News is just surfacing about a gruesome find this morning in a small community just outside London, Ontario — Shedden, Ontario. It is being described as Ontario’s worse mass murder, and Canada’s worst in a decade. [link]

The bodies of 8 men were found this morning by a farmer during morning rounds of his fields. The bodies were found lying in and near three cars, one of which was still hooked up to a tow-truck.

The quiet village of 800 about 30 kilometres southwest of London near St. Thomas is known as Ontario’s rhubarb capital, but also has a history of biker activity, raising speculation among some that the grisly scene had links to the underworld. [link]

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Police are not saying anything at the moment except that this is an isolated incident. They won’t say if the individuals were targeted, or members of gang activity, or how they died.

The bodies were found in four vehicles spread about 200 metres apart on the dirt road. A small silver car was hooked onto a tow truck that had a Toronto registration number. A hatchback was parked nearby with its back door open, and a van was sitting in a field some distance away. [link]

It is speculated that the men were shot to death.

Stan Lidster, the 60-year-old deputy mayor, said the murders had the markings of organized crime.

“At least, myself, I’m astounded eight bodies were found in Southold Township,” Lidster said. “It’s got to be an organized crime.” [link]

A report from the BBC, states police have said more bodies may be found. [link]

Residents are understandably upset, wondering who is responsible. The farmer who found the bodies is being treated for shock.  

Darlene Deslandes, who has lived in the area all her life and had a full view of the vehicles from her back window, called the murder scene scary and wildly out of character.

“It’s quiet and calm, nothing ever happens here,” Deslandes said.

“If they are from around this area, it would be scarier than if it’s someone from far away.” [link]

The OPP will have a news conference at 10 a.m. Sunday morning.

Update [2006-4-9 13:42:27 by olivia]:

All the men were from the Greater Toronto Area, and all knew each other.

The eight men whose bodies were found in and around four vehicles by a farmer’s field in southwestern Ontario were from the Greater Toronto Area, police said on Sunday.

The victims all knew each other, an Ontario Provincial Police spokesman said a day after the grisly discovery near the village of Shedden, about 30 kilometres south of London and 365 kilometres from Toronto.

It was the biggest mass murder in recent Ontario history. [link]

Cause of death has not been released, awaiting autopsy. And regarding motive, the police had this to say:

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) also refused to discuss any possible links between the killings and organized crime, although surrounding Elgin County has a history of biker gang activity.

Several motorcycle clubs have been known to populate the area, including the Loners, the Bandidos and the Hells Angels.

“The Hells are present in Ontario; everybody knows that,” Bingley said. “But as far as me discussing the Hells or anybody else, we’re working on this murder case and we’re not talking about the Hells.” [link]

Update [2006-4-10 15:34:57 by olivia]:

Arrests have been made — four men and one woman. One of the men lived near the area where the bodies were found.

Five people have been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the slayings of eight men whose bodies were found Saturday in southwestern Ontario.

Five people have been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the slayings of eight men whose bodies were found Saturday in southwestern Ontario.

The victims and suspects were all linked to the Bandidos biker gang, Ontario Provincial Police confirmed Monday.

Autopsy results also confirmed that the men had all been shot to death. [link]