Crime Beat: Inside Canada's Most Infamous Criminal Cases

Crime Beat, a production of Global News, stands as one of Canada's most respected true crime platforms, combining investigative journalism with intimate storytelling to examine the nation's most shocking criminal cases. Available across Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and STACKTV, the series has earned critical acclaim—including the Edward R. Murrow Award in 2020 and 2023—for its unflinching examination of crimes that extended far beyond initial news headlines.

Hosted by Nancy Hixt on the podcast and Antony Robart on the television series, Crime Beat features contributions from seasoned reporters including Catherine McDonald, Caryn Lieberman, and Tracy Tong. Each episode draws on archives, family interviews, detective insights, and forensic evidence to construct a comprehensive narrative of investigation and justice.

**Survivors and Serial Predators**

One of Crime Beat's most compelling episodes, "I Survived A Serial Killer," premiered in February 2021, documenting the terrifying encounters two men had with Bruce McArthur, one of Canada's most notorious serial killers. The men, who met McArthur through online platforms, survived near-death experiences that triggered a 9-1-1 call to police. Though McArthur was initially questioned and released, the investigation would later reveal he went on to kill two more victims. Following his arrest, police uncovered disturbing details about McArthur's plans for the survivors, exposing the investigative failures that allowed a predator to remain active.

**Decades-Old Mysteries**

Another Crime Beat episode, "Closure," revisited two unsolved Toronto murders from 1983 that haunted investigators for decades. Susan Tice, a 45-year-old mother of four, was raped and stabbed to death in her home. Four months later, 22-year-old Erin Gilmour suffered an identical fate—sexually assaulted and stabbed in her own Toronto residence. The victims had no connection to each other, yet the brutally similar nature of their murders suggested a single perpetrator. For years, the cases remained cold, leaving families without answers until Crime Beat brought renewed attention to the investigation.

**Gang Violence and Cross-Border Crime**

In August 2024, Crime Beat's episode "Most Wanted" (Season 2, Episode 5) profiled Kamar Cunningham, a fugitive accused of leading an international gun trafficking ring. Cunningham was convicted of trafficking illegal firearms destined for dangerous street gangs across the Canada-U.S. border, orchestrating one of the largest cross-border gun shipments uncovered through coded communications. In a single day, Toronto Police seized dozens of illegal firearms and laid over 1,000 charges. Cunningham, however, skipped his sentencing hearing and remains at large. His crimes are directly linked to gang-related killings, including the 2005 Boxing Day shooting that killed 15-year-old Jane Kreba and the 2007 shooting that claimed the life of 11-year-old Ephraim Brown.

**Betrayal in the Shadows**

Crime Beat's "A Deadly Betrayal" (Season 5, Episode 10, May 2023) documented a chilling Calgary murder discovered on a cold January day in 2006, when a middle-aged man found a body in a downtown dumpster. The discovery unfolded during Calgary's 2006 gang war between rival criminal organizations. Led by Superintendent O'Brien, a seasoned investigator with over a decade of experience, police followed a forensic evidence trail that uncovered a web of deception. O'Brien described the case outcome as "very unusual," though the investigation ultimately devastated the victim's family with revelations that shattered their understanding of the crime.

**A Trusted Voice in True Crime**

Crime Beat distinguishes itself through meticulous research, family cooperation, and law enforcement collaboration. By moving beyond sensationalism, the series honors victims while holding the justice system accountable for both its successes and failures. For international audiences seeking authentic Canadian true crime storytelling, Crime Beat remains essential viewing.

**Sources:**

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crime-beat/id1451648664

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzF7JjxfMRg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWJY98thUeI

https://www.youtube.com/@CrimeBeatTV/playlists

https://www.stacktv.ca/show/9d4e665a-597c-11ea-8ba3-fac9e32c5e6a/