Victims in crossbow murder identified

“This is quite the procedure, even if you had a cocking aid”, said Kathleen Millar, former technical and executive director of Archery Canada, about reloading a crossbow.

Neither the Crown lawyer Dihim Emami nor the Justice of the Peace Grace Lau provided any rationale for the unusual decision to ban the publication of the names of the homicide victims.

Brett Ryan, 35, of Toronto, has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the slayings.

Torstar News Service and other media successfully fought to have the ban lifted at a Scarborough court Tuesday morning. After checking the call preferences, the Police found out that the distress call was made by one of the victims.

At Monday’s press conference Carbone said autopsies revealed the woman died of strangulation; the man in the garage died of a crossbow bolt stab wound to the neck; and the man found on the driveway died of an arrow stab wound to the neck.

Dalton said two of her sons lived in the house where the attacks occurred, a small bungalow on Lawndale Rd.

“This investigation is very unusual”, he said.

Police said Susan Ryan was strangled, while Christopher and Alexander Ryan were killed by crossbow bolts. Sgt. Mike Carbone told reporters. They were killed at a home on Argo Road, near Eglinton Avenue East and Markham Road, on August 25.

Another man, a witness who was found nearby, was also treated in hospital and released, although no charges have been laid in connection with that person at this time, Carbone said.

Ryan next appears in court on Friday.

In 2008, he was arrested in the case of the Fake Beard Bandit and charged with a total of 29 counts of robbery, intent to commit a crime while disguised, and a weapons offence.

Police confirmed that Ryan was sentenced to three years and in months in prison back in January 2009.

Police also examined a waterfront apartment associated with Ryan last Thursday but found there was no threat to the public, Carbone said.

“I would like to assure the public that at no time, was there any danger to any member of the public”.

Police called for anyone who may have come into contact with Ryan in the hours before the incident Thursday to come forward.

Brett Ryan, engaged to be married in mid September, has a lengthy criminal record.

Ryan, investigators add, may have been attending a local university, though Carbone did not specify which institution.