# The Absolutely F'd-Up, Weird-Ass, Sick and Horrible Case of Colonel Russell Williams **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 9, 2010, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolutely-fd-up-weird-ass-sick-and-horrible-case-of-colonel-russell-williams/528225 "2010-02-09T02:44:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolutely-fd-up-weird-ass-sick-and-horrible-case-of-colonel-russell-williams/528225/1 "2010-02-09T02:44:46Z")
Police in Ontario have arrested a man in suspicion of two slayings of young woman and a number of other home invasion and rape cases. The man is Colonel Russell Williams, commander of Canadian Forces Base Trenton in Trenton, Ontario - the largest air force base in Canada. [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/military-commander-charged-in-slayings-of-two-women/article1460393/](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/military-commander-charged-in-slayings-of-two-women/article1460393/) > **[National Post](https://nationalpost.com/?id=2536807)** > > Read latest breaking news, updates, and headlines. National Post offers information on latest national and international events & more. This has got to be the most bizarre serial killer story I’ve ever heard. Williams is not just moderately successful, he’s VERY successful - commanding a base is a big damned deal. And, I would have presumed, a way-more-than-full-time job. He was a respected member of the community, his wife works for a big charity, the works. And yet (allegedly, I know) the guy’s an out-and-out serial killer, the sort of person who is usually a hopeless loser like Richard Speck or the BTK Killer. Instead, Mr. Successful might well be Mr. Psycho Sex Killer. It’s like something out of “Dexter.” This one will have people riveted for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolutely-fd-up-weird-ass-sick-and-horrible-case-of-colonel-russell-williams/528225/2 "2010-02-09T02:49:31Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > And, I would have presumed, a way-more-than-full-time job. This is scary, and that really is a valid question – When did he find the time? Do you know if the b&e and sexual assault charges relate to other cases? If so, I’d be curious to know how far back they go. It’s hard to believe this guy went from assault to two murders in such a short span of time. ETA I see they’re form unrelated cases from September 2009. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolutely-fd-up-weird-ass-sick-and-horrible-case-of-colonel-russell-williams/528225/3 "2010-02-09T03:55:14Z")
WTF? He was from Tweed. My stepmother was from Tweed. Aiiee. ---
**Author:** ![andiepandie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ba0ec/32.png) [@andiepandie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andiepandie)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolutely-fd-up-weird-ass-sick-and-horrible-case-of-colonel-russell-williams/528225/4 "2010-02-10T06:20:14Z")
Ugh, what an awful story. The most recent report I’ve heard said that they’re now looking looking to see if he has any connection to the 2001 murder of a woman named Kathleen MacVicar on a military base housing project, and probably any other unsolved murder that may have happened anywhere this guy may have been over the past 20 or 30 years. Unbelievable. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolutely-fd-up-weird-ass-sick-and-horrible-case-of-colonel-russell-williams/528225/5 "2010-02-10T09:22:01Z")
Tweed? Seriously? I am related to half the people in that town. Hell, my dead relatives take up half the damn graveyard. Of course, I haven’t been there since the last funeral, but still. Tweed? Really? ---
**Author:** ![cgg419](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cgg419/32/2847_2.png) [@cgg419](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cgg419)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolutely-fd-up-weird-ass-sick-and-horrible-case-of-colonel-russell-williams/528225/6 "2010-02-10T16:27:25Z")
> [@andiepandie](#): > > Ugh, what an awful story. The most recent report I’ve heard said that they’re now looking looking to see if he has any connection to the 2001 murder of a woman named Kathleen MacVicar on a military base housing project, and probably any other unsolved murder that may have happened anywhere this guy may have been over the past 20 or 30 years. Unbelievable. Her murder happened on the same base that until recently, he commanded. No idea if he was in the area at the time though. This really is almost unbelievable for all the reasons mentioned above. Serial killers like this sure as hell don’t come along every day, let alone in your back yard :eek: > **[CFB Trenton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CFB_Trenton)** > > Canadian Forces Base Trenton (IATA: YTR, ICAO: CYTR) (also CFB Trenton), formerly RCAF Station Trenton, is a Canadian Forces base located within the city of Quinte West, Ontario, about 175 km (109 miles) east of Toronto. It is operated as an air force base by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and is the hub for air transport operations in Canada and abroad. Its primary RCAF lodger unit is 8 Wing, commonly referred to as 8 Wing Trenton. CFB Trenton is Canada's largest Air Force base and most so... ---
**Author:** ![cgg419](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cgg419/32/2847_2.png) [@cgg419](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cgg419)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolutely-fd-up-weird-ass-sick-and-horrible-case-of-colonel-russell-williams/528225/7 "2010-02-10T16:37:27Z")
Missed the edit window, but I just read this on The Toronto Star website [Colonel told police about break-ins:Report](http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/763292--colonel-told-police-about-break-ins-report) ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolutely-fd-up-weird-ass-sick-and-horrible-case-of-colonel-russell-williams/528225/8 "2010-02-10T16:38:07Z")
Yes, I’ve been following the story too. When I first read it, I was speachless with shock and surprise. I suspect most Canadians feel the same way. When I think of “serial killer” I instinctively think of low-lifes like that Picton fellow out in BC. Obviously, those instincts are wrong - assuming, as looks likely based on the still sketchy media stories, that he’s guilty (I heard he led investigators to a body). Truly, the last person one would suspect. If it was a movie, I’d not believe it. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolutely-fd-up-weird-ass-sick-and-horrible-case-of-colonel-russell-williams/528225/9 "2010-02-10T16:46:12Z")
