newspapers.com.
- The Toronto Star: Woman raped in her home after 3 men stage break-in. By Gwyn Thomas Via newspapers.com.
- The Toronto Star: 3 serial rapists loose in Metro women warned. By Pat McNenly Via newspapers.com.
- The Toronto Star: Women’s rally slated for park where jogger was murdered. By Philip Mascoll Via newspapers.com.
- The Toronto Star: Women march at site of Scarborough rape, murder. By Philip Mascoll Via newspapers.com.
- The Toronto Star: Beaches woman charged with aiding U.S. rapist. By Gwyn Thomas Via newspapers.com.
- The Toronto Star: March in Scarborough park protests 87’ rape. By Philip Mascoll Via newspapers.com.
- The Toronto Star: Rape victim’s parents return to murder scene for protest march. By Shelley Page Via newspapers.com.
- The Toronto Star: ‘The most difficult murder to solve’. By Lisa Priest Via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Toronto Star: ‘The most difficult murder to solve’. By Lisa Priest Via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Toronto Star: Arrest sparks ‘new look’ at other killings, police say. By Nick Pron and Cal Millar Via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Toronto Star: Arrest sparks ‘new look’ at other killings, police say. By Nick Pron and Cal Millar Via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Ottawa Citizen: Area parents see possible clue to daughter’s fate. By Pete McMartin Via newspapers.com.
- The Ottawa Citizen: Deep River girl’s killer unknown. By staff Via newspapers.com.
- The Toronto Star: Silence in the prisoner’s dock. By John Duncanson and Philip Mascoll Via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Toronto Star: Silence in the prisoner’s dock. By John Duncanson and Philip Mascoll Via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Ottawa Citizen: A list of murder, a list of grieving, a list of hope. By Don Campbell Via newspapers.com.
- The Ottawa Citizen: Case re-opens Deep River family’s wounds. By Kristy Nease Via newspapers.com.
- Toronto Police Service: TPS Homicide Need to Identify Suspect Homicide #36-1897 Via Youtube.
- The Mirror via Brampton Guardian: Police closer to solving mystery of who killed Scarborough’s Margaret McWilliam in 1987. By Andrew Palamarchuk.
- Global News: Cold Case Files, Ontario family recalls moments after daughter’s death 29 years ago. By Erica Vella.
- Toronto Star: Nearly 30 years later no leads in ‘Cinderella murder’ By Hina Alam.
- Saltwire: Hunter, Cold-case murder of Margaret McWilliam still vexes cops. By staff.
- RCI: Female runners say fear is their reality as yet another jogger is murdered on the trail. By staff.
- Canadian Running Magazine: Women runners are more afraid than ever. By Keeley Milne.