Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated:
1
00:00:00,030 --> 00:00:17,130
Good evening I'm Antony Robarts this is crime beat the stories behind some of Canada's most
2
00:00:17,129 --> 00:00:24,119
high-profile homicides told by the reporters who walk to beat every day and the families demanding
3
00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:29,789
answers we'll reveal the shocking evidence as it was uncovered by investigators in their quest for
4
00:00:29,789 --> 00:00:39,119
justice tonight a young woman vanishes... I ran into her bedroom her purse was there her phone
5
00:00:39,119 --> 00:00:45,149
was there... there was no real reason for her just to pick up and leave and go somewhere without letting
6
00:00:45,149 --> 00:00:53,009
somebody know. I knew something was very wrong ... we have our search teams out our k9 unit... she
7
00:00:53,009 --> 00:01:00,839
had no enemies so we can't figure out why here's crime beat reporter Catherine McDonald's with a
8
00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:11,370
story of Alicia Ross everyone's daughter. Alicia's mom says her daughter had the bluest eyes except
9
00:01:11,370 --> 00:01:18,990
when she laughed or cried that's when Alicia's eyes would turn green Alicia laughed a lot that
10
00:01:18,989 --> 00:01:25,949
summer she was 25 years old and excited about the future she'd spent a year in Australia following
11
00:01:25,950 --> 00:01:32,909
undergrad and had recently moved home to a suburb north of Toronto. Alicia always had a no fear
12
00:01:32,909 --> 00:01:44,310
attitude. As a chubby baby a precocious toddler and later as her mum put it as a terrible teenager
13
00:01:45,829 --> 00:01:52,159
that summer Alicia had been doing what she loved most camping in Northern Ontario.
14
00:01:52,159 --> 00:01:57,890
It gives me a feeling of warmth when the mother or a grandmother will say to me Oh my grandson went
15
00:01:57,890 --> 00:02:06,140
to camp with Alicia he said she was the best tripper she was a an expert canoeist and she
16
00:02:06,140 --> 00:02:11,360
was the one who took all the kids on canoe trip she just got back from a canoe trip to Algonquin
17
00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:18,800
Park with her brother there was a hot summer a bad year for bugs but Alicia was tough braving
18
00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:24,170
the onslaught of mosquitos and even portaging in her bare feet they told me it was a very
19
00:02:24,169 --> 00:02:38,779
hard portage it had rained and the ground was very mucky it was a tough one when you look at
20
00:02:38,780 --> 00:02:47,900
that video you see how happy she was it was just happy I looked at it and I see how it was August
21
00:02:47,900 --> 00:02:56,240
2005 it was a lovely summer and everyone was happy the kids were all good it's a happy time
22
00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:59,900
until the day...
23
00:03:02,409 --> 00:03:10,210
I had come home I was tired and Alicia came home and said I'm going to be interviewed tomorrow I
24
00:03:10,210 --> 00:03:17,349
am so excited there's something new happening at work I'm pretty sure I'm moving up so we took the
25
00:03:17,349 --> 00:03:22,090
dogs and I said well the dogs need to be walk let's go and we walked and walked and went over
26
00:03:22,090 --> 00:03:32,980
all her notes it was a great time and then I had to go out and run some errands with a friend and when
27
00:03:32,979 --> 00:03:40,629
I came home I was so tired and decided I'm gonna go to bed early and I think it was the first time
28
00:03:40,629 --> 00:03:50,109
in many years that I ever went to bed early and the last time I saw Alicia she asked to borrow
29
00:03:50,110 --> 00:04:01,810
purse and gave it to her and we waved goodnight upstairs and then I went to bed. she had a date
30
00:04:01,810 --> 00:04:09,400
that night right? she did she'd been seeing a boy and he I think he was over that when I went to bed
31
00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:21,530
they were in her room in the basement. so that was it you went to bed. I went to bed. so Shawn
32
00:04:21,529 --> 00:04:28,969
was Alicia's boyfriend at the time they were together in on August 16th in the evening
33
00:04:28,970 --> 00:04:36,800
Sean told police they had burnt CDs and played pool and had a little wine. her room had access
34
00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:42,740
through a door at the rear of the residence there was a ground-level entrance into her
35
00:04:42,740 --> 00:04:49,670
basement room there at the residence together and in around 11 o'clock midnight it was our
36
00:04:49,670 --> 00:04:56,449
understanding that he left the residence they were at the side of the road they said goodbye
37
00:04:56,449 --> 00:05:04,370
to each other and he left for the evening. we got up and we were golfing in some kind
38
00:05:04,370 --> 00:05:10,910
of tournament my husband and I and friends I saw Alicia's car in the driveway and I thought it was
39
00:05:10,910 --> 00:05:19,070
odd that maybe she slept in so off we went... until Sharon got an urgent call from Alicia's boyfriend
40
00:05:20,310 --> 00:05:27,990
he was the one who reported her missing he had made a phone call when he got home to Alicia where
41
00:05:27,990 --> 00:05:35,910
there was no response he phoned in the morning he called her work he couldn't locate her. Sharon will
42
00:05:35,910 --> 00:05:44,939
never forget that call... I know exactly where it was it was the 7-pole on the east course at
43
00:05:44,939 --> 00:05:52,889
the Country Club very bad reception my phone rang and all I could hear was you know the police are
44
00:05:52,889 --> 00:05:57,750
here I don't know what's going on she's missing I couldn't make out a lot of the words but I heard
45
00:05:57,750 --> 00:06:04,110
the word police and I said to my husband I have to go home she rushed home to find police at her
46
00:06:04,110 --> 00:06:15,600
house and Sean the boy Alicia had been seeing was pacing and frantic he told me he tried to call her no
47
00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:22,920
answer. Alicia had not turned up at work she worked at hewlett-packard just by joking with
48
00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:30,270
her family that she knew nothing about computers I ran into her bedroom her purse was there her
49
00:06:30,269 --> 00:06:36,029
phone was there the laundry that she'd been in the middle of folding was there none of her
50
00:06:36,029 --> 00:06:42,929
keys to her car her wallet her identification and items that most people would take with them we're
51
00:06:42,930 --> 00:06:49,680
still at the house and of course there was the cigarette butt the glass and wine and the shoe in
52
00:06:49,680 --> 00:07:02,780
the backyard when I looked over the back balcony and saw them I knew something was very wrong...
