“Escorts wouldn’t see him”
The Journal reports on the alleged murder-suicide in the Mile End early this month, alleging that escorts would not see the man because he was known to be aggressive, and also alleging that the woman who was killed was a sex worker from out of town who didn’t know about his reputation.
GC 12:01 on 2021-11-24 Permalink
Since I live and work in the area, I tried Googling to find out what he looked like and if I had seen him around the neighbourhood. (Yes, his photos is right there in the Journal article…but I hadn’t scrolled down.)
I stumbled across his obituary, which spoke in glowing terms about his compassion. Yes, I realize his family isn’t going to dwell on his darker side–if they even knew about it. And, I also realize it’s possible that he was kind to some and aggressive to others…but it was still jarring.
Do no articles identify the woman in the case by name? Is it because her family asked for it to be withheld? Can a family even do that, in a possible murder case? She’s the one who should be humanized here.
Kate 13:12 on 2021-11-24 Permalink
Here’s the obituary as described.
I don’t know what the journalistic policy is on names. Maybe the family did not want her name mentioned and they agreed?
One thing about living here all my life and going to school here – I seldom consult the obituaries without running across some other name I knew, or relatives thereof. This time it was my high school chemistry teacher.
GC 14:02 on 2021-11-24 Permalink
I don’t know, either. I totally get why living victims of sexual crimes and minors are not named. I thought it was pretty standard to name murder victims, however, after they’ve been identified. If they are respecting the family’s wishes in this, I guess that’s a good thing. I just didn’t know it was possible.
And, yes, I don’t generally browse the obituaries. The only time I did was when a friend went missing a couple of years back. (She wasn’t really missing in the legal sense, but no one in our friend group knew who to find her and we also didn’t know how to contact her family…) In this case, it was just one of the first hits that came up when I Googled his name.
Meezly 16:49 on 2021-11-24 Permalink
This is so sad. I’ve been going to Fairmount Bagels regularly this past year. Can’t help but wonder if there were factors that led to this tragedy.. toxic family dynamics, drug use… I guess we may find out as investigations continue.
Jeff 18:12 on 2021-11-24 Permalink
@Meezly the fact that the boy was deep into hookers, who were afraid of him, and he was STILL in line to take over the business should tell you something about the organization. Between Fairmount and St. Viateur, I don’t think I’ll be eating fresh bagels anymore.
Kate 18:22 on 2021-11-24 Permalink
Item says (translating): According to observers, he worked [at the bakery] like a madman, often more than 100 hours a week. He used drugs and sleeping pills to keep up this hectic pace of life.
I’m going to surmise that, since he was the heir to the business, people working around Shlafman were well aware he was in trouble, but felt that if they spoke up they could lose their jobs. It really is sad for an old established business like that to go sideways in this way.
Ian 18:52 on 2021-11-24 Permalink
Well at least it wasn’t a Pâtisserie de Gascogne scenario as far as the longevity of Fairmount Bagel is concerned but yeah, wow. I wonder how many of the workers there breathed a sigh of relief.
Sad that the cops don’t care about bad trick lists. Sex workers need to be protected by the law.
GC 18:57 on 2021-11-24 Permalink
Jeff, was there a recent controversy with St-Viateur Bagel that I missed or have forgotten about?
Ian 19:04 on 2021-11-24 Permalink
The owner has a bunch of AirBnbs, contributing directly to the gentrification of Mile End & the housing crisis in that sense, but other than that I haven’t heard anything either.
Tim 00:28 on 2021-11-25 Permalink
The late local CBC news just reported some details on the victim of this murder. At no point did they bother mentioning the name or picture of the suspect/murderer. It was like the perpetrator of the crime was some phantom that could not be reported upon. Of course they focused on the fact that she was a sex worker. Pure cowardice. I feel sick to my stomach.
Jeff 09:51 on 2021-11-25 Permalink
@GC not that I know of. It’s just that one evening I was walking by the bakery on the corner of St. V and Parc, and I could hear somebody getting yelled at from the street. I went inside and a little white guy was berating his Sri Lankan staff, who were just clearly upset, and just trying to work through it without saying anything. When he noticed me standing there, he was all nice; “Hello! What can I get for you?”. I asked “why are you yelling at these people?” and he said “I wasn’t yelling at them”. I told him “you can’t treat people that way”. He was clearly used to abusing people, and he was managing the place. I can’t stand bullies, and I’ve not eaten a St. Viateur bagel since.
@Ian, @Tim, yeah. Prostitution and other sex work needs to be legalized. These workers don’t belong out in the cold, so marginalized that reporting on their murder is taboo. On the other hand, maybe the family didn’t want their last name associated with a murdered prostitute. I suspect not all of the blame belongs with the media.
@Tim, is there a link the latest coverage?
Kate 11:33 on 2021-11-25 Permalink
Jeff, the link to the Journal/TVA piece I put up Wednesday is the last report I can find online.
Thank you for that dispiriting report on St‑Viateur Bagel. Anyone know if the place on Beaubien near St‑Hubert is any good?
Ian 11:50 on 2021-11-25 Permalink
On CBC radio this morning they were interviewing Sandra Wesley from Stella & they mentioned the victim by name and what town she is from, but I haven’t seen anything in print or online yet either.
CE 11:55 on 2021-11-25 Permalink
I used to go to Beaubien Bagels regularly when I lived in the area. They’re a little denser but hold up well, especially toasted. My favourite one there was the onion bagel.
GC 12:03 on 2021-11-25 Permalink
Thanks for elaborating, Jeff.
Kevin 12:24 on 2021-11-25 Permalink
I get my fix from Henri Bourassa bagels. They also make good samosas, although I liked their bhaji better before they started adding cilantro.
Joey 15:10 on 2021-11-25 Permalink
Heaven help us if we stop eating at places where management treats the staff badly!
Kate 15:52 on 2021-11-25 Permalink
Joey, I also happened to hear a boss shouting at his workers once in a bakery, and one of the women crying. I never went in there again, and it closed up not long afterwards. If the boss was doing that kind of thing a lot, I’m sure I wasn’t the only person for whom it was a good reason to stay away.
CE, I’ve never stepped into Beaubien Bagel, but a toasted bagel can be really nice. Thanks for the tip.
Jeff 19:07 on 2021-11-25 Permalink
@Joey the customers and workers can do something else. Pray for the owners
B 01:35 on 2023-08-22 Permalink
i was one of the companions that was seeing him in fact i was sleeping at his regularly and nights before the murder i had a terrible gut feeling that told me to get out, and i took a train to toronto two days later to escape, i have no words to explain my grief after this situation for the girl that this happened to and that it would have been me if i had not left in panic because of my intuition. i started having seizures shortly after the incident which i honestly believe were induced by the stress of the situation. this person was very charismatic and easily fooled me at first but thank god my instinct told me something was wrong but also just in a sense trust your instinct and gut at all costs.