Alleged serial killer Col. Russell Russ Williams may have been a busy boy
So let’s see:
1. He was stationed at Trenton Air Force base (where I was born)
2. He graduated from the University of Toronto circa 1986 (when I attended U of T)
3. 1990: Stationed at 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School at Portage La Prairie, Manitoba (“any cold cases there?” have a look at Glenda Morrisseau:)
4. 1992: Stationed at Shearwater Canadian Forces Base in Halifax (“calling all cold cases!” check Carla Gail Strickland, Andrea Lynn King, Shelley Conners, and Kimber Lucas:)
5. Late 1990s: Posted to 412 (Transport) Squadron in Ottawa (gotta be some unsolveds there)
6. 2004: obtains Masters from Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario (prison capital of Canada)
7. 2004: 437 (Transport) Squadron, Trenton, Ontario
8. 2005 – 2006: Camp Mirage, Middle East
9. 2009: 6 months French language training, Gatineau, Quebec
And those are just the highlights. This guy has been everywhere, and as a military officer has had privileged access to virtually anywhere.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010 at 9:20 pm and is filed under Cold Case. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Related Posts
- Claude Larouche pourrait être la mère de tous récidivistes
- Attempted murder charges added for Claude Larouche
- SQ joins search for missing Laval men
- A new demand for the Surete du Quebec
- Russell ( Russ ) Williams: Possible cold-cases
on February 9th, 2010 at 9:32 pm
well well lookie here! Yes your right John! while his wife was away he played…
on February 10th, 2010 at 12:25 am
What if he was a busy boy while at your school?
http://www.unsolvedcanada.ca/index.php?topic=2078.15
on February 10th, 2010 at 12:33 am
Well sure. Only cold case I recall from that era is Allison Pirot (sp). But was solved years later. Possibly some early Scarborough rapes? Though I’m going from memory here, not Google.
on February 10th, 2010 at 12:50 am
The two unsolved cases posted through the above link would have had him in his second year at U of T.
on February 10th, 2010 at 2:57 am
Erik is onto something. Tied up in chairs, sexually assaulted, stabbed. That’s the MO.
on February 10th, 2010 at 8:50 am
The Gilmour and Tice murders are interesting Erik. That area of Toronto (Yorkville) is adjacent to U of T. I was in residence maybe three-four blocks from there? Don’t recall the murders.
on February 10th, 2010 at 9:34 pm
What about Elizabeth Bain U of T in Scarborough. They say he could haved started early. We’ve got kids dead too. Nicole Moran in the westend of toronto with her sweater found at Pearson Airport and the one in Sharon that Mr Moran was tried twice.
on February 12th, 2010 at 6:11 pm
there were two other unsolved deaths in the in the trenton area around the same time as the macvicar disappearence and death. iIdont remember the name of the young woman, but similar to the jessica lloyd story, dissappeared from her apartment after talking to friends, found her body near the trent severn waterway, and an exotic dancer that worked in the old dance club across from the ford dealership in trenton. Neither have been mentions so I thought there might be more there to look at as well
on February 12th, 2010 at 10:03 pm
ELIZABETH BAIN, yes he was there!
on February 13th, 2010 at 11:50 pm
Wait, and what about Kennedy? I think he killed Kennedy also.
on February 15th, 2010 at 12:12 am
The following is not an indictment nor is their any proof whatsoever that Russell Williams is or has been involved in any of these outstanding crimes.These are inferences and analysis based on nothing more then media accounts of his activities.
Col. David Russell Williams (Sovka):
Personal – Married to Mary Elizabeth Harriman in Manitoba 1991, no children.
His official military biography described Williams as an athlete and photographer (avid golfer as well). Look for clues connected to airfields, bird watching areas or golf courses? I can think of at least a dozen right off the bat across several provinces.Remember this guy ALSO went on vacations. Have yet to find any of his personal photography available online- too bad.If anyone does find a link please be so kind and send a copy to unsolvedhomicide@gmail.com
Asked in an Intelligencer interview in January what he liked to photograph, Williams fumbled a little before responding with a laugh that he had many pictures of his car, including one he kept on his Blackberry. He said he also enjoyed photographing nature scenes; neighbour Larry Jones recalled seeing Williams photographing birds at the birdhouses outside the colonel’s bungalow
Timeline -
1978-1979 Highschool Birchmount CI Scarborough
1980 – ? (possibly in S.Korea w/ family?)
1981-1982 UCC in Toronto
1983-1986 –Toronto Scarborough campus @ U of T then after grad enlists in RCAF Stated he was going to Buttonville airport to learn how to fly in last two years of university.
1987-1989 – Base Borden for official training? Unknown where he was living or what he was doing.
1990 – Earns wings @ Borden/Trenton?
1990-92 Officially posted to Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, & flew to Moosejaw Sk (and other locations) where he worked as an instructor.His commend is still out of Winnipeg – so travel to MB through the years is very likely.
July 17th, 1991 Glenda Morrisseau & Janice Howe Aug 1992 (obvious ones but many, many more)
1993 – 1994 Shearwater NS RCAF 44.637222,-63.502222 (Note: Not at same airport as where Andrea King went missing)
Ottawa post till 1994-1999ish? – House in Orleans at 545 Wilkie Dr. till Aug 2009
Aug 2003-June 2004 IN TORONTO taking course via Kingston at RCMC – K7K 7B4
June 2004 – Based in Trenton- but had house in Orleans still – bought house in Tweed (Aug 2004) on Cosy Cove Lane , which is about 60 kilometres northeast of CFB Trenton.
Dec 2005- June 2006 Camp Mirage Afghanistan
2006 – alleged b&e theft of woman’s articles- pattern dates back to 2006 (according to press rumour regarding the Col. statement to police)
Notes:
A former roommate describes him as a misfit.
“He completely lacked any social skills whatsoever,” said the roommate, who asked not to be named. He said that even though they shared a room, they managed to have “zero social interaction.”
While classmates formed sports teams and went to dances to meet girls, Russell Williams – then known as Russ Sovka – did not partake. According to the ex-roommate, about the only things he did outside class was play a trumpet and meticulously fold his clothes. “I never recall seeing him with a woman,” the roommate said.
and
A source said police are probing 48 such cases and have recovered stolen lingerie – neatly stored, catalogued and concealed – in searches of the suspect’s Ottawa home.
A source said she had been gagged and blindfolded before the killing.(did not like to be seen – possibly close encounter adaptations and police unknowingly have composite or description of him from other events and therefore changed this specific behaviour or did he always blindfold?)
**The detail about “meticulously folding his clothes” may help to round out habitual behaviours and may make it easier to nail down his signature(s) as related to other crimes as i feel he likely has a few. MO in my mind is variable but involves the element of surprise attack on VICTIMS TURF (including routine outdoor leisure/work/exercise areas of victim) and using victims items available at scene.He jogs so look for random attacks of all genders on bike paths, known jogging zones, beaches, waterfront etc..I don’t think gender will matter to this guy as i believe gender dynamics may be part of this.
I think he may be a good candidate for police to consider for the TO serial killer of woman, some of them street workers dating back to the 1990′s as the first several were in 1994 then stopped then started up again, maybe related to postings and travel times? Also random attacks in victims home of men with no burglary apparent but victims was bound before death.
I have worked up a timeline with mapping on what we know so far and included street based and home invasion type sexual assaults and homicide with partial nudity. (Clothing missing or distinct items missing may lead to the conclusion of a fantasy/trophy collector such as what we see in the alleged crimes concerning Col. Williams)
Finally, if the “businesslike” confession delivery from Col. Williams of the alleged four dozen thefts is in fact true then it may be a rehearsed response from him and would caution police to consider ALL possibilities including that Russ Williams is a long term sexual offender and potentially a serial predator since mid teens. Look for Atypical “starter” crimes of paraphilic nature – peeping to arson to murders committed via arson to direct contact violent sexual assaults and forward..
Example of just one out of dozens of “coincidences” i am finding interesting: Look at the unidentified female remains located right where Russ Williams’ step dad worked as a senior scientist with CANDU reactors. The dated watch potentially puts her date of death back in the 1980′s:
http://www.drps.ca/internet_explorer/whatsnew/missingperson_view.asp?ID=138
Hope the updated timeline helps.
on February 15th, 2010 at 12:32 am
One more quick note Russ Williams’ mother Nonie Sovka is a physiotherapist based out of Sunnybrook Womens college hospital in Scarborough. There have been a few notable unsolved homicides of young woman in their homes in that general vicinity. Have not been able to locate information as to how long Nonie worked at the hospital.Anyone?
on February 17th, 2010 at 1:43 pm
There were 2 break and entries that happened in his neigborhood where he lived at 545 Wilke Ave in Orleans in Oct 2008. The only items missing were womens underwear. I know this because I had a delivery route with one of the local parcel companies and was questioned by the police wondering if I had seen anything. I have also had to deliver packages to his house. When I met him he wasn’t very friendly and sort of rude.
on February 18th, 2010 at 11:56 am
Father wants new case:
http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2442586
on March 22nd, 2010 at 7:48 pm
Anyone know where he was 1999 to 2003?
on April 13th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
Unsoved murder in Leamington where women was found in the bird sanctuary on the beach dead……..OPP investigated……..
on April 13th, 2010 at 9:30 pm
It is very strange that his wife Elizabeth Harriman was not interrogated by Ontario police regarding her husband’s ways of life! The couple has been maried for nearly 20 years ans she is thus the person who knows about everything about Colonel Russel Williams life, soul and desires. Soon after the arrest of Col Williams the police declared that she had nothing to do with the crimes and that she was completely unaware of her husbands conducts. it is unlikely that colonel williams was able hide his crimes from everybody he was in contact for the last 25 years or in including his classmates, military superios, civilians personnels,neighborg and his lovely wife!! I can’t believe that!
on April 15th, 2010 at 1:40 am
I have come into new information that the colonel williams had in last three years been treated for some medical problem and been treated with a drug – prednisone. Look it up – this drug can cause weird changes in personality and other psychological symptoms. Maybe this military man, hard driving, very successful was twisted by prescription drug. Everyone is asking how someone got this far and then do this. Maybe answer lie there. If so, likely no old crimes will be found. anyone else come across more of this info type?
on April 17th, 2010 at 4:18 am
Depression, mania, psychosis – are all possible side effects of prednisone. None of these psychiatric conditions would likely lead to sexual slayings. And if any of these conditions existed in a man in command of an entire base, he would never have been successful, organized, and capable. There are temporary pychoses that can result from personality disorders – Col. Williams was recently exempted from being suicidal, according to DSM 1V. It would seem that he’s not even clinically depressed! Personality disorders are where William’s alleged crimes lie, but personality disorders do not, in and of themselves, exempt a person from criminal culpability.
on April 20th, 2010 at 10:31 am
I believe he was posted in Ottawa from 1999-2003. He lived in Ottawa at 545 Wilke Dr since 95′ or 96. I used to see him jogging in the neighborhood. This may have been a good way for him to stake out houses he wanted to break into. He used to use his rank as a Colonel to his advantage. I spoke to him once and when I looked into his eyes, they were transparent. Nothing there. Just vacant looking. I often wonder how did his wife not notice that there was something wrong with him? They did seem to lead separate lives to a certain degree and they had no children. Thank god for that!
If you look at his time line since early 2008, he lived in Ottawa and in the fall of 2008, 2 lingere break-ins happened in close proximity to his house. Then he was promoted to base commander of CFB Trenton and moved in July 2009 while leaving his wife back in Ottawa where she worked. Then in late September 2 sexual assaults occured close to where his cottage was in Tweed. Then a murder in November and then January of 2010. It definitely looks like an escalation where he is getting ramped up to do something more serious. Serial killers kill in certain periods and can stop for years at a time because of work, family or other issues. Just like BTK did. They have their certain trophies or personal items taken from the victim to look at while they’re not killing just as Williams had hidden in his home.
I don’t think someone starts killing at such a late point in their life. I bet he started in his late 20′s which is the reported age a serial killer begins his career in murdering people. And as he was stationed in other parts of Canada over the years, it is no coincidence that there are unsolved crimes from the same year when Williams just happened to be living anywhere from Manitoba to Nova Scotia. We haven’t heard the end of this.
on May 2nd, 2010 at 9:51 am
[...] grandfather worked at the Trenton Air Force base ) I could give a rats ass about Colonel Williams. I wrote a piece back in February that continues to draw comments and traffic… so be it. People want to talk about it, let them do it; I’m certainly not joining in the party, [...]
on May 2nd, 2010 at 10:07 am
[...] base aérienne de Trenton) Je pourrais vous donner un “rats ass” de colonel Williams. J’ai écrit une pièce en Février qui continue d’attirer des commentaires et de la circ…Les gens veulent parler, laissons-les faire, je ne suis certainement pas se joindre à la fête, ce [...]
on May 2nd, 2010 at 11:45 am
my response to people having problems with this post:
http://theresaallore.com/2010/05/russ-williams-ill-post-what-i-damn-well-please/
on May 3rd, 2010 at 11:08 pm
any truth to the Bernardo connection?
on May 5th, 2010 at 9:11 am
This website could be used by Colonel Russell’s defense to justify a claim that he cannot get a fair trial anywhere. The reason: unsubstantiated and wild media speculation which has already found him guilty.
on May 6th, 2010 at 7:21 am
Attorney is Michael Edelson: http://www.edelsonlaw.ca/ . Please, send him the website… tie a bow around it why don’t you.
on May 6th, 2010 at 9:34 pm
“Diwell” sounds like an evil villain from a James Bond movie.
on May 10th, 2010 at 1:10 pm
it’s pretty cool to read a blog made by someone with similar views. can I subscribe to the blog?
on May 11th, 2010 at 9:09 am
It’s very odd that his wife of 20 years did not clue in to the fact he had a disturbed sexual nature. She’s now being sued by one of his home invasion/sexual assault victims for damages of $2.45 million.
I hope she gets it. Williams tried to put the house in his wife’s name only to get out of the lawsuit.
There’s a lot more to the story that meets the eye…his wife could have stopped a lot of the sexual assaults, killings, and 82 break-ins if she had been a more concerned citizen.
If she doesn’t divorce him, she deserves NO RESPECT. This means she condones what he did and finds it acceptable. She has a good job at the Heart & Stroke Foundation but her peers must see her as a total loser. She’s constantly going to see the colonel who from reputable sources suffers from a micro-penis. He had a HUGE EGO and TINY DICK…DEALY COMBINATION.
on May 16th, 2010 at 8:24 am
Good blog, fascinating information. Thank you.
on May 23rd, 2010 at 4:12 pm
The comments on this website are incredible. They are based on nothing but speculation and the musings of some very disturbed minds.
Janine Brideau: you should get your sexual fantasies checked out as well as deal with your envy of successful people. Your hatred of Ms Harriman says more about you than it does about her
on May 27th, 2010 at 8:54 pm
Il y a des évidences très claires qui démontrent que ces cromes sont l,affiare d’un couple et non seuleemnt d’une suele personne. En effet, le couple Williams-Harriman est vraisemblablement un coupe bi-sexuele qui aime faire des fantaisies sexulees de toutes sortes, On peut voir facilement que mMe Harriman aimes les femmes et demande à son mari adoré d elui apporter des sous-vêtements féminins. Celui-ci, très obéissant et soumis envers sa femme,s’introduit dans de srésidences et vole des sous-vêtements d etoutes sortes, des centaines, mais cel;a ne suffisant pas, alors Mme Harriman, demande plus d,action et exige de son mtendre mari qiLil agresse des filles e tausiis en supprime quelquies unes afin de lui donner les émotions qu’elle xige. Voilà tout el’affiare!!
on May 30th, 2010 at 1:14 pm
There’s a lot of sick individuals out there. I’m not speaking of the colonel and his wife. All you commentators – get your lurid imaginations under control!
on June 13th, 2010 at 4:24 pm
Some of you know Mary Diwell as the opinionated voice on the Russell Williams’ posts. While others were inclined to play super-sleuths, Mary has been quite critical of the “looky loo” mentality; expressing that we should all wake up and get a life.
I struck up a friendship with Mary because I saw the merit in her argument. While biding my time here at WKT? I often post about other cases, and I often get caught up in them. But like Mary, I really believe that this is a warped obsession. In passing a car crush it is oftentimes hard to avert our eyes, but lest we gaze too long it is always good to heed the words of the German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche:
“He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster.
And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”
I do not wish to be a hypocrite. I have many times watched “Unsolved Mysteries”, CSI. and any number of Discovery Channel forensic dissections that are lurid and fascinating. But I would emphasize that all my car-crash gawking came LONG BEFORE I had an inkling that my sister was a victim of murder. When that horrific reality took hold I abandoned television altogether, and became addicted to facts. To anyone who derives pleasure from unsolved crimes, a word of caution: unless you have been touched with such tragedy, go back to enjoying your lives… you have no business here.
As you might have now guessed, I have invited Mary Diwell to post some comments here about our public obsession with horror, tragedy and violence. Here is her piece. Thank you Mary:
“The recent arrest of Colonel Russell Williams on sexually motivated murder charges brings to mind the notion of those who derive pleasure from the misfortunes of others. In this case, a voracious media and ignorant on-line commentators have had a field day.
Surely this is a human tragedy for all concerned – firstly for the victims and their families but also for the colonel and his family particularly his wife. However, what do we see? A media attributing every rape and murder in Canada to the colonel and a public baying for the blood of both them. Particularly disturbing to me is the fury over the defence of property transfers in order to financially protect Ms. Harriman. Woman who probably call themselves feminists are baying for this woman’s blood – supposedly in support of the women who were the colonel’s victims.
We all should be silent in pity for those who are victims of violent crime. The pain of their families can only be imagined by those of us who have no experience of such horror and special concern should be for the families for whom there is no closure because the killer has never been found. The anguish is there forever.
And then there is the hypocrisy in the case of Colonel Williams. The media was ever so quiet and respectful when the bodies of three teenage girls and an older woman were pulled from the Rideau Canal last summer – murdered by their own family. Political correctness demanded a muted response to such barbarism because it was a “cultural” matter. The colonel and his wife have no such excuse. Its been open season on them.
The sometimes tragedy of the human condition should be considered by all those who pass judgement on others and a humble respect given in its place.”
on June 22nd, 2010 at 6:47 pm
Having served 34 years in the RCN and Canadian Air Force, I cannot believe that Williams’ supervisors did not notice something badly out of place about him. If they didn’t, they weren’t doing their job as required of senior officers. They should be held accountable for dereliction of duty. That is the trouble with the Officer Corps – they are under an erroneous belief that officers, especially senior officers are honourable and honest people – nothing could be farther from the truth – as a Company Master Warrant Officer, I found most of the officers disgusting and undeserving of leadership roles.
on June 25th, 2010 at 12:30 pm
Hymie, I was a MCPL and I totally agree. We had a creep major who tried to get my section to come to his cottage near Ottawa to lay paving stones on weekends. I told him to poke it or chage me. He never brought that up again. Just goes to show the brass may be shiny, but they dont always get respected because of their low ethical standards.Actually, this Col Williams doesn’t come as a surprise to me, as far as unethical behaviour goes, he is likely just the tip of the officer corps ice-berg.