53
00:07:02,779 --> 00:07:09,409
Any mother who looks at a room and where her child lives and sees things that shouldn't still be
54
00:07:09,410 --> 00:07:17,780
there at 9 or 10 in the morning and to see a shoe just things strewn about it wasn't right
55
00:07:20,139 --> 00:07:28,779
and the reports were that she just disappeared that evening or that that night prior to and
56
00:07:28,779 --> 00:07:37,869
the circumstances surrounding the scene indicated that she was missing under
57
00:07:37,870 --> 00:07:44,439
suspicious circumstances. and I called my husband and I said do you have to come home right now he
58
00:07:44,439 --> 00:07:54,430
phoned in the morning he called her work he couldn't locate her. coming up after the break
59
00:08:00,310 --> 00:08:03,129
a massive search with few leads
60
00:08:11,379 --> 00:08:20,800
tonight on crime beat 25 year old Alicia Ross disappears from her home under suspicious
61
00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:27,759
circumstances the last person who says they saw Alicia is her boyfriend Sean now back to Kathryn
62
00:08:27,759 --> 00:08:34,330
McDonald with a story of Alicia Ross everyone's daughter. what's happening is we haven't found Alicia
63
00:08:34,330 --> 00:08:40,000
and I'm just so emotional right now. This is breaking my heart.
64
00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:44,288
Tell me about the last time you saw her.
65
00:08:46,193 --> 00:08:48,634
I loved her.
66
00:08:48,634 --> 00:08:55,199
Sean Hine was 29 years old at the time he and Alicia had
67
00:08:55,198 --> 00:08:58,959
been seeing each other for a month and a half when she went missing everything seemed to be
68
00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:04,750
good in her life there was no real reason for her just to pick up and leave and go somewhere
69
00:09:04,750 --> 00:09:16,509
without letting somebody know we would start from Ground Zero 11 o'clock midnight at that night we
70
00:09:16,509 --> 00:09:21,340
would have officers or investigators knocking on doors investigating and determining where they
71
00:09:21,340 --> 00:09:26,590
were what they were doing what they heard what they may have observed anything I could give us a
72
00:09:26,590 --> 00:09:34,480
timeline and investigate a timeline for Alicia's movements throughout the day and into the evening
73
00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:41,800
and then hours throughout the night again and the canvasses it's crucial. at this point in the
74
00:09:41,799 --> 00:09:48,219
investigation it was a suspicious disappearance police could not yet say a foul play was involved
75
00:09:49,340 --> 00:09:58,129
the priority was to find Alicia to find her alive. we have our search teams out our canine
76
00:09:58,129 --> 00:10:03,139
unit our helicopters assisting and I'm sure as some of you have seen more searching the
77
00:10:03,139 --> 00:10:11,360
immediate area and will expand the search as as we deem necessary. having covered dozens of
78
00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:17,870
missing-persons cases over the years I know those first 24 to 48 hours after a person is reported
79
00:10:17,870 --> 00:10:25,039
missing are critical this was no different based on the police response to Alicia's disappearance
80
00:10:25,039 --> 00:10:32,329
it was clear there was real concern neighbors were also feeling anxious about a fact that
81
00:10:32,330 --> 00:10:36,740
a woman who could have been anyone's daughter had vanished is this bothering me like I just
82
00:10:36,740 --> 00:10:40,190
can't sleep at night I'm just thinking of it did you have kids I have kids out there at that age
83
00:10:52,879 --> 00:10:57,049
area residents were asked to help with the ground search and the response was
84
00:10:57,049 --> 00:11:05,719
overwhelming we had never seen anything to this scale to this magnitude it was
85
00:11:05,720 --> 00:11:10,190
positive and that there were so many people that came forward to support
86
00:11:10,190 --> 00:11:16,430
Alicia's family and to support us as a police service nothing that I can ever
87
00:11:16,429 --> 00:11:26,419
recall even to this day has 14 years later been as grandiose as that search effort
88
00:11:29,789 --> 00:11:35,159
it soon turned into one of the largest missing-persons searches in Ontario
89
00:11:35,159 --> 00:11:40,319
history. organizing that was what's difficult the community was really
90
00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:45,540
engaged and involved and it affected the community I believe members of
91
00:11:45,539 --> 00:11:51,089
the community were constantly coming out asking to help out and assist in any way
92
00:11:58,035 --> 00:12:05,759
family-oriented neighborhood I think it was a young woman who was in the beginning of her
93
00:12:05,759 --> 00:12:14,370
adult life where she was very a very attractive young lady I think she just caught the eye of
94
00:12:14,370 --> 00:12:20,669
the community. but Alicia's mom still worried maybe they weren't doing enough I remember I
95
00:12:20,669 --> 00:12:25,860
went to Costco with a ton of flyers and there were none out and I spoke to the manager and I
96
00:12:25,860 --> 00:12:33,899
said why don't you have these Flyers out and he said to me take it easy we've run out hundreds
97
00:12:33,899 --> 00:12:39,360
of people had all taken the Flyers to put them out everywhere and I just said I'm so sorry oh
98
00:12:39,360 --> 00:12:51,509
my gosh I think I was just walking through a haze at the time but I was desperate desperate.
99
00:12:51,509 --> 00:12:58,980
Four days after they last saw Alicia her parents decided it was time to speak publicly we pray
100
00:12:58,980 --> 00:13:06,960
Lisa's home soon so this can be old news Alicia I've never broken a promise to you and I promise
101
00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:18,110
you you will come home soon thank you. sharon believed that Alicia had been kidnapped that
102
00:13:18,110 --> 00:13:25,039
she was being held captive the cops working theory was that she knew her captor Alicia
103
00:13:25,039 --> 00:13:30,169
had lots of friends she was popular at school and knew most of the people in the neighborhood
104
00:13:30,169 --> 00:13:37,939
from growing up there. somebody just didn't come from outside the community or outside a greater
105
00:13:37,940 --> 00:13:47,540
area and focus in on Alicia and take her away that night so was it somebody close by was it
106
00:13:47,539 --> 00:13:54,500
a was it a friend was an associate was it an ex-boyfriend. as every day passed the speculation
107
00:13:54,500 --> 00:14:03,200
grew how did Alicia simply disappear where had she gone and if foul play was involved why and
108
00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:11,600
why Alicia? I woke up from a nap one afternoon it's very early I think the first week and I
109
00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:18,259
thought I saw in the doorway of my room I was sort of half-asleep and I said where are you
110
00:14:23,070 --> 00:14:26,790
that's all we wanted to know where are you
111
00:14:33,399 --> 00:14:41,620
there was no question that this was foul play hundreds of tips and clues were pursued but
112
00:14:41,620 --> 00:14:46,600
almost a week of searching had turned up nothing and suspicion was starting to fall
113
00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:53,769
on one individual a lot of people are thought have been talking about Sean ... I
114
00:14:53,769 --> 00:15:01,000
wouldn't want to put blame on anyone at this point I honestly have no idea I don't know
115
00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:07,870
him well at all other than my daughter was dating him that's all I know I don't know
116
00:15:07,870 --> 00:15:15,250
anything else Sean Hine Alicia's boyfriend the last person who reported seeing her alive and
117
00:15:15,250 --> 00:15:24,700
the one who first called 911 to report her missing. for police something felt off to them with his story like
118
00:15:24,700 --> 00:15:34,780
why call 911 before checking with Alicia's family why was he so certain she was missing? Shawn was a person of
119
00:15:34,779 --> 00:15:39,939
interest the beginning of this investigation I remember the interview that we did with him as
120
00:15:39,940 --> 00:15:46,210
he was leaving the house of course he looked distraught he didn't want to talk obviously
121
00:15:46,210 --> 00:15:52,540
be the last person that had seen Alicia did he become a person of interest absolutely he's the
122
00:15:52,539 --> 00:15:59,949
last person to see Alicia we needed to speak with him. Sean Hine lived by himself nearby in Richmond
123
00:15:59,950 --> 00:16:07,660
Hill since Alicia vanished the family felt Sean had become less cooperative with police he told
124
00:16:07,659 --> 00:16:13,659
them he was grief stricken and didn't want to talk we spoke to Sean on multiple occasions
125
00:16:13,659 --> 00:16:22,959
we wanted to clarify things we wanted to make sure that we could absolutely eliminate or clear
126
00:16:22,960 --> 00:16:32,110
Sean Hine as being involved or identify him as a suspect through proper collection of evidence
127
00:16:36,990 --> 00:16:44,340
as every day passed the family became more concerned something terrible had
128
00:16:44,340 --> 00:16:49,889
happened it was hard not to wonder if Sean Hine was telling police the whole story
129
00:16:51,990 --> 00:16:58,860
it was at this time that Alicia's mother finally called me directly and invited me into her home
130
00:16:58,860 --> 00:17:06,180
to discuss Alicia's disappearance. as a reporter it was a good call to get but walking into the
131
00:17:06,180 --> 00:17:12,660
family home that day was very difficult meeting with the family of a missing person is a delicate
132
00:17:12,660 --> 00:17:20,550
situation and I felt as if I already knew so much about Alicia but was anxious to learn more Sharon
133
00:17:20,549 --> 00:17:28,139
was remarkably composed of fragile we connected immediately she was still so hopeful Alicia
134
00:17:28,140 --> 00:17:38,700
would be found alive this is a living hell this is a nightmare that I wake up to every
135
00:17:38,700 --> 00:17:46,350
morning I don't go to bed and dream it what it's there when I wake up it's a deep horrible pain
136
00:17:50,509 --> 00:17:59,119
she had no enemies so we can't figure out why and the why is just unanswered question why?
137
00:18:00,700 --> 00:18:08,230
I do pray every day all day please just spare this girl
138
00:18:25,355 --> 00:18:33,039
Sharon's resolved to find Alicia alive was clear one month after Alicia went missing I returned
139
00:18:33,039 --> 00:18:40,210
Sharon was now coming to terms with a different reality I just want her back you know people
140
00:18:40,210 --> 00:18:46,960
say well she wants her back alive we'll either way this family needs closure. now prepared to
141
00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:53,799
admit her daughter may have met with foul play Sharon started to tell me personal things about
142
00:18:53,799 --> 00:19:00,190
Alicia that could help identify her Alicia does have two tattoos and I really want the public
143
00:19:00,190 --> 00:19:06,850
to know about them she's a tattoo of a daisy on her ankle and the Aquarius sign is on her
144
00:19:06,849 --> 00:19:15,189
top vertebra and this is what it looks like a candle flickered on the front step of the
145
00:19:15,190 --> 00:19:20,920
family doorstep Sharon was now prepared for any clue that would bring an end to her suffering
146
00:19:20,920 --> 00:19:29,410
I left the family home that day feeling upset and anxious for this lovely woman who I'd come
147
00:19:29,410 --> 00:19:35,710
to know on a personal level not realizing that there was about to be a huge break in this case
148
00:19:35,710 --> 00:19:46,809
coming up after the break a massive search has turned up nothing hundreds of people have been
149
00:19:46,809 --> 00:19:53,589
interviewed the area canvassed but the answers they're looking for are closer than they realize
150
00:20:00,690 --> 00:20:11,880
tonight on crime it's been a month since 25 year old Alicia Ross went missing a massive
151
00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:17,610
search has turned up nothing but the answers they're looking for are closer than they realize
152
00:20:17,609 --> 00:20:26,189
now back to Katherine McDonald with a story of Alicia Ross everyone's daughter relatives of
153
00:20:26,190 --> 00:20:31,650
Alicia Ross leave her family's thornhill home unwilling to talk to the media five weeks after
154
00:20:31,650 --> 00:20:36,630
the 25 year old vanish from her home in this quiet upper-middle-class neighborhood it now
155
00:20:36,630 --> 00:20:40,350
appears the clue to her disappearance lies in the next-door neighbor's home
156
00:20:53,500 --> 00:20:58,539
it was a phone call later in the day it wasn't anything out of ordinary except
157
00:20:58,539 --> 00:21:05,319
the investigation now has kind of halted our search for Alicia had smoked out and
158
00:21:05,319 --> 00:21:15,549
this almost this phone call changes the whole investigation on we're going to get answers
159
00:21:20,329 --> 00:21:33,079
how did you find out how did I find it I was on my way somewhere in my car and my cell phone rang and
160
00:21:33,079 --> 00:21:40,159
it was my husband and he said they found he didn't say she's alive he just said they found her and at
161
00:21:40,160 --> 00:21:50,630
that point after that long I knew I don't know if we knew but I knew she was gone well when when I
162
00:21:50,630 --> 00:22:01,430
came home I ran into the house and they said it was the guy next door and I just said why why
163
00:22:04,170 --> 00:22:09,539
I remember thinking as I drove to mark him with my cameraman that day and I knocked on the next-door
164
00:22:09,539 --> 00:22:17,099
neighbor's door had I seen him we soon learned the next our neighbor was Daniel Sylvester he
165
00:22:17,099 --> 00:22:21,750
lived in a big brick house next door with his mother it's unlikely police would have made an
166
00:22:21,750 --> 00:22:26,940
arrest at this point in the Alicia Ross case had the 31 year old not surrendered himself to police
167
00:22:26,940 --> 00:22:32,940
investigators say it was 5:00 p.m. Tuesday when Daniel Sylvester in the company of his lawyer
168
00:22:32,940 --> 00:22:39,420
came to this new market detachment and turned himself over to police something triggered him
169
00:22:39,420 --> 00:22:45,180
that he needed to speak to the police about his interactions with Alicia that meet that night it's
170
00:22:45,180 --> 00:22:55,320
huge it's a huge component here Daniel Sylvester confessed he told police he was responsible for
171
00:22:55,319 --> 00:23:02,039
the disappearance and killing of Alesha Ross but insisted her death was an accident my client was
172
00:23:02,039 --> 00:23:10,889
very distraught he was had been emotional for some long period of time he was extremely remorseful
173
00:23:10,890 --> 00:23:21,840
and had been for some period of time he wanted to make matters right he regretted deeply that he had
174
00:23:21,839 --> 00:23:31,769
been responsible for no closure on the part of the deceased family that's weighed on his conscience
175
00:23:31,769 --> 00:23:43,889
terribly and he was also concerned that the wrong person might be investigated and charged
176
00:23:49,720 --> 00:23:56,350
Daniel Sylvester led investigators to two areas northeast of Toronto after cleaning
177
00:23:56,349 --> 00:24:02,169
up the bloody scene with towels showering and bagging the evidence Sylvester told
178
00:24:02,170 --> 00:24:08,470
police he had moved Alicia's body that night to Manila Ontario about an hour's drive away a
179
00:24:08,470 --> 00:24:17,289
judge with the Ontario Superior Court describes how Daniel Sylvester says he
180
00:24:17,289 --> 00:24:22,899
placed the body of Alicia Ross into the trunk of his car and dumped it in the bush at the
181
00:24:22,900 --> 00:24:28,990
side of a country road then on his way back to Markham Sylvester described tossing the
182
00:24:28,990 --> 00:24:33,970
bags of clothing a few kilometers away from the first site also in a bush area
183
00:24:40,500 --> 00:24:47,490
three weeks later with the police search well underway Daniel Sylvester says he moved Alicia's
184
00:24:47,490 --> 00:24:54,029
remains to Coba conk another 40 minutes drive north close to where his family owned a cottage
185
00:24:54,029 --> 00:25:01,049
the worst situation possible the officers who were engaged in that process very difficult for
186
00:25:01,049 --> 00:25:08,190
them and very difficult to go and speak with the family and explain what happened to Alicia that
187
00:25:08,190 --> 00:25:15,090
night is difficult on the investigators and the officers it's always difficult because the worst
188
00:25:15,089 --> 00:25:22,019
thing is happening to the family at this point and and we most of us have never been through
189
00:25:22,019 --> 00:25:27,690
this and we don't know what that feeling truly is and we're the ones giving them that news and
190
00:25:27,690 --> 00:25:33,960
it's horrific it's terrible it's and a whole lot of questions come up and a whole lot of
191
00:25:33,960 --> 00:25:39,120
feelings and and just don't understand and it's and it's really it's just the beginning
192
00:25:42,200 --> 00:25:47,840
even though they had lived next door to each other for around seven years Alicia's mom said
193
00:25:47,839 --> 00:25:54,259
she'd only encounter Daniel Sylvester a handful of times gradually details began to emerge about
194
00:25:54,259 --> 00:26:00,589
this man next door the 31 year old who lived at home with his mother investigators said he had
195
00:26:00,589 --> 00:26:08,000
spent a lot of time at home alone watching TV he didn't have a job neighbors say he could be
196
00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:14,390
seen at night working in an upstairs window on a computer and that he'd work out in a home gym he
197
00:26:14,390 --> 00:26:21,980
described himself as a fringe individual with a history of anxiety and depression I talked to one
198
00:26:21,980 --> 00:26:28,430
woman who lived across the street one of the few neighbors who knew Daniel Sylvester I knew Daniel
199
00:26:28,430 --> 00:26:33,920
a bit and I knew his mother more but I didn't expect I didn't he was a nice guy I mean he was
200
00:26:33,920 --> 00:26:38,509
very polite to us I don't understand how he just went off the deep end I guess but I didn't know
201
00:26:38,509 --> 00:26:46,099
he was like he was like the way he was peeping toms and all that a peeping tom who confessed
202
00:26:46,099 --> 00:26:51,679
to spying on his neighbors suddenly a different image of Alicia's killer was starting to emerge
203
00:26:52,980 --> 00:27:04,680
I know from talking to Cheryl she told me that he was a bit weird did she indicate that to you not
204
00:27:04,680 --> 00:27:09,509
to me or to the police did she tell anyone like there's what this neighbor this guy next door
205
00:27:09,509 --> 00:27:18,569
seems a little weird or off um not that I recall I do know that as a result of our Candace officers
206
00:27:18,569 --> 00:27:24,299
would come back and say you know I don't say weird it's just that we got to clarify a few things this
207
00:27:24,299 --> 00:27:30,809
person was up this person may have heard something this person may be involved but we need to speak
208
00:27:30,809 --> 00:27:38,250
with this person and either clear them or identify them as a person of interest or potentially if
209
00:27:38,250 --> 00:27:50,069
evidence is there a suspect coming up was Alicia's death an accident as her neighbor claims or had he
210
00:27:50,069 --> 00:27:56,399
been stalking her and planning his move four months after the break a killers confession
211
00:28:01,170 --> 00:28:13,560
welcome back to crime beat I'm Antonia rhobar the next door neighbor has admitted to killing
212
00:28:13,559 --> 00:28:19,230
25 year old Alicia Ross and now the family is hoping the trial will help them understand
213
00:28:19,230 --> 00:28:25,319
why we return now to Katherine MacDonald with the story of Elisha Ross everyone's daughter
214
00:28:25,319 --> 00:28:36,869
on a rainy day in October hundreds packed a North York synagogue to say goodbye to Alicia
215
00:28:54,740 --> 00:29:03,890
I love this picture it was two months after that service that Sharon invited me back to
216
00:29:03,890 --> 00:29:10,340
her home to reflect on Alicia's life and what led to the break in the case the last photos I have of
217
00:29:10,339 --> 00:29:19,009
Alicia are on canoe trips with her brother you can't live in fear Alicia traveled all over the
218
00:29:19,009 --> 00:29:26,269
world nothing happened nothing happened to her camping out in the Negev in Israel but in her
219
00:29:26,269 --> 00:29:33,500
own backyard this is what happened it was during this meeting with Alicia's mom that I learned more
220
00:29:33,500 --> 00:29:40,460
about the police investigation and how Daniel Sylvester came to confess they had questioned
221
00:29:40,460 --> 00:29:50,000
him several times and on the last interview asked him to take a lie-detector test and he refused and
222
00:29:50,000 --> 00:30:00,140
that's when they advised him that they would start really looking at him very closely and the next
223
00:30:00,140 --> 00:30:09,230
thing we knew so the canvass led to identifying the neighbor Daniel Sylvester according to court
224
00:30:09,230 --> 00:30:15,559
documents police questioned Daniel Sylvester in relation to Alicia's disappearance he told them
225
00:30:15,559 --> 00:30:23,359
he had been home all evening and could not assist the next day on August 18th he told
226
00:30:23,359 --> 00:30:28,459
a homicide detective that he had never spoken with Alicia and was not outside his residence
227
00:30:28,460 --> 00:30:35,750
during the relevant time frame we identified that he was a Nighthawk he likes to be up he he slept
228
00:30:35,750 --> 00:30:43,549
all day was up in the evening goes outside likes to walk around the house took his car for a drive
229
00:30:43,549 --> 00:30:50,990
his mum's car I believe for a drive in the early morning hours which to us kind of stood out like
230
00:30:50,990 --> 00:30:58,819
who does that ultimately we would ask for certain a polygraph and get a formal video statement and
231
00:30:58,819 --> 00:31:05,409
clarified their actions that night he initially agreed to it and ultimately con - Dustin said
232
00:31:05,410 --> 00:31:11,740
his lawyer advised him not to take a polygraph investigators went back and he ultimately agreed
233
00:31:11,740 --> 00:31:17,589
to a polygraph again and then spoke to a lawyer and then declined to take the polygraph and then
234
00:31:17,589 --> 00:31:24,490
contact was made to us that Daniel the next-door neighbor wanted to come in and speak to us in
235
00:31:24,490 --> 00:31:30,400
regards to this incident I remember my story that day was go find Sean Hine and I remember
236
00:31:30,400 --> 00:31:35,890
following and finding him on a bike and he was going through a bank ATM on his bike how do you
237
00:31:35,890 --> 00:31:41,770
feel knowing that they've arrested someone and all along you maintained your innocence yeah you know
238
00:31:41,769 --> 00:31:47,079
I only tell the truth and nothing but the truth so I'm glad this guy you know felt guilty enough
239
00:31:47,079 --> 00:31:53,109
to turn himself in his lawyer mentioned that he he worried that someone else was gonna bear the
240
00:31:53,109 --> 00:31:59,469
brunt of the blame and couldn't bear that how did that feel when you heard that well I felt
241
00:31:59,470 --> 00:32:06,069
better I mean I felt better because if any no if anyone knows what anxiety is its anxiety Wow
242
00:32:06,069 --> 00:32:13,000
it gets the best year sometimes are you gonna go to court Sean I'm gonna be there every step
243
00:32:13,000 --> 00:32:18,849
of the way just like I would have been if she was alive so that's it Daniel Sylvester was
244
00:32:18,849 --> 00:32:26,529
arrested in September of 2005 but the family had to wait until this moment two years later
245
00:32:26,529 --> 00:32:33,220
for the crown to publicly reveal what led up to their daughter's murder a shocking day in court
246
00:32:33,220 --> 00:32:39,370
for the family of Alicia Ross inside a videotaped police interview with Daniel Sylvester was played
247
00:32:39,369 --> 00:32:45,250
showing Sylvester confessing to the murder of his neighbor on the tape Sylvester first cries
248
00:32:45,250 --> 00:32:51,789
then in an excited stressed voice he reenacts the fatal beating there to witness Daniel Sylvester's
249
00:32:51,789 --> 00:32:58,089
testimony for his brother and mother in his confession Daniel Sylvester told police he
250
00:32:58,089 --> 00:33:04,839
did encounter delecia at her gate between their houses that she'd said to him what the are you
251
00:33:04,839 --> 00:33:13,669
doing here to which he responded I've got as much right to be here as you do she said off you loser
252
00:33:13,670 --> 00:33:23,509
and he told police he advanced on her the court heard that Daniel Sylvester was a self-admitted
253
00:33:23,509 --> 00:33:31,069
recluse who suffered from depression he said when Alicia called him a loser he could not control
254
00:33:31,069 --> 00:33:37,220
himself the crown said Daniel Sylvester's attack was sexually motivated psychiatrist testified
255
00:33:37,220 --> 00:33:43,579
that Daniel Sylvester told him he was a longtime peeping tom who enjoyed spying on neighbors while
256
00:33:43,579 --> 00:33:49,429
they were being intimate despite confessing to manslaughter Daniel Sylvester pleaded not
257
00:33:49,430 --> 00:33:55,310
guilty to second-degree murder it surprised me a little bit that there isn't a guilty plea but
258
00:33:55,309 --> 00:34:02,089
I guess I don't guess I know that they're trying for their best opportunity according to the crown
259
00:34:02,089 --> 00:34:09,289
the extent of Alicia's injuries told a different story I know the autopsy results and the injuries
260
00:34:09,289 --> 00:34:18,079
were pretty violent and significant which would result into a little bit more further assault
261
00:34:18,079 --> 00:34:25,250
of actions than just a accident occurred the jury was told that Alicia's injuries resembled
262
00:34:25,250 --> 00:34:30,949
more those of a car crash victim and a beating victim which made determining the exact cause of
263
00:34:30,949 --> 00:34:38,299
death difficult it was blunt trauma there was it was undetermined due to the to Alicia's remains
264
00:34:39,469 --> 00:34:47,929
not being you know perfect state for the corner for the corner or the pathologist but ultimately
265
00:34:47,929 --> 00:34:56,599
it was undetermined but as a result of force blunt trauma the trial was hard I think was hard
266
00:34:56,599 --> 00:35:03,739
for everyone sitting in that room they showed all there were 32 broken bones and they showed
267
00:35:03,739 --> 00:35:12,829
every bone and the forensic pathologists would go over the details of every bone and then the last
268
00:35:12,829 --> 00:35:26,150
photo was her skull and I just stared at it and I think everyone in the room was horrified but I
269
00:35:26,150 --> 00:35:33,530
was and I just kept staring at it this is the last time I'm going to see that and I didn't actually
270
00:35:33,530 --> 00:35:39,080
didn't want him to turn off the screen but the screen was turned off and we all got up and left
271
00:35:43,139 --> 00:35:54,119
day after day more details were revealed the details were hard but in a way I think we
272
00:35:54,119 --> 00:36:02,039
were all hungry to know the details so as the details came out you get some details
273
00:36:02,039 --> 00:36:10,349
made me so angry but you know my brother at the time said why do you have to go every
274
00:36:10,349 --> 00:36:16,529
day you don't have to go every day I said oh I I have to go every day she's my baby
275
00:36:16,530 --> 00:36:23,970
you would go every day for your baby so I did she was my daughter and I I couldn't desert her
276
00:36:28,260 --> 00:36:33,330
coming up in the conclusion of Alesha Ross everyone's daughter
277
00:36:33,329 --> 00:36:37,739
a verdict is reached as the healing process begins
278
00:36:49,139 --> 00:36:56,190
welcome back Daniel Sylvester is on trial for killing his neighbor Alesha Ross charged with
279
00:36:56,190 --> 00:37:02,250
second degree murder he maintains the brutal beating was an accident now back to Catholic
280
00:37:02,250 --> 00:37:12,119
Donald with the conclusion of Alesha Ross everyone's daughter on May 29th 2007 jurors
281
00:37:12,119 --> 00:37:19,319
reached a verdict it took them mere hours to decide Daniel Sylvester was found guilty of
282
00:37:19,320 --> 00:37:27,090
second-degree murder the pain of our loss will never go away it is with us every day
283
00:37:27,090 --> 00:37:33,570
but you believed in the truth and delivered a verdict that now helps all of us to move
284
00:37:33,570 --> 00:37:40,380
forward to the day when we hope memories will be cherished happy times rather than
285
00:37:40,380 --> 00:37:46,320
painful reminders of how Alicia died Daniel Sylvester was sentenced to life in prison
286
00:37:46,320 --> 00:37:55,380
with no chance of parole until 2021 delivering his sentence the judge felt that the vicious
287
00:37:55,380 --> 00:38:01,590
beating was sexually motivated and that Daniel Sylvester had been watching Ross for some time
288
00:38:01,590 --> 00:38:09,090
that night it's a very bittersweet thing to hear a number because although we were very
289
00:38:09,090 --> 00:38:18,000
glad to hear a murder conviction the number of years it did nothing will bring Alicia
290
00:38:18,000 --> 00:38:24,539
back Daniel Sylvester would go on to appeal his conviction asking for a reduced sentence
291
00:38:24,539 --> 00:38:32,039
but the original verdict and sentence were upheld today it's the parole hearing that Luz
292
00:38:35,510 --> 00:38:40,040
I hope people remember her not so much the case
293
00:38:46,070 --> 00:38:56,900
I get worried sometimes people will forget you know to not mention a person or reminisce about
294
00:38:56,900 --> 00:39:02,570
a person almost negates their existence and it it gives me a feeling of warmth
295
00:39:02,570 --> 00:39:07,820
when their mother or a grandmother will say to me Oh my grandson went to camp with Alisha
296
00:39:07,820 --> 00:39:16,670
he said she was the best tripper because she was a an expert canoeist and oh I love hearing
297
00:39:16,670 --> 00:39:23,329
stories like that that people remember her and remember her well why she grabbed
298
00:39:23,329 --> 00:39:27,920
the provinces heart I don't know I think people said to me she's everyone's daughter
299
00:39:29,230 --> 00:39:39,190
to honor Alicia's legacy as an expert paddler her family created a memorial fund with the charity
300
00:39:39,190 --> 00:39:46,659
project canoe it's a charity supporting youth who would not otherwise have a chance to get out of
301
00:39:46,659 --> 00:39:53,710
the city and experience a canoe trip in Northern Ontario the place where Alicia was most at peace
302
00:40:05,090 --> 00:40:11,120
how have you been able to move forward we talked about over the years how people got to know you
303
00:40:11,119 --> 00:40:17,809
they felt like they knew you in the beginning a lot of people recognized me I felt very
304
00:40:17,809 --> 00:40:24,559
discomforting and didn't like it the odd time still someone will say don't I know you from
305
00:40:24,559 --> 00:40:33,980
somewhere my back gets up at night I don't like it I don't like being recognized and I don't want to
306
00:40:33,980 --> 00:40:38,840
have to say well I'm the woman whose daughter so I'll just say oh you've probably seen me around
307
00:40:38,840 --> 00:40:50,210
I've lived in Thornhill for so many years I don't know that you ever move on you you move forward
308
00:40:50,210 --> 00:40:57,619
as best you can you know they saying one foot in front of the other but when it comes back it
309
00:40:57,619 --> 00:41:09,380
comes back hard you know morning is a group thing you can mourn with your family you can miss the
310
00:41:09,380 --> 00:41:19,070
person together we all miss her but sadness and sorrow is a very solitary thing I think there's
311
00:41:19,070 --> 00:41:24,559
a legacy to your daughter in many ways what how do you what is her legacy and in your mind
312
00:41:28,210 --> 00:41:38,679
she affected a number of people which I really had no idea about until we went to visit where
313
00:41:38,679 --> 00:41:43,480
she had worked and clean out her desk and people started approaching me that they'd
314
00:41:43,480 --> 00:41:50,170
helped her through a hard time one had taken work off through depression and she kept in touch with
315
00:41:50,170 --> 00:41:57,280
him so things that made me happy people were telling me wonderful things she'd done to be
316
00:41:57,280 --> 00:42:03,730
supportive that's her legacy Alicia's mom knows that her daughter's kindness her adventurous
317
00:42:03,730 --> 00:42:10,840
spirit her laughter live on in the memories of all the people she met over the years even
318
00:42:10,840 --> 00:42:17,200
if it's not always easy to remember we don't talk about her a lot I know I really have we
319
00:42:17,199 --> 00:42:26,779
we don't reminisce about her because it's too painful talking about Alicia is not a happy
320
00:42:26,780 --> 00:42:33,200
thing that unfortunately what happened to her overshadows anything else and so it's too painful
321
00:42:42,659 --> 00:42:53,909
it's a tough thing you know I used to have tons of pictures out and now over the years
322
00:42:53,909 --> 00:43:01,259
we've taken many family photos a friend of mine who lost her daughter said everyone in
323
00:43:01,260 --> 00:43:12,930
the photos changes we get older there are more children grandchildren but they're stuck she's
324
00:43:12,929 --> 00:43:25,889
stuck 25 and so I have one or two pictures of her out but the family photos I can't anymore
325
00:43:25,889 --> 00:43:35,549
we've all as you said moved on they never had the chance they were taken too young too soon
326
00:43:39,510 --> 00:43:50,160
I would give anything I would cut my life short just to have her again for five minutes
327
00:44:05,159 --> 00:44:10,980
this case will go down in history as one of the biggest missing person searches in
328
00:44:10,980 --> 00:44:16,740
Ontario a community coming together under the most horrible circumstances and with Daniel
329
00:44:16,739 --> 00:44:22,139
serve Esther's parole hearing coming up family and friends of Alecia Ross just hope they don't
330
00:44:22,139 --> 00:44:28,259
have to relive it all over again they remain focused on honoring Alicia's legacy to pay
331
00:44:28,260 --> 00:44:34,380
tribute to Alicia's adventurous spirit and her love of nature the family created a memorial
332
00:44:34,380 --> 00:44:39,599
fund with project canoe this is a charity supporting youth who wouldn't otherwise have
333
00:44:39,599 --> 00:44:45,179
a chance to get out of the city and experience a canoe trip in Northern Ontario the place where
334
00:44:45,179 --> 00:44:51,750
Alicia was most at peace I'm Anthony robot thank you for joining us tonight on crime
335
00:44:58,219 --> 00:45:03,079
to hear more about other high-profile Canadian cases check out the podcast
336
00:45:03,079 --> 00:45:08,569
crime beat with me Global News crime reporter Nancy Hicks you can listen for
337
00:45:08,570 --> 00:45:13,280
free on Apple podcast Spotify or uncurious Cass CA
45665
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get subtitles in any language from opensubtitles.com, and translate them here.