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Suspicion: Murder on Mount Olive

Toronto Star

Suspicion is the Toronto Star's investigative true crime podcast.

Season 5, "The Most Wanted Olympian" is coming in the fall of 2026. How did a small town Canadian boy allegedly become a narco kingpin? Ryan Wedding was once a promising young athlete, a snowboarder who reached the Olympics. Now captured after a decade on the run, he's accused of running a deadly international drug trafficking empire. In this new podcast from CBC and the Toronto Star, host Michelle Shephard and journalist Calvi Leon trace Wedding's descent into a violent criminal underworld. From his beginnings at his family ski hill outside Thunder Bay, to Toronto and the shocