http://www.canoe.ca/CNEWSFeatures9909/01_west.html


This article is about the guy suspected in the Blind River killings. Although it doesn't mention Jacqueline McAllister, it shows pictures of the suspect, and also shows the police sketches. Just thought I'd share what I found....!:wave:

Make sure you check out the guy's eyes in the picture where he is in his police uniform. The eyes are just as Gordon McAllister described on Unsolved Mysteries. He would look pretty darn close to that SPOOKY computer model if he took off his uniform and put on a blonde wig....EERIE!!

I remember the 3D image they generated of the suspect based on the eyewitness description. West is the exact image of the suspect.

It does mention Jackie McAllister! This guy did it! I am so glad it seems they have apprehended this suspect! This article is fantastic thanks for posting it!

Sorry I keep responding to old posts, but...is the Blind River Killings on the bizarre murders dvd?

No, unfortunately it is not.

I just got off the phone with a Ontario Provincal Police officer. The Blind River Killing suspect has not been caught. It has been said that Ronald Glenn West commited these murders. But as of 3-27-07 there is still a $50 000 CAD reward for the murderer. I will post further updates as I get them! Ronald West was convicted of 2 sex slayings in Toronto that occured in 1970. The suspect in Blind River was about 30 years of age. That would mean Ronald West was a murderer at the age of 9?

I just got off the phone with a Ontario Provincal Police officer. The Blind River Killing suspect has not been caught. It has been said that Ronald Glenn West commited these murders. But as of 3-27-07 there is still a $50 000 CAD reward for the murderer. I will post further updates as I get them! Ronald West was convicted of 2 sex slayings in Toronto that occured in 1970. The suspect in Blind River was about 30 years of age. That would mean Ronald West was a murderer at the age of 9?

According to published reports, Ronald Glenn West was born in 1947. This means he turned 23 in 1970 (the year in which he murdered two women), and that he turned 44 in 1991 (the year in which the Blind River rest stop killings occurred). If West is the Blind River rest stop killer, then Gord McAllister may very well have erroneously guessed the killer's age. That is understandable, since many thirtysomethings are mistaken for fortysomethings and vice versa; when a suspect's age is being described, it is typically a guess based on how old or young they appeared to be. Was the Blind River rest stop killer 30 years old when he killed Jackie McAllister and Brian Major in June of 1991? Only the killer himself knows for sure.

That maybe a very good presumption, that Gord McAllister could have guessed the wrong age. But never the less the suspect is still on the lam. The constable said he would check out the Ronald West theory. I mean if Ronald West did these crimes do you not think Gord McAllister could have identfied him? West first came up as a suspect in 1999. The main reason he is suspect is cause the guns used in the 1970 murders were the same type as the 1991 crime. Anybody know where to get a picture of Ronald West?

I just looked at the Biography channel web site and it says he is being featured on a show called Crime Stories tomorrow at 7pm. april 1.

Hello, I just got off the phone with an O.P.P. officer today, and he did confirm this suspect is on the lam. Ronald Glenn West is not the killer. This man is on the loose! So dont be stoping by rest stops, this SOB could be there. Scary thought after 16 years he still has avoided capture!

It does mention Jackie McAllister! This guy did it! I am so glad it seems they have apprehended this suspect! This article is fantastic thanks for posting it!

Unfortunately, I do not believe West was thee perpetrator of the murders committed at the Blind River Rest Stop in 1991. Considering how much this case on Unsolved Mysteries scared me, I wish I could assure myself it was Ronald Glenn West, but the psychological and criminological profiles do not match.

Please correct me if any of my details (especially dates) are wrong, although it is likely that despite what you say, my opinion will mostly remain the same.


Consider this:

-Most violent criminals, such as West, continue committing criminal acts until being prevented to (i.e. being caught). Yet, if West committed the BRRS murders, he had waited over 20 years to commit a crime since his first crimes.

-The 1970 slayings of the Toronto women were very, very premeditated and methodical. West thoroughly planned these assaults, rapes and murders. Meanwhile, the BRRS murders were incredibly random, and unpremeditated; the type of behavior that normally indicates a psychotic break or schizophrenia.

-In the '70 cases, West did not just murder, but also sexually assaulted. Why did he not murder Gord McAllister and then sexually assault Jackie before murdering her?

-As far as I know, no record of West having owned/operated a blue van has ever been found.



I wish West did it, but it just seems to me as if the CRMP knew that West, an incredibly violent murderer, lived in the Blind River area at the time, and needed a bit of a scapegoat to calm the local hysteria.

Thoughts?

I dont know how West became a suspect of the Blind River Stop Killings, but IMO these reasons arent enough to rule him out as a suspect:


-Most violent criminals, such as West, continue committing criminal acts until being prevented to (i.e. being caught). Yet, if West committed the BRRS murders, he had waited over 20 years to commit a crime since his first crimes.

---How do we know he didnt continue killing all those years?, :confused:

-The 1970 slayings of the Toronto women were very, very premeditated and methodical. West thoroughly planned these assaults, rapes and murders. Meanwhile, the BRRS murders were incredibly random, and unpremeditated; the type of behavior that normally indicates a psychotic break or schizophrenia.

---A 'random' killing is not always associated with a psychotic break of any kind, sometimes all it takes is proper conditions for a killing, like a quiet lonely place where the killer feels safe to do his deeds.


-In the '70 cases, West did not just murder, but also sexually assaulted. Why did he not murder Gord McAllister and then sexually assault Jackie before murdering her?

---Most of sex murderers has a fetish of some kind that defines his potencial victims. Maybe he wasnt attracted to Ms. McAllister due to her age.


-As far as I know, no record of West having owned/operated a blue van has ever been found.

---Maybe it was robbed

Thats just my opinion, they must have better information about West to clear him out of this case.

I'm not sure if it was ever specified, but did Gordon Mcallister confirm whether the suspect had an American or Canadian accent?

I'm not sure if it was ever specified, but did Gordon Mcallister confirm whether the suspect had an American or Canadian accent?

The official unsolved site doesn't say... I'm going to check another source.


Edit: Okay, the McAllisters were from Lindsay, Ontario. Gord McAllister spoke with barely a Canadian, accent, imo. You sort of really had to pay attention to catch it. In the re-enactment, the perp didn't really say enough for me to determine what kind of accent he had. But that was just an actor. Gord never mentioned if the perp spoke with an american or canadian accent.

Personally, I thought that the composite looked a bit like Oba Chandler, although this was nothing like his regular MO. The canadian rest stop killings happend in 1991, about a year before Oba Chandler was arrested for the Rogers murders of 1989.

It's interesting to note that the authorities could not account for Oba Chandler's whereabouts from 1990 through the end of Septemeber 1991. The rest stop killings happened in June 1991, well before the authorities had located him.

IMO, his 1979 mugshot looks like the rest stop killer composite from 12 years later. But he has worn his hair long and short over the years. I don't know what he looked like in 1991. During this time, authorities tracked him from FL to OH, and at one point during this time frame, they thought he was in toronto, which is an hour and a half from lindsay, ontario, where the McAllister's lived. I can't find any details on exactly where the Blind River Rest Stop is, except that the Blind River is in the province of Ontario, which is pretty large.

Anway, the similarities I see are the chin, shape of the shadow area under the lower lip, forehead, area of the upper lip under the nose and lip, general face shape, flatness of the cheeks, almost exact hair style and color of the 1979 mug shot, and so on.



Link to Oba Chandler pics: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www2.sptimes.com/Angels_Demons/graphics/Chandler_wedding.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www2.sptimes.com/Angels_Demons/silver.3.html&usg=__WYGxuLxhYqlx5OEQr7hR9Zso-D8=&h=312&w=185&sz=11&hl=en&start=1&tbnid=U1nYfu506eyNvM:&tbnh=117&tbnw=69&prev=/images%3Fq%3Doba%2Bchandler%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG

Just had to bump this thread. I looked at TracyLynnS' link and yes, I think there's an eerie resemblance between Oba Chandler and the UM computed generated image of the Blind River Killer. Just look at the first photograph of Oba on the lower left in that link. Creepy...:eek:



Although, it seems the evidence points more towards Ronald West. Nothing, however, is certain.

Very intriguing theory, Tracy. But for two reasons I am inclined to disagree.

1. The m.o. is too different.

2. Ronald Glenn West is a much more likely suspect.

http://www2.sptimes.com/Angels_Demons/graphics/Chandler_mug_79.jpg

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/customavatars/avatar42791_4.gif

Wow, very close IMO

I can see the resemblance...but there is no doubt (in my mind) that Ronald Glenn West did it...

I'm curious if Gord is still alive? I read somewhere he was in his late 50's/early 60's back then.

I'm curious if Gord is still alive? I read somewhere he was in his late 50's/early 60's back then.
Pretty sure that Gord died quite a few years ago. I remember seeing that somewhere on this board.

I'm curious if Gord is still alive? I read somewhere he was in his late 50's/early 60's back then.


Unfortunately, Gord passed away in 1998. He is now reunited with his wife.

That picture of Oba Chandler was from the mid 1970's. By the late 1980's, early 1990's, Oba had short hair and in fact was going bald.

http://www.unsolvedcanada.ca/index.php?topic=2097.0

Interesting story!

http://www.unsolvedcanada.ca/index.php?topic=2097.0

Interesting story!

God...that is a terrifying story. I can't believe they never reported it. I get that the chances are slim that police would have found the man, but still!

It reminds me of something that happened the other day. I had to deposit a check at an ATM, so I pulled into the bank parking lot. It was after dark but only about 7pm. There was a single car in the parking lot with a man just sitting in it by himself, watching me. Something told me to keep driving, so I did. It wasn't a big deal. This story just reminds me that it's never silly to follow my instincts. Better safe than sorry.

It is so sad that the wife was killed and the husband injured on my birthday because I was born June 28,1978.

The official unsolved site doesn't say... I'm going to check another source.


Edit: Okay, the McAllisters were from Lindsay, Ontario. Gord McAllister spoke with barely a Canadian, accent, imo. You sort of really had to pay attention to catch it. In the re-enactment, the perp didn't really say enough for me to determine what kind of accent he had. But that was just an actor. Gord never mentioned if the perp spoke with an american or canadian accent.

Personally, I thought that the composite looked a bit like Oba Chandler, although this was nothing like his regular MO. The canadian rest stop killings happend in 1991, about a year before Oba Chandler was arrested for the Rogers murders of 1989.

It's interesting to note that the authorities could not account for Oba Chandler's whereabouts from 1990 through the end of Septemeber 1991. The rest stop killings happened in June 1991, well before the authorities had located him.

IMO, his 1979 mugshot looks like the rest stop killer composite from 12 years later. But he has worn his hair long and short over the years. I don't know what he looked like in 1991. During this time, authorities tracked him from FL to OH, and at one point during this time frame, they thought he was in toronto, which is an hour and a half from lindsay, ontario, where the McAllister's lived. I can't find any details on exactly where the Blind River Rest Stop is, except that the Blind River is in the province of Ontario, which is pretty large.

Anway, the similarities I see are the chin, shape of the shadow area under the lower lip, forehead, area of the upper lip under the nose and lip, general face shape, flatness of the cheeks, almost exact hair style and color of the 1979 mug shot, and so on.



Link to Oba Chandler pics: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www2.sptimes.com/Angels_Demons/graphics/Chandler_wedding.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www2.sptimes.com/Angels_Demons/silver.3.html&usg=__WYGxuLxhYqlx5OEQr7hR9Zso-D8=&h=312&w=185&sz=11&hl=en&start=1&tbnid=U1nYfu506eyNvM:&tbnh=117&tbnw=69&prev=/images%3Fq%3Doba%2Bchandler%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG

Not sure where you are from, OP, but I live three hours from Canada,I have heard a number of Canadian accents and Gord McAllister sounds very "Canadian" to me.

One of the weapons the assailant used was a magazine fed .22 rifle that would have ejected its brass. Why haven't DNA tests been done on the spent shell casings to determine if Chandler is the killer?

Also, I'm not convinced that the assailant was an American. An American would have preferred, and probably used, a handgun in this type of situation. If not a handgun, then a pump shotgun would have been a suitable substitute.

I have yet to hear of another case where two long guns were used akimbo in this type of assault/murder, although that could simply mean that I haven't checked online as thoroughly as possible.

Not sure where you are from, OP, but I live three hours from Canada,I have heard a number of Canadian accents and Gord McAllister sounds very "Canadian" to me.

I'm Canadian, from Quebec actually, but McCallister's accent's definitely Canadian.


One of the weapons the assailant used was a magazine fed .22 rifle that would have ejected its brass. Why haven't DNA tests been done on the spent shell casings to determine if Chandler is the killer?

DNA testing on what? Shell casings? Police use hair, blood, and semen and saliva to find DNA, so I doubt any of these would be found on shell casings. Besides, it's of no use if the guy's DNA isn't on file in police records. And that is if they've even have found usable DNA on the crime scene.

Me thinks the reason it stalls on that part is because not enough DNA evidence of the Blind River Killer has been extracted from the crime scene.



Also, I'm not convinced that the assailant was an American. An American would have preferred, and probably used, a handgun in this type of situation. If not a handgun, then a pump shotgun would have been a suitable substitute.

Why, Americans don't use rifles and shotguns when doing murders and robberies? Canadians are very capable of using handguns as well.

I'm Canadian, from Quebec actually, but McCallister's accent's definitely Canadian.



DNA testing on what? Shell casings? Police use hair, blood, and semen and saliva to find DNA, so I doubt any of these would be found on shell casings. Besides, it's of no use if the guy's DNA isn't on file in police records. And that is if they've even have found usable DNA on the crime scene.

Me thinks the reason it stalls on that part is because not enough DNA evidence of the Blind River Killer has been extracted from the crime scene.




Why, Americans don't use rifles and shotguns when doing murders and robberies? Canadians are very capable of using handguns as well.

1) Thank you for confirming the what we heard definitely sounds as if it was a Canadian accent.

2) There are skin cells on cartridges from when people load weapons. You can test the cartridges to see if those skin cells are there and if they are and they have not degraded since they were collected, they should have a usable source of DNA. Several other cases have been solved by DNA found on shell casings.

Even if they didn't have a DNA sample available, the FBI keeps a national database that they could compare samples to in case this killer has had his DNA collected after an arrest.

3) Americans very rarely use long guns to commit crimes, particularly robberies. Most armed robberies committed by Americans are committed using handguns. Perhaps it's a cultural thing; perhaps it has to do with the availability of handguns in the US.

Additionally, most firearm related murders in the United States are caused by people using handguns as opposed to long guns.I'm aware that Canadians are capable of using handguns; I'm also aware of the fact that handguns are stringently regulated in Canada, making it difficult to obtain them.

Not saying that the killer could not have been an American. It just seems very unlikely, given that Americans "prefer" if you will, to use handguns to commit crimes.

Oba Chandler is not the killer, people - for one thing, Chandler would have been nearly bald in 1991.

As I keep saying, RONALD GLENN WEST. So much circumstantial evidence it's unbelievable!

hello everyone. i have been reading your posts on this site and i must assure you all that Ronald West did indeed commit the killings at the rest stop outside of Blind River. How do i know? unfortunatly i am a distant relative of his. I beleive he is my third cousin of some sort or another? anywho i grew up in Blind River and i in fact hung out with his 2 sons during the time the family lived there. It bothers me now knowing that i was in the same house as a man who killed at LEAST 5 people but i know you can't change the past.

Being that i am only 26 years old now i barely remember any specific details about the interior of the house (i was in the neighbourhood of 7 or 8 when i hung around there) but i do remember there was always a blue van parked in the rear of the house. i could tell you all exactly where that house is as it still stands today.

If you wish to see the park where the murders happened for yourself you can find it on google maps. Blind River is right on Lake Huron between Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury. If you zoom in almost exactly between them you will find blind river then just follow highway 17 WEST you will see an island called Woman Island it is just past that on the street view.

the house they lived in is at 90 woodward Ave.

hello everyone. i have been reading your posts on this site and i must assure you all that Ronald West did indeed commit the killings at the rest stop outside of Blind River. How do i know? unfortunatly i am a distant relative of his. I beleive he is my third cousin of some sort or another? anywho i grew up in Blind River and i in fact hung out with his 2 sons during the time the family lived there. It bothers me now knowing that i was in the same house as a man who killed at LEAST 5 people but i know you can't change the past.

Being that i am only 26 years old now i barely remember any specific details about the interior of the house (i was in the neighbourhood of 7 or 8 when i hung around there) but i do remember there was always a blue van parked in the rear of the house. i could tell you all exactly where that house is as it still stands today.

If you wish to see the park where the murders happened for yourself you can find it on google maps. Blind River is right on Lake Huron between Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury. If you zoom in almost exactly between them you will find blind river then just follow highway 17 WEST you will see an island called Woman Island it is just past that on the street view.

the house they lived in is at 90 woodward Ave.

Thanks for posting. Question for you, how do you know for a fact that he killed them? He has not confessed nor has any news broke of him being charged. Did he tell his sons and they told you? If so, I would go to the police to report this so the family can have some closure.

hello everyone. i have been reading your posts on this site and i must assure you all that Ronald West did indeed commit the killings at the rest stop outside of Blind River. How do i know? unfortunatly i am a distant relative of his. I beleive he is my third cousin of some sort or another? anywho i grew up in Blind River and i in fact hung out with his 2 sons during the time the family lived there. It bothers me now knowing that i was in the same house as a man who killed at LEAST 5 people but i know you can't change the past.

Being that i am only 26 years old now i barely remember any specific details about the interior of the house (i was in the neighbourhood of 7 or 8 when i hung around there) but i do remember there was always a blue van parked in the rear of the house. i could tell you all exactly where that house is as it still stands today.

If you wish to see the park where the murders happened for yourself you can find it on google maps. Blind River is right on Lake Huron between Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury. If you zoom in almost exactly between them you will find blind river then just follow highway 17 WEST you will see an island called Woman Island it is just past that on the street view.

the house they lived in is at 90 woodward Ave.


Yes, if you know FOR SURE he did this, it's time to tell the police and get this case cleared up once and for all.

Yes, if you know FOR SURE he did this, it's time to tell the police and get this case cleared up once and for all.

Although Ronald Glen West seems like a good suspect, it still bothers me a little that from everything I've read the police don't seem to consider him one. Sometimes you think there has to be a reason.

Its to bad Gord McAllister couldn't have hung on one more year and possibly identified West when he was caught.

Although Ronald Glen West seems like a good suspect, it still bothers me a little that from everything I've read the police don't seem to consider him one. Sometimes you think there has to be a reason.

Its to bad Gord McAllister couldn't have hung on one more year and possibly identified West when he was caught.

Well he's definitely not going to admit too it, it's going to take someone who knows something about him.

i actually don't know (as in don't have the evidence or confession) but i do know that his sons are 100% sure he did it....after he was arrested for the other muders the boys were put into foster care and moved to the toronto area and i have not heard from them since then. although i have tried to find them

Gord and Jackie McAllister were my aunt and uncle. I am writing this post to share that my Uncle Gord passed away on Tuesday, Feb 14, 2012 after a short illness.

I read some past post that talked about him passing away in 1998. That is simply untrue. It is true that he is now reunited with my Auntie.

What is sad is that he was never able to see the killer come to justice. Whether it be Ronald West who was a suspect or someone else, justice needs to be served for our family and the Major family. It is almost 21 years and we never forget.

Someone out there has information. Please don't let anymore time pass. Please contact the OPP and share what you know.

He was a great man and she was a great woman. They deserve having the person that did this stand trial for this. Help them rest in peace.

Gord and Jackie McAllister were my aunt and uncle. I am writing this post to share that my Uncle Gord passed away on Tuesday, Feb 14, 2012 after a short illness.

I read some past post that talked about him passing away in 1998. That is simply untrue. It is true that he is now reunited with my Auntie.

What is sad is that he was never able to see the killer come to justice. Whether it be Ronald West who was a suspect or someone else, justice needs to be served for our family and the Major family. It is almost 21 years and we never forget.

Someone out there has information. Please don't let anymore time pass. Please contact the OPP and share what you know.

He was a great man and she was a great woman. They deserve having the person that did this stand trial for this. Help them rest in peace.

Did your uncle ever identify Ronald West as the attacker/murderer?

Gord and Jackie McAllister were my aunt and uncle. I am writing this post to share that my Uncle Gord passed away on Tuesday, Feb 14, 2012 after a short illness.

I read some past post that talked about him passing away in 1998. That is simply untrue. It is true that he is now reunited with my Auntie.

What is sad is that he was never able to see the killer come to justice. Whether it be Ronald West who was a suspect or someone else, justice needs to be served for our family and the Major family. It is almost 21 years and we never forget.

Someone out there has information. Please don't let anymore time pass. Please contact the OPP and share what you know.

He was a great man and she was a great woman. They deserve having the person that did this stand trial for this. Help them rest in peace.

Please accept my condolences for your loss. As you can probably tell, everyone in this forum feels very passionately about the need to solve your aunt's murder. And we all felt great affection and sadness for Gord, may he rest in peace.

I think it's legit.

Here's an online obituary:

http://obitsforlife.com/obituary/476670/McAllister-Gordon.php

And here's the website for the funeral home:

http://www.mackeys.ca/

Mr. McAllister's memorial page at the funeral home site:

http://mackeyfuneralhome.frontrunnerpro.com/runtime/8951/runtime.php?SiteId=8951&NavigatorId=80839&op=moreinfo&viewOpt=dpaneOnly&ItemId=1142343

How did we end up getting the wrong info that said Mr. McAllister passed away so long ago?

I'm glad it was wrong. It looks like he got to live into his old age, being 84 at the time of his death, and was happily remarried. He lived long enough to enjoy his grandchildren and even his great-grandchildren. That's wonderful!

He seemed like such a genuinely nice man. I'm so happy that he was able to move forward with his life after that terrible night when his wife and Mr. Major were killed. I think he was a very caring person and likely shared wonderful stories about Mrs. McAllister with their grandkids and kept her memory alive for them.

This guy is a troll. He has a YT account under the name RIPUncleGord that was created in Aug of 2011. His uncle just passed away yet he has a channel remembering him from 2011???

Obvious troll is obvious

Even if he is not who he says, which I'm not at all implying, he is not "an obvious troll." Nothing he said was intended to hijack the thread nor was inflammatory or provocative. He gave relevant information and hoped that justice be done. If that makes a person a troll, we all are.

Well I'll retract my previous statement based on the circumstances and give my condolences to the family. It just struck me as odd that I saw that same username under the Blind River Murders segment witch has been getting spammed with troll comments lately. I'll just leave it at though and apologize if anyone was offended.

How weird that we've spent the last few years thinking Gord had passed away nearly 2 decades ago. Someone posted false info in the death thread. I guess we all assumed he died of a broken heart within a couple years of Jackie's murder.

How weird that we've spent the last few years thinking Gord had passed away nearly 2 decades ago. Someone posted false info in the death thread. I guess we all assumed he died of a broken heart within a couple years of Jackie's murder.

It was easy to believe since on the broadcast Gord seemed extremely heartsick, with good reason. He seemed indifferent to whether he lived or died.

But apparently he decided that he survived the attack for a reason and found the strength to carry on. Good for him.

I'm still curious though if he ever was asked if Ronald West was the man who shot him and his wife.

Also forgotten in all this is that there was another victim to, I can't remember the other guy's name but he to had a family.

Also forgotten in all this is that there was another victim to, I can't remember the other guy's name but he to had a family.

Brian Major who had a wife and a son at the time of his murder. The son would be in his late 20's today.

This guy is a troll. He has a YT account under the name RIPUncleGord that was created in Aug of 2011. His uncle just passed away yet he has a channel remembering him from 2011???

Obvious troll is obvious
To JR White. I have no idea what you are referring to with me being a troll. Nor do I know why a date of 2011 would be attributed to me setting up the account.

Two days after my Uncle Gord passed I was searching on the net for the video from Unsolved Mysteries because I wanted to post it on my personal Facebook page. In the process of I posted a note elsewhere and was contacted by someone stating that in this thread there was incorrect posting regarding the date of my uncle's death. Thus I set up an account so I was able to make a post to correct this information.


I am not about to post personal information in an online forum nor am I about to use my personal details. Following this tragedy many in our family, especially my Aunt's siblings lived in fear because this was never solved.

With events that followed, it also created many difficulties within the family so posting personal details is totally inappropriate.

If you wish to engage in conversation regarding my aunt's murder and the attempted murder of my uncle I am happy to do that. Send my your email address and when I can confirm who you are I will happily talk openly as is is my prayer and desire that whoever did this comes to justice.

Did your uncle ever identify Ronald West as the attacker/murderer?
990 UM fan - I cannot answer whether Uncle Gord was ever asked that directly. My assumption would be yes he was. The investigation was rarely talked about among family and it was not something I ever sat across the table and talked to him about. After Aunt Jackie was murdered, I only recall one conversation with my Uncle where I asked questions. I also lived in BC and was either in Coboconk or Lindsay then.

I can say that Ronald West was identified as a suspect and most of the family including my mom. believed he was involved. The original sketch that was done, the 3D rendition and many of the things that happened as part of the robbery, were the same as Ronald West had done in other crimes. From information I know, there were patterns of behavior that were consistent which included stealing and melting down jewelry at his house.

I am going from memory here but if I recall correctly Ronald West either had been a Toronto Police officer or impersonated one when he killed the nurse he is currently in jail for.

I know that when Ronald West was arrested for the past Toronto murders, my family (my mom was Jackie's sister), really hoped they'd find evidence or new investigative technologies that could tie Ronald West the my Aunt and Uncle and Brian Major's murders.

I know for sure that at least one OPP investigator believed that West was the guy. I know that one OPP investigator camped out at the rest stop on the first couple of anniversaries as well.

I said this to someone else who believes me to be fake. I am not positing personal details to myself or anything that could lead people to find us or our family. If you have information or wish to make contact, you can get your email to me and when I can prove who you are, I will be happy to make contact. I truly know very little and likely in some cases less than many of you who have followed and discussed for many years.

My hope is that with Uncle Gord's passing that maybe new discussion can lead to tips that previously never came out. I already read how there's some who claim to be West's family and that they have details. If this is true and you have never spoken to the police, please contact the OPP. You information may seem trivial and insignificant but it could match other stuff that they already have and prove something. As well with new tips, it means the OPP continue to keep solving this a priority.

How weird that we've spent the last few years thinking Gord had passed away nearly 2 decades ago. Someone posted false info in the death thread. I guess we all assumed he died of a broken heart within a couple years of Jackie's murder.

It even said he died in 1998 on the Unsolved Mysteries Wiki once. I just went along with what was posted. I had no clue he only recently died.

Thanks so much for the info, RIPUncleGord, and my condolences about the passing of your uncle. I consider his case to be one of the saddest ever profiled on UM, but I'm glad to hear that he was able to live in relative happiness for 20 more years after that horrifying ordeal, since he looked like all the life had been drained out of him in his interview.

I can only assume that maybe some other person from Ontario named Gord McAlllister passed away in 1998, hence why the false rumour got started.

Brian Major who had a wife and a son at the time of his murder. The son would be in his late 20's today.

When I watched the case last year I was the same age as Brian was when he died and with the same small family. It was very sad. The entire case was tragic all around and seemingly a pointless crime to boot.

Because the account on the forbidden website (/user/RIPUncleGord) says date joined: Aug 15, 2011. I thought it might be an impersonator because I've read trollish comments on that video and can't stand when someone disrespects the memory of another person in that manner.

I've apologized for making that statement in an earlier post and gave my condolences to the family. It saddens me because I have admired Mr. McAllister for having the strength to make it through the years after his tragic loss and wish there were more people like him.

Can we not just call THE FORBIDDEN SITE by its real name? After all, it is the largest video-serving website on the planet. :D

I dug this up just then:

http://www.canadianobituaries.com/gordon-mcallister-obituary-february-14-2012.html

Thanks to the family member who posted the update and correction on this tragic case. I was so hoping it had been solved and hope they are now together in a better place.

It even said he died in 1998 on the Unsolved Mysteries Wiki once.

IMO, the unsolved wiki is the best resource for information on all the UM cases. The only problem is that it can be edited by anyone.

Back when it was first getting started, I wrote up info on two cases. Thor2000 is the guy who started it. He didn't have internet access at home at the time. I don't know if he has it now or not.

He compiled the information and would sometimes come here to get answers to a few questions. He was having to to to the library to go online and update as many wiki pages as he could. Unsolved243 is a member here too, and seems to work on the UM wiki as much as Thor.

There are a few other regular contributors there but I don't recognize their names. They probably visit here (who could be a UM fan and not come here!?) but just use different user names on the two sites.

