Disclaimer: The article contains mentions of murder and sexual assault. Reader discretion is advised.
In August 1983, authorities discovered the dead body of a woman named Susan Tice in her Toronto home. The culprit killed the mother of four in her bed. Four months later, a 22-year-old aspiring fashion designer, Erin Gilmour, was murdered just a few miles away from Tice’s residence. The brutal murder cases will feature in this week’s episode of Dateline NBC. It will uncover how the police apprehended Joseph George Sutherland for the slayings. The episode will air on the network on Friday, April 19, at 9 p.m. ET.
For decades, authorities continued their search for the culprit, but it wasn’t until 2008 that they made a breakthrough through DNA technology. According to the Toronto Star, investigators believed only one man was responsible for both crimes. However, they were unable to confirm his identity. Years later, with more advanced DNA technology, authorities eventually discovered the killer’s identity and arrested Joseph George Sutherland for the slayings of Erin Gilmour and Susan Tice.
Sutherland pleaded guilty to all the charges against him. In March 2024, a report suggested that Joseph George Sutherland forgot about the slayings. Citing a Gladue Report, The Globe and Mail noted that Sutherland, who is still alive, “erased” his crimes from his mind.
How many years of sentence did Sutherland receive?
Upon his arrest, Joseph George Sutherland pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder. Per Global News, the court sentenced him to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 21 years. Before sentencing, the family members of the victims addressed the killer and noted that his time in the outside world was over. Susan Tice’s son said, “You murdered and assaulted two wonderful women and went on to live your life. Your free life is done.” The family members of the victims also thanked the authorities for providing them with closure.
Meanwhile, Joseph George Sutherland asked for forgiveness and noted that he had embarked on a spiritual journey before his arrest. He told the court, “Although I didn’t know their names when I entered the spirit world, they knew me. I asked forgiveness from Susan Tice and I found her spirit warm and kind. She forgave me. In the next spirit quest, I asked for forgiveness from Erin Gilmour. I found her spirit young and angry. She did not forgive me.”
Joseph George Sutherland is currently in prison.
