Inspector Vance is called to a crime scene at Merritt, B.C. in 1934. Two police officers are missing, believed murdered and the investigation focuses in on an abandoned Model B Ford and members of the Canford Indian band.
The stories for this first series are from my book Blood, Sweat, and Fear: The Story of Inspector Vance (Eve Lazarus, Arsenal Pulp Press, 2017). Vance was one of the first forensic scientists in North America, and during his 42-year-career, helped to solve some of the most sensational murders of the 20th Century. Each episode focuses on one of those cases.
Image: Crime scene photo of the wrecked Model B Ford just below the Merritt-Spence’s Bridge Road. From the personal files of the Vancouver Police Department’s Inspector John Vance.
Credits:
- Intro and outro music: Duke Ellington’s St. Louie Toodle
- Intro, voice of Inspector Vance and Attorney General Gordon Sloan: Mark Dunn
- Background track created by Nico Vettese www.wetalkofdreams.com
Sources:
- Blood, Sweat, and Fear: The Story of Inspector Vance, Vancouver’s First Forensic Investigator, by Eve Lazarus (Arsenal Pulp Press, 2017)
- Vital Statistics
- Inquest of Frank Gisbourne and Percy Carr: BC Archives
- The personal files of Inspector John F.C.B. Vance
- Newspapers: Daily Province, Merritt Herald, Vancouver Sun
18 comments on “Episode 07: Murder at the Canford Indian Reserve”
Loved listening to this amazing story Eve.
Thanks,
Richard.
Thanks so much for listening and for taking the time to comment. So pleased you enjoyed it!
Must say listening to such a murder mystery is better than watching it on television/movie. Superb challenge to develop and left and right sides of the human brain and improve focus on listening skills and enhancing creativity of atmosphere and mood, still reflecting on this true happening. Thank you for sharing with us.
I’ve become completely obsessed with true crime podcasts, and when they have a good story, I agree they are completely absorbing. So many good ones out there that it’s raised the bar for us little guys. Thanks for listening!
Really enjoyed this true crime story. Excellently produced. Having worked as a newspaper reporter in the Cariboo Chilcotin Region in the 1980s I had many experiences interviewing First Nations people and the RCMP, and I loved the history of the area, so I related to this drama. Thanks a lot.
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! So pleased you liked the show.
I heard about you on the radio just before Christmas last year, I think it was actually cknw. They talked about your Murder by Milkshake book, that day I went out and got a copy. It also made me go to the police museum to see some of the evidence (I find that kind of stuff fascinating) there I was able to buy Vancouver cold case, another amazing book!! I’ve become obsessed with your books and your podcast is that much better! Thank you for everything you do , all your research.. it must take years. You’re an amazing author!!
Thank you so much for reading my books and listening to my latest obsession – the true crime podcast. Really appreciate you taking the time to comment.
Thanks for this! Percy Carr is my Great Great Granddad very interesting growing up and listening to my Grandmas memories of that time and the night her Dad went missing…
Whoops! I meant Great *
That’s amazing! would love to have talked to your grandmother
Nicely done and most enjoyable, Eva.
THANK YOU!
My pleasure!
I’ve been fascinated with this true crime story ever since my grandmother told it to many years ago. I also wanted to write a book about local murders. It was so interesting to hear the forensic side of this case. My grandma’s version was similar but from the George brothers side. As was told to my grandma by the George brothers mother and I think one of the wife. The two sides are quite similar with a few differences. Thank you so much for filling in the gaps. I wish my grandma could have heard your podcast.
Hi Bonita, thanks so much for dropping by the blog. I would love to hear the story from the George side, especially the differences. There seemed to be so much more to it. Thanks so much for listening to the podcast and write the book!!
[…] When I was writing Blood, Sweat, and Fear: The Story of Inspector Vance, I experienced the researcher’s equivalent of winning the lottery, when I found seven boxes of files that were thought to have been destroyed when he retired in 1947. There were Inquests, newspaper clippings, autopsy reports, crime scene photos. Even his diary. And there was a huge amount of information on a case that Vance worked on in Merritt, BC in 1934. The full story is in my book or listen to the Podcast. […]
Loved this story. You have a great voice. I’ve loved crime stories for a very long time, my husband gets worried when I get too excited.
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed the episode!