I'm happy to see all of the progress and information that has been made with this case, but hopefully it will be closed one day. thank you everyone for sharing the updates as obviously this is one that we have all watched closely over the years and have wanted to help solve for both families.

so Gord McCallister only died recently? I assumed he was dead for a long time

This story totaly creeped me out when I saw it on tv. Makes you never want to set foot near a rest stop again.

Between this case and the Dexter stefonek case, I generally don't go to rest stops during late night hours.

I've never heard of anyone camping out the night in a rest stop myself. I'm not sure many rest stops are open anymore, do to lack of resources.

Was Gord ever investigated or ruled out as a suspect in the murders?

I don't think Gord was investigated because he was shot in the back with a rifle, if I remember correctly. I would argue that kinda ruled him out as a suspect. There was also an independent witness who saw someone driving out of the rest stop just after the shootings happened.

I had not seen this new theory until now. Didn't Gord and Jackie let the guy in the RV because he told them he was a police officer? My God, that's an interesting coincidence. And horribly scary.

I have always thought that West was the killer....except for one detail....Gord described the guy as "early thirties" I believe, and in 1991, Ronald Glenn West would have been 44 years old. Now granted, it was at night and probably very dark, but that was the one piece that never sat well with me. I sometimes can't tell the difference between a man who is 27 and a man who is 33, but someone in their mid-forties, I don't think I've ever thought they were 15 years younger than what they actually were. From there, that led me to my next troubling piece of info....why rape/murder in 1970 and then go dormant on those specific crimes for 20 years? Of course, I quickly answered myself because he married and had children and probably/sort-of went off the grid except for stealing and petty stuff (well, petty compared to rape/murder). Anyway, I don't know what to think. I'd like to believe it was West, and he's rotting where he should be anyway, but the age thing always troubled me a bit.

I have always thought that West was the killer....except for one detail....Gord described the guy as "early thirties" I believe, and in 1991, Ronald Glenn West would have been 44 years old. Now granted, it was at night and probably very dark, but that was the one piece that never sat well with me. I sometimes can't tell the difference between a man who is 27 and a man who is 33, but someone in their mid-forties, I don't think I've ever thought they were 15 years younger than what they actually were. From there, that led me to my next troubling piece of info....why rape/murder in 1970 and then go dormant on those specific crimes for 20 years? Of course, I quickly answered myself because he married and had children and probably/sort-of went off the grid except for stealing and petty stuff (well, petty compared to rape/murder). Anyway, I don't know what to think. I'd like to believe it was West, and he's rotting where he should be anyway, but the age thing always troubled me a bit.

Gord claimed that it was possible. I would love to know if the police actually questioned him about West. Which West will be in jail for the rest of his life, so he really has nothing to loose if he admits to be the killer. Maybe even receive privileges since he helped solve a 20 year old crime?

However, there is a ton of circumstantial evidence piled up against him. He was in possession of a blue van at the time, the weapons used was right up his alley, and his wife is on record saying that the composite looks just like her husband with a blonde wig on.

I have always thought that West was the killer....except for one detail....Gord described the guy as "early thirties" I believe, and in 1991, Ronald Glenn West would have been 44 years old. Now granted, it was at night and probably very dark, but that was the one piece that never sat well with me. I sometimes can't tell the difference between a man who is 27 and a man who is 33, but someone in their mid-forties, I don't think I've ever thought they were 15 years younger than what they actually were. From there, that led me to my next troubling piece of info....why rape/murder in 1970 and then go dormant on those specific crimes for 20 years? Of course, I quickly answered myself because he married and had children and probably/sort-of went off the grid except for stealing and petty stuff (well, petty compared to rape/murder). Anyway, I don't know what to think. I'd like to believe it was West, and he's rotting where he should be anyway, but the age thing always troubled me a bit.

I see your point. I just read this new theory, obviously, but the age discrepancies don't really bother me that much. I have quite a few friends who look much younger than their age. If he was wearing a wig as some speculate, that could also explain it. Also, given the stress of the situation, I'm surprised Gord could even put together a composite...

I just saw the Farina version and I was shocked. They actually used the date!!! They flat out said "June 28, 1991". Any reason why they would keep the date in this case but remove them in others?

Between this case and the Dexter stefonek case, I generally don't go to rest stops during late night hours.

Not to mention the Jane Boroski attack.

I don't think the age speculation is that big of a deal. He said early 30s but the composite he made never looked like a guy in his Early 30s anyway. Age guessing isn't always that easy especially under those circumstances. And there are people that look younger and older by many years.

This is one of the most disturbing cases I've ever seen, and I hope the cold blooded SOB who pulled this off will eventually be identified and brought to justice. We know that Gord recently died, and Ronald Glenn West was investigated before Gord's death.

My question is: Did the police ever show Gord a picture of Ronald Glenn West before he died to make a positive identification? Did Ronald Glenn West have long stringy blonde hair in 1991? Does anybody have a picture of RGW from that time period?

