Summary
In May 1982, Kevin McBride, who was 47 at the time, was the victim of a homicide and died by multiple stab wounds inside his apartment at 311-5600 Sheppard Ave East. Officers were originally asked to attend Kevin's residence by concerned friends who had dinner plans with him and were unable to reach him. Kevin McBride lived alone and was not associated with any criminality. He was last seen on May 15, 1982, two days prior to his body being located. A thorough investigation was conducted in 1982 and investigators were able to determine that the decedent's vehicle, a credit card, and other effects had been stolen and used between May 15 and May 17, 1982, suggesting the date of the murder was May 15, 1982.
The case remained unsolved and was revisited in 2016 by Toronto Police Homicide Cold Case investigators. The primary focus of the ensuing investigation was to re-test exhibits and seized items from the original investigation to determine if advancements in forensic testing and a DNA database creation could determine any further leads. Testing of evidence found at the crime scene revealed a male profile, not of the deceased. However, the identity of the individual who left behind this male profile was could not be determined.
In 2022, the Toronto Police Service once again teamed with Othram to determine if advanced DNA testing could help to identify the unknown man. Toronto Police Services previously teamed with Othram to solve the 1983 murders of Susan Tice and Erin Gilmour as well as the abduction and murder of Christine Jessop. Forensic evidence was sent to Othram’s laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas. Othram scientists used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile. The profile was delivered to the Toronto Police Service investigators, who then used forensic genetic genealogy to generate investigative leads.
Toronto Police Service investigators developed leads based on the forensic genetic genealogy search and the suspect William Taylor was identified. William Taylor passed away in May 2023. DNA testing revealed that Mr. Taylor, who was 34 at the time of the homicide, was the source of the unknown DNA left at the crime scene. If William Taylor was alive today, he would be arrested and charged with First Degree Murder in the death of Kevin McBride.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.
Michael Vogen
Director of Case Management
Michael works with law enforcement agencies throughout the United States and Canada on “unsolvable“ cases that can benefit from advanced DNA testing methods. He helps these agencies use cutting edge DNA sequencing and new forensic techniques to develop investigative leads for their cases.