Robert Pickton

Many times during my research, I have uncovered stories of serial killers who do not quite fit the bill when it comes to the subject matter.

Robert Pickton is a prime example of an interesting exception to the rule, in that, he waited until he was caught and imprisoned before becoming a prolific writer to the media.

He was born in 1949 in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia and is serving life imprisonment without chance of parole for 25 years (the most severe sentence offered in Canada) for the murders of six women.  He is also charged in the deaths of an additional 20 women, although not convicted of their murders.

The ex-pig farmer was revealed in his 2007 trial to have confided in an undercover police officer (who was posing as a cellmate), that he had killed 49 women, and would like to kill one more to make it a round 50.

He also claimed he was only caught because he got ‘sloppy’ and complacent.

His capture came when police executed a search warrant for illegal forearms at the farm which he owned with his brother, a second order was then issued to search the farm as part of the BC Missing Women Investigation.

Personal items belonging to the missing women were found in and around the farm.

As Pickton was only charged with trivial firearm offences at this point, he was released, but was kept under constant, secret surveillance by a joint RCMP and Vancouver Police Department task force.

Two weeks later, the personal items had been formally identified, and Pickton was arrested and charged with two murders.

That number would grow over the coming months.

During the early days of the excavations, forensic anthropologists brought in heavy equipment, including two flat conveyor belts and soil sifters to find traces of remains. On March 10, 2004, it was revealed that human flesh may have been ground up and mixed with pork from the farm. This pork was never distributed commercially, but was handed out to friends and visitors of the farm.

According to the book “The Farm” he took orders from the public and bought and sold ground meat containing human meat.

He also sold meat to businesses in the Fraser Valley that contained human meat; the province’s health authority later issued a warning.

Another claim made is that he fed the bodies directly to his pigs.

Having found himself imprisoned for a minimum of 25 years, Pickton has decided he wants to tell his story, but is facing stiff opposition from the authorities when it comes to being allowed access to journalists.

This type of media-shutout is nothing new to this case, as several aspects of the trial were kept from the press and public for several years.

In a letter written to the Candian Press, Pickton boasts: “If you are looking for a story, boy, have I got one for you!”

“Tell them (prison staff) when making appointment by telephone that you are my new defence lawyer being appointed to this case, in defending Mr. Pickton’s rights.”

This unusual request may seem a little extreme, but Pickton is actually under a restriction by the Canadian authorities, under which he may not converse with the press.

The actual restriction, and who made it, is currently unknown, although it is believed that the Canadian authorities are simply putting into practice a law only occasionally used in unusual cases, in which an inmate is free to arrange to meet with the press, but that access can be restricted by prison staff.

In a one page letter sent earlier this year, Pickton invites the press to visit him, and ask any questions regarding the case, but adds that the only way to actually get into the prison grounds is by becoming an imposter.

If the scheme works, prepare for a long session, Pickton warns, and best to bring along an actual lawyer for good measure.

“To get an upper hand on this particular case, plan for a four-hour interview to exchange information, as we have much to talk about to fully understand this case,” writes Pickton, who has carefully underlined what appear to be his most important points.

“Also, bring another lawyer with you as a junior lawyer to help you with the workload. You need one.”

This letter was Pickton’s reply to one sent to him by members of the Candian press, in which they asked Pickton for an interview.

So, why is Pickton under such guard when it comes to discussing his case?

The fact is, nobody is talking.

“At this point, what I can tell you is that the case-management team has made the decision that it’s not in his correctional plan to give interviews,” said Jean-Paul Lorieau of the Correctional Service of Canada.

“So far, everyone who’s asked has been given the same answer.”

Lorieau said several journalists have made similar requests since Pickton arrived at Kent, and all have been rejected.

Another corrections spokesman, David Harty, later clarified that there is no blanket ban on Pickton speaking with journalists and that each request is considered in light of his correctional plan. However, Harty couldn’t expand on exactly what Pickton’s plan says about interviews with the media

A written response from the prison’s warden, Mark Kemball, doesn’t outline why Pickton is being kept away from reporters, but Kemball notes an inmate’s correctional plan “establishes goals for the individual inmate, addresses the dynamic factors that contributed to his criminal behaviour and employs the most effective intervention techniques for that inmate.”

However, Harold Schechter, an expert on serial killers who teaches at the City University of New York, said he hasn’t heard of many cases in which serial killers have been prevented from speaking to reporters.

“It’s very unusual here in the United States; I’m not aware of any analogous situations,” said Schechter, author of several books about multiple murderers, including “The Serial Killer Files.”

“Very notorious serial killers — John Wayne Gacy and (Ted) Bundy and the Son of Sam, David Berkowitz, and all those people — they seemed to communicate from behind bars all the time with journalists.”

Schechter said restrictions on Pickton may be an attempt to avoid fuelling his notoriety.

Whatever the reason for this media blanket-ban, it seems that Pickton has a story to tell, but somebody doesn’t want him to tell it.

 

Much of this article is taken from a fabulous article by Wayne Leng, which can be found at http://www.zimbio.com/Robert+William+Pickton/articles/NqYPpAo9Qj8/Serial+Killer+Robert+Pickton+Prison+Officials

The following video is actual footage of one of Robert Pickton’s conversations with an undercover police officer posing as a cellmate.