What are the odds he’s a true blue sociopath? This is a very disturbing story - a man like that in charge of I don’t know how many troops. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolutely-fd-up-weird-ass-sick-and-horrible-case-of-colonel-russell-williams/528225/10 "2010-02-10T16:52:57Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > What are the odds he’s a true blue sociopath? This is a very disturbing story - a man like that in charge of I don’t know how many troops. From what I’ve read, he seems to have been a true “Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde” character - reputable, admirable career soldier and leader by day - rapist and murderer in in off hours. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolutely-fd-up-weird-ass-sick-and-horrible-case-of-colonel-russell-williams/528225/11 "2010-02-10T17:40:14Z")
It’s truly fascinating, isn’t it? My condolences to the families involved, and to Williams’ wife, but this is just unreal. I know through family the intelligence and dedication it takes to attain such a high-ranking position in Canada’s military; promotions to this level are taken very seriously and are very well thought out. I, for one, am drawn to these types of murders. The news that comes out of this trial will be staggering. With no disrespect intended, this will make for a very entertaining made-for-tv movie someday: starring Paul Gross. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolutely-fd-up-weird-ass-sick-and-horrible-case-of-colonel-russell-williams/528225/12 "2010-02-10T17:51:12Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Williams is not just moderately successful, he’s VERY successful - commanding a base is a big damned deal. Not that it mitigates his alleged misdeeds, but it appears he is _a_ commander, rather than _the_ commander, of this base — a Wing Commander? > [@](#): > > Colonel Russ Williams (far right), Wing Commander of 8 Wing/CFB Trenton ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolutely-fd-up-weird-ass-sick-and-horrible-case-of-colonel-russell-williams/528225/13 "2010-02-10T17:55:41Z")
Hm. Maybe not. Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolutely-fd-up-weird-ass-sick-and-horrible-case-of-colonel-russell-williams/528225/14 "2010-02-10T17:58:58Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I\ > With no disrespect intended, this will make for a very entertaining made-for-tv movie someday: starring Paul Gross. I can actually picture that. I see that Colonel Williams’ wife is Mary Elizabeth Harriman, an associate executive director of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. This just gets stranger and stranger. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolutely-fd-up-weird-ass-sick-and-horrible-case-of-colonel-russell-williams/528225/15 "2010-02-10T18:21:57Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Tweed? Seriously? > > I am related to half the people in that town. Hell, my dead relatives take up half the damn graveyard. > > Of course, I haven’t been there since the last funeral, but still. Tweed? Really? Maybe you’re related to my stepmother then? Alas, she passed away in the mid-nineties, so I can’t ask her any questions about Tweed. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolutely-fd-up-weird-ass-sick-and-horrible-case-of-colonel-russell-williams/528225/16 "2010-02-10T18:42:17Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > It’s truly fascinating, isn’t it? My condolences to the families involved, and to Williams’ wife, but this is just unreal. > > I know through family the intelligence and dedication it takes to attain such a high-ranking position in Canada’s military; promotions to this level are taken very seriously and are very well thought out. > > I, for one, am drawn to these types of murders. The news that comes out of this trial will be staggering. > > With no disrespect intended, this will make for a very entertaining made-for-tv movie someday: starring Paul Gross. The one strike against is that the man seems to have confessed. But yes, here in Ontario this is definitely a contender for crime of the decade. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolutely-fd-up-weird-ass-sick-and-horrible-case-of-colonel-russell-williams/528225/17 "2010-02-10T19:11:03Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Maybe you’re related to my stepmother then? Alas, she passed away in the mid-nineties, so I can’t ask her any questions about Tweed. About twenty years or so ago, Tweed was one of the places Elvis was reportedly living in after he faked his death. As I recall, once the rumour about Elvis and Tweed got going, it was a nine-day wonder; making it to supermarket tabloids and trashy daytime talk shows–Jerry Springer, for example, interviewed Elvis by telephone at his home in Tweed. Springer’s audience and tabloid readers are maybe not the best public for Tweed to relate to, but it isn’t often a small Ontario town is prominent in the media, and I heard no complaints from Tweed about the publicity. This Colonel Williams, though–as has been mentioned, how did he ever rise to where he is while being what he is alleged to be? Count me as another who is going to be watching this one. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolutely-fd-up-weird-ass-sick-and-horrible-case-of-colonel-russell-williams/528225/18 "2010-02-10T21:55:41Z")
Very, very strange and disturbing. Hope the police can nail the guy, if he’s guilty. I noticed the second article referred to “Canada’s secret base in the Middle East.” Any idea where that is? How long as it been in operation? Since 9-11, I presume. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolutely-fd-up-weird-ass-sick-and-horrible-case-of-colonel-russell-williams/528225/19 "2010-02-10T22:08:27Z")
Bizarre. I mean, I presume the Canadians do background checks on people before they reach this level of responsibility. This guy must have covered his trail very carefully. What’s particularly striking about this is that, if any military can be warm and fuzzy, I’d always thought the Canadians had that military. No ding on their fighting abilities - the opposite, in fact. But the Canadians have long prided themselves, I thought, on their role as peacekeepers on UN missions - very difficult, demanding, and deeply humanitarian work. Seems an odd role for a sociopath. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolutely-fd-up-weird-ass-sick-and-horrible-case-of-colonel-russell-williams/528225/20 "2010-02-10T22:34:33Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Very, very strange and disturbing. Hope the police can nail the guy, if he’s guilty. Seems likely, given that he has allegedly confessed. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-absolutely-fd-up-weird-ass-sick-and-horrible-case-of-colonel-russell-williams/528225.md?page=2)