This is one of the most disturbing cases I've ever seen, and I hope the cold blooded SOB who pulled this off will eventually be identified and brought to justice. We know that Gord recently died, and Ronald Glenn West was investigated before Gord's death.

My question is: Did the police ever show Gord a picture of Ronald Glenn West before he died to make a positive identification? Did Ronald Glenn West have long stringy blonde hair in 1991? Does anybody have a picture of RGW from that time period?
Good questions I would like to know those answers as well. I think many of us would.

It may even be possible that Gord identified Ronald Glenn West in a police lineup, but the police may have chosen not to arrest him due to a lack of any hard evidence. I read somewhere that the police did in fact investigate him on this case, but came up empty handed. I think it would be pretty hard to convince a jury to convict somebody based solely on a police lineup. If there was a mountain of circumstantial evidence to go along with a positive ID, then there would be a good chance. Everything seems to point in the direction of West and maybe the police just failed to connect the dots somewhere over the passage of time? Who knows.

It may even be possible that Gord identified Ronald Glenn West in a police lineup, but the police may have chosen not to arrest him due to a lack of any hard evidence. I read somewhere that the police did in fact investigate him on this case, but came up empty handed. I think it would be pretty hard to convince a jury to convict somebody based solely on a police lineup. If there was a mountain of circumstantial evidence to go along with a positive ID, then there would be a good chance. Everything seems to point in the direction of West and maybe the police just failed to connect the dots somewhere over the passage of time? Who knows.

He's never confessed and it's possible Gord wasn't informed of West as a viable suspect. Or maybe he did, but remember Gord said he would never forget the man's face. If West was indeed interrogated and confronted with circumstantial evidence, etc. if must have not been enough for the mounties to truly keep it going.

This is one of the most disturbing cases I've ever seen

It really is. Even the actor playing the killer creeped me out.

https://i.imgflip.com/c5hbk.gif

It really is. Even the actor playing the killer creeped me out.

https://i.imgflip.com/c5hbk.gif

I don't know about anybody else, but whenever I watch Die Hard and see Alexander Godunov (a.k.a. Karl the blonde terrorist), I can't help but think of this guy.

Any new updates about this case? Do the authorities suspect West was the killer?

The Blind River Rest Stop shows how for all the silly moments on UM, they can do a damn good low-budget horror short. Seriously this case never stops getting to me, the way you can see the raw grief and pain carved into Gord’s face, especially when he says that he wished he had died that night with his wife. I always hope that in subsequent years, the poor guy was able to find some peace and happiness, even if his life would never be the same as before.

Though the part that really scares me, is the lack of a clear motive. Murder is scary, but it’s a little easier if there’s a discernible motive, like “I just wanted to rob the place, but the owner put up a greater fight than I thought,” or “I killed her because how dare she leave me for another man!”

The Blind River Rest Stop killings just seem absolutely meaningless. All the killer really gained from the crime, was the fact that he killed some people.

I'm not sure if this has been posted or not, but the actual name of the rest area is the Mississagi River Picnic Ground. Compare this (https://image.ibb.co/i8YUDb/blindriver.png) image from the police video, to the most recent (https://www.google.com/maps/@46.2154141,-83.1002604,3a,30y,219.71h,85.93t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s9co2jrKcysTdGeCLaeoW2g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) shot of the area in 2012. Not much has changed. What I find odd is that Brian Major is not mentioned all that much in the segment. The segment says he was less than a half an hour away from his home at the time. This area was desolate. Outside of needing to use the bathroom, which could have been done virtually anywhere due to the desolation of the area, I don't know why he would have stopped at this picnic area. The newspaper articles featured in the segment simply say he pulled into the area and "stumbled on the bungled robbery attempt". Based on the condition of his car shown in the segment, he had to have just pulled into the area as the gunman was fleeing. It also appears like he was headed home based on the position of his car. It doesn't really matter either way, it's just always one of those little details that has bugged me all of these years.

The case may never be solved now that Gord has passed. He died nearly six years ago this Valentine's Day. I wish that he said yes or no as to whether that cop was the killer. Maybe he couldn't remember the face that well. Shortly after he died, a relative posted on this board to say that she wasn't sure whether Gord was able to look into West as the killer. The relative said that the family lived in fear for a long time and there were other difficulties in the family.
I too wondered why Bryan Major wasn't mentioned much in the segment. I think due to time and that Jackie and Gord were terrorized prior to the shooting with the robbery. I hope that Bryan's son is well. He might be older now than his dad was when he passed.

I too wondered why Bryan Major wasn't mentioned much in the segment. I think due to time and that Jackie and Gord were terrorized prior to the shooting with the robbery. I hope that Bryan's son is well. He might be older now than his dad was when he passed.
His family may have preferred not to be interviewed. I can understand that, in such a time of grief, that they declined to be involved in the segment. Just a hunch.

Here is a writeup I did on the the Blind River murders. www.facebook.com/groups/631752367223887/permalink/855257028206752/

It's now been 30 years since this crime occurred. :(:(