Shedden massacre

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The Shedden Massacre involved the killing of eight men, whose bodies were found in a farmer's field five kilometres northKemick, April, ["Despite their belief the crime was committed by outsiders, area residents are nervous."], London Free Press (Ontario), April 9, 2006 of Shedden, a hamlet in the Canadian province of Ontario, on 8 April 2006. Four vehicles, with the bodies inside, were first discovered by a farmer.["8 bodies found on Ontario farm's field"], CBC News, April 8, 2006. The day after the bodies were discovered, five people, including one member of the Bandidos biker gang, were arrested for the murders. The Ontario Provincial Police said the killings were an isolated event and there were no fears for the safety of local residents.

Victims

On April 10, the victims were all confirmed to have been shot and identified as follows:["Five charged in biker gang killings"], CBC News, April 10, 2006.

George Jesso, 52, of Toronto
George Kiriakis, 28, of Toronto
Luis Manny Raposo, 41, of Toronto
Francesco Salerajno, 43, of Oakville
John Muscedere, 48, of Chatham
Paul Sinopoli, 30, of Sutton
Jamie Flanz, 37, of Keswick
Michael Trotta, 31, of Mississauga

All but Flanz and Trotta were described as full members of the Bandidos biker gang; Muscedere was believed to be the president of the Bandidos in Canada. ["Ontario mass murder: a timeline"], CBC News, April 10, 2006. The road upon which the vehicles were found was a short distance from an exit off Highway 401, North America's busiest freeway. The bodies were discovered in a "silver 2001 Volkswagen Golf, a grey 2003 Infiniti SUV, a grey Pontiac Grand Prix and a green Chevrolet Silverado tow truck operated by Superior Towing of Etobicoke."Van Rijn, Nicolaas, et al; ["Bikers linked to murders"], Toronto Star, April 10, 2006.

Suspects

Wayne Kellestine protests against the London, Ontario gay pride parade in 2005.

Wayne Kellestine protests against the London, Ontario gay pride parade in 2005.

On April 10, police arrested five people in connection with the killings, which they referred to as an "internal cleansing" of the Bandidos biker gang. Under arrest and charged with first degree murder are:

Wayne Kellestine, 56, of Dutton
Eric Niessen, 45, of Monkton
Kerry Morris, 46, of Monkton
Frank Mather, 32, of Dutton
Brett Gardiner, 21, of no known address

Kellestine is said to be a full member of the gang and resides a few kilometres from the crime scene; all suspects were arrested at that residence. Morris is the lone female charged.

The surrounding Elgin County has a history of biker gang activity, though not of major crime. ["Victims in multiple slaying came from Toronto area"], CBC News, April 9, 2006.Mandel, Michele, ["Mass murder at our doorstep"], London Free Press (Ontario), April 9, 2006 Several days after the murders, Sun Media reported that further arrests may be pending.Boland, Jack,["More arrests?"], London Free Press (Ontario), April 14, 2006

On May 6, police announced that all murder charges against Niessen and Morris were dropped. The two were instead charged with eight counts of being accessories after the fact.[Police drop murder charges against two in biker deaths"], CBC News, May 6, 2006.

On June 16, police in Winnipeg arrested three additional men, all from that city, in connection with the killings:["3 Winnipeg men charged in Bandidos massacre"], CBC News, June 16, 2006

Dwight Mushey, 36
Marcello Aravena, 30
Michael Sandham, 36

Police said that Sandham and Mushey were full members of the gang, and Aravena was a prospective member. Sandham, who is also believed to be the leader of the Winnipeg Bandidos chapter, is a former police officer. In 2002, he was suspended from the force in the Winnipeg-area community of East St. Paul and then resigned. Sources told CBC News that Winnipeg police provided his force with photos of him attending a Bandidos function while on leave from work.

The three were delivered into OPP custody and transported to St. Thomas, Ontario for a court appearance that afternoon. All were charged with eight counts of first-degree murder. A woman, whom police refused to identify, was also arrested, but has not been charged. Police also seized an SUV for forensic testing in Ontario.

References

["Five held for Canada biker deaths."], BBC News, April 10, 2006
[Ontario mass murder: a timeline] from CBC (updated regularly)

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