The Murder of Robert LeVoir
FORT MCMURRAY, ALBERTA
This episode is a continuation of our coverage of Mr Big stings. It’s an important case that ended up in the Supreme Court of Canada.
In 2002, the family of 25-year-old DJ Robert LeVoir reported him missing after they hadn't heard from him for two weeks. But the RCMP didn't seem to be doing much to help, in fact they didn't publicly announce Robert's disappearance for 8 months.
Understandably frustrated by the lack of progress, his family had no way of knowing that an elaborate plan to discover what had happened to Robert was already being set in motion behind closed doors.
Correction note: since releasing this episode, we've been advised that Robert’s surname LeVoir is pronounced Le-Vor instead of the French pronunciation we used. We're not able to correct all the instances of this in the episode, but our sincere apologies for the error.
Credits:
Research and writing: Emily G Thompson of Morbidology Podcast
Additional research and writing, sound design: Kristi Lee
Audio editing and production: We Talk of Dreams
Production assistance: Jesse Hawke
Theme songs by We Talk of Dreams
Disclaimer voiced by the host of True
Resources and information sources
Court Documents and Legal Analysis:
https://www.scc-csc.ca/WebDocuments-DocumentsWeb/35093/FM010_Appellant_Dax-Richard-Mack.pdf
https://www.canlii.org/en/ca/scc/doc/2014/2014scc58/2014scc58.html
http://www.thecourt.ca/revisiting-mr-big-confessions-r-v-mack/
https://www.canlii.org/en/ab/abqb/doc/2007/2007abqb182/2007abqb182.html
https://www.canlii.org/en/ab/abqb/doc/2006/2006abqb324/2006abqb324.html
https://scc-csc.lexum.com/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/14355/index.do
Book:
Mr. Big: Exposing Undercover Investigations in Canada by Kouri T Keenan and Joan Brockman
News Archives:
https://globalnews.ca/news/1584465/supreme-court-upholds-fort-mcmurray-murder-conviction/
https://www.pressreader.com/canada/edmonton-journal/20080223/281887294004014
https://edmontonsun.com/2013/05/22/mr-big--brilliant-police-strategy-or-dangerous-and-coercive
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/fort-mcmurray-mr-big-sting-upheld-in-supreme-court-1.2778808
“Murder Charge Laid in Fort Mac.” Edmonton Journal, 22 April, 2004 - https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95282513/
“Ex-Roommate Charged in Ft. McMurray Slaying.” Edmonton Journal, 23 April, 2004 - https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95282896/
“Man’s Remains Found Following April 21 Arrest.” Edmonton Journal, 6 July, 2004 - https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95288190/
“Body Burned on Firestarter Logs, Trial Hears.” Edmonton Journal, 26 April, 2006 - https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95289174/
“Mistrial Declared in Murder Case.” Edmonton Journal, 9 May, 2006 - https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95290627/
“Killer DJ Appeal Turfed.” The Daily Herald-Tribune, 28 February, 2012 - https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95308076/
"MURDER CHARGE IN MISSING CASE." Edmonton Sun, The (Alberta, Canada), April 22, 2004
DUBINSKI, KATE. "MURDER CHARGE LAID IN 2002 CASE." Fort McMurray Today (Alberta, Canada), April 22, 2004
HOLLADAY, SHANE. "CHARGE DASHES DAD'S HOPES." Edmonton Sun, The (Alberta, Canada), April 23, 2004
STAFF, TODAY. "ACCUSED KILLER IN COURT." Fort McMurray Today (Alberta, Canada), April 28, 2004
STAFF, TODAY. "MISSING MAN'S BODY IDENTIFIED." Fort McMurray Today (Alberta, Canada), July 6, 2004
