Toronto Star

The accused Details emerge on Bruce McArthur, man charged with murder

- VICTORIA GIBSON STAFF REPORTER With files from Jaren Kerr and Vjosa Isai

When Bruce McArthur rode the elevator in his Thorncliff­e Park building, he was often dressed in clothing fit for working outdoors. He exchanged pleasantri­es with neighbours, or complaints about building maintenanc­e issues.

“Nothing about him said ‘I’m killing innocent men,’ ” neighbour Chantal Smith told the Star

On Thursday, 66-year-old McArthur was charged with murder in the disappeara­nce of Andrew Kinsman and Selim Esen. Police believe there are other victims. He made a brief court appearance on Friday and will return to court on Feb. 14 via video.

Since the news broke, Smith and her husband have been racking their memories. Did they miss a warning sign? They’ve come up empty.

But Thomas Donald Bruce McArthur’s troubles were on the public record long before his arrest.

McArthur declared bankruptcy in 1999, listing a property in Oshawa he owned with his former wife, Janice. The pair sold the property in 2000.

McArthur and Janice appear to have two children: a daughter and a son. When the Star contacted Janice’s sister on Friday, McArthur’s former brother-in-law answered the phone. “No comment,” he said.

Two neighbours said McArthur had been living with a man.

McArthur was a self-employed landscaper. Born in October 1951, he attended high school in Fenelon Falls, and his Facebook profile was filled with photograph­s of outings in Toronto’s LGBTQ community.

McArthur also appeared connected on Facebook to Skandaraj “Skanda” Navaratnam, one of three men active in the Gay Village who went missing between 2010 and 2012.

 ??  ?? Bruce McArthur
Bruce McArthur
 ??  ?? Bruce McArthur returns to court Feb. 14 via video.
Bruce McArthur returns to court Feb. 14 via video.

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