11. Plant Pot Killer: How do our biases blind us?

People have been going missing from Toronto’s Gay Village since the 70s.

The gay community claims that the police are not taking the disappearances seriously enough.

The pieces start to fall into place when one man goes missing and leaves a diary entry for that day saying “Bruce”. Police survey a Bruce McArther, a gardener and mall Santa. When they see him enter his flat with another man, they break the door down only to find a man handcuffed to his bed. On this episode of Bad People, presenters Julia Shaw and Sofie Hagen uncover why there are very few serial killers over the age of 40, and why people from vulnerable populations are less likely to be reported missing.

Warning: This episode contains strong language and references to sexual violence, and murder.

Archive credits: This episode includes audio from CBC, Global News and W5.

Presenters: Dr. Julia Shaw and Sofie Hagen Producer: Caroline Steel Assistant Producer: Simona Rata Music: Matt Chandler Series Editor: Rami Tzabar

Commissioning Producer: Hannah Rose Commissioning Executive: Dylan Haskins Commissioning Editor: Jason Phipps

Bad People is a BBC Audio Science Production for BBC Sounds

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