STAFF, TODAY. "HEARING DATES SET." Fort McMurray Today (Alberta, Canada), December 2, 2004
STAFF, TODAY. "MURDER TRIAL ORDERED." Fort McMurray Today (Alberta, Canada), May 13, 2005
MORLEY, PATRICK. "FOUR YEARS, 12 MURDERS AFTER 2 1/2 YEARS WITHOUT A HOMICIDE, WOOD BUFFALO SAW A BIG RISE IN CRIMINAL DEATHS." Fort McMurray Today (Alberta, Canada), May 27, 2005
"IN BRIEF." Daily Herald-Tribune, The (Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada), April 25, 2006
BLAIS, TONY. "DID THE DJ DO IT? ACCUSED OF KILLING ROOMMATE." Edmonton Sun, The (Alberta, Canada), April 25, 2006
"IN BRIEF." Daily Herald-Tribune, The (Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada), April 26, 2006
BLAIS, TONY. "FORT MAC DJ MURDER CASE ENDS IN MISTRIAL JUDGE CITES LEGAL ISSUES IN DISMISSING JURY." Edmonton Sun, The (Alberta, Canada), May 9, 2006
STAFF, TODAY. "Opening remarks in murder trial of Dax Richard Mack." Fort McMurray Today (Alberta, Canada), January 29, 2008
BLAIS, TONY. "Tearful accused says he's no killer." Edmonton Sun, The (Alberta, Canada), February 12, 2008
BLAIS, TONY. "Fort Mac killer gets life in jail." Edmonton Sun, The (Alberta, Canada), February 23, 2008
JACOBS, MINDELLE. "Rusing the day Police tricks, including 'Mr. Big' routine, help solve murder cases." Calgary Sun, The (Alberta, Canada), February 26, 2008
BLAIS, TONY. "New light on trial Court asked to look at 'credible' evidence." Edmonton Sun, The (Alberta, Canada), October 6, 2011
QMI AGENCY, TONY BLAIS. "Killer DJ appeal turfed." Daily Herald-Tribune, The (Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada), February 28, 2012
"High court narrows scope of allowable evidence from Mr. Big police stings." Hamilton Spectator, The: Web Edition Articles (Ontario, Canada), July 31, 2014
"High court warns against 'Mr. Big' stings, says they're presumed inadmissible." Hamilton Spectator, The: Web Edition Articles (Ontario, Canada), July 31, 2014
"Supreme Court upholds Alberta murder conviction, Mr. Big confession admissible." Waterloo Region Record: Web Edition Articles (Ontario, Canada), September 26, 2014
HUME, JESSICA. "Mr. Big plea upheld." Calgary Sun, The (Alberta, Canada), September 27, 2014
KAUTH, GLENN. "TRIAL INTO DEATH OF ROBERT LEVOIR STARTS MONDAY IN EDMONTON." Fort McMurray Today (Alberta, Canada), April 21, 2006
BLAIS, TONY. "EXPERT SAYS HE FOUND BITS OF BONE." Edmonton Sun, The (Alberta, Canada), April 26, 2006
MORRICE, JEFF. "PETER POND'S LEGEND LIVES ON." Fort McMurray Today (Alberta, Canada), June 10, 2005
Dion, Jill. "Local writer explores life of Milford-born adventurer Peter Pond." Milford Mirror: Web Edition Articles (CT), January 3, 2018
ASHCROFT, ROBERT. "SOCIETY FEARS LOSS OF HISTORIC SHIPYARDS." Fort McMurray Today (Alberta, Canada), April 17, 2001
Other Sources:
https://geramilaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/RvJeanvennebyArghavanGerami.pdf
https://www.statista.com/statistics/608354/gdp-distribution-of-alberta-canada-by-industry/
Alberta Oil Sands:
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/21112021/tar-sands-canada-oil/
https://thenarwhal.ca/tailings-ponds-leaking-alberta-oilsands/
Music Credits:
Theme Song and other original music: We Talk of Dreams
Blue Dot Sessions: Setting Pace, Sunset at Sandy Isle, Winter in Black, Minister Creek, Cold and Hard, Fissure Forming, Dawn Line Approaching, Evidence Room, Roadside Bunkhouse, Pigeon Falls, The Coal Hollow, Access Road 138