Canadian Killers Series: The Mad Slasher

Updated: Sep 18

The night of March 2, 1974, was unnaturally foggy. So much so, that it was said the moonlight didn’t even penetrate the thick layer of haze that coated the small village of Strathroy, Ontario.

That night 19-year-old Judy Barksey was scheduled to work the evening shift at Merry Hill Nursing Home, and so she popped over to a local pizza joint to grab a bite to eat, but the move would prove to be fateful.

She would not make it to her shift. In fact, she would not even make it home. Someone had been watching her through the fog and they attacked as soon as they had the chance.

This is the case of the mad slasher, the second episode of our Canadian Killers series surrounding the fact that London, Canada, and its surrounding area, is considered the serial killer capital of the world. According to one source, between 1959 and 1984 there were more active serial killers per capita than compared to anywhere else on earth.

A montage of old newspaper clippings surrounding the crimes of Christian Magee. | Courtesy: Newspapers.com

The victims are:

Judy Barksey, 19 (No image available)

Louise Jenner, 19 (No image available)

Susan Scholes, 15

Jane Doe survivor*, 18

Jane Doe survivor*, 14

*The Two Sleuths podcast declines to name survivors of sexual assault to respect their privacy

Christian Herbert Harold Magee, 28, was a father of two when he was arrested for the crimes.

He was reportedly physically abused by both of his parents and his older brother. He was also illiterate as he was pulled from school often by his father who forced him to work and bring in money for the family. According to Magee’s evaluation, he lacked confidence and didn’t engage with others as a child.

Magee started showing violent behavior and cruelty toward animals from a young age, and it has been said that he killed more than 100 cats- a hint to his future profession as the uneducated and illiterate high school dropout found a job in animal disposal. This consisted of removing roadkill and being called out to farms with injured or dying animals that he would put down and remove from the property, which eventually helped him to find his victims.

Magee has been held at a maximum-security psychiatric hospital called the Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care in Penetanguishene since 1976. It was formerly known as Oak Ridge.

As of 2024, he was 76-years-old, overweight, and had diabetes. He continues to fight to be released to a lower-level facility.

Our Canadian Killers series will end with a focus on the unsolved homicides that occurred during the period where multiple serial killers were active. Perhaps, through your sleuthing, you can help to solve some of these crimes and bring resolution to the victims' families.

Sources:

Canadian Killers Series: The Mad Slasher

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