Canadian serial killer Robert Pickton, infamous for his heinous crimes in the late 1990s and early 2000s, has died following an assault in prison, authorities confirmed on Friday. He was 74 years old.

Pickton, an inmate at the Port-Cartier Institution in Quebec, succumbed to injuries sustained in a May 19 assault by another inmate. Known for his gruesome murders, Pickton’s case drew international attention, highlighting the brutal realities of his actions.

A 51-year-old inmate has been detained for the assault on Pickton, police spokesman Hugues Beaulieu stated earlier this month.

Convicted in 2007, Robert “Willie” Pickton was sentenced to life imprisonment with a 25-year parole ineligibility for six counts of second-degree murder. Initially charged with the murders of 26 women, his crimes sent shockwaves across Canada and the world.

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The investigation into Pickton began over 22 years ago at his farm in Port Coquitlam, a suburb of Vancouver. This extensive probe uncovered the remains or DNA of 33 women. Pickton had boasted to an undercover officer about murdering 49 women, a claim that horrified the public. Video from a Twitter user below shows the infamous interaction between the officer and Pickton:

JUST IN: The Canadian serial killer who bragged about killing 49 women and fed their remains to his pigs was murdered in prison

Robert Pickton, 74, was critically injured after being speared in the head with a broken broom handle on May 19 and was not expected to survive

The… pic.twitter.com/OxALl2P48E

— Unlimited L's (@unlimited_ls) June 1, 2024

During his trial, a prosecution witness recounted how Pickton described strangling his victims and feeding their remains to his pigs. This revelation led health officials to issue a tainted meat advisory to neighbors who might have bought pork from Pickton’s farm, fearing it contained human remains.

Cynthia Cardinal, whose sister Georgina Papin was one of Pickton’s victims, expressed relief at his death, seeing it as a step towards healing. “This is gonna bring healing for, I won’t say all families, I’ll just say most of the families,” she said. “I can actually move on and heal and I can put this behind me.”

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The Vancouver police faced criticism for their initial handling of the cases, as many victims were sex workers or drug users, marginalized and often ignored by society.

Canada’s correctional service is conducting an investigation into the circumstances of Pickton’s assault and death. “The investigation will examine all of the facts and circumstances surrounding the assault, including whether policies and protocols were followed,” the service stated. “We are mindful that this offender’s case has had a devastating impact on communities in British Columbia and across the country, including Indigenous peoples, victims, and their families. Our thoughts are with them.”

Pickton’s confirmed victims include Sereena Abotsway, Mona Wilson, Andrea Joesbury, Brenda Ann Wolfe, Georgina Papin, and Marnie Frey.

Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc commented on Pickton’s death, stating, “At this time, my thoughts are with the families of the victims of this individual’s heinous crimes.”

Reflecting on Pickton’s sentencing, British Columbia Supreme Court Justice James Williams deemed it a “rare case that properly warrants the maximum period of parole ineligibility available to the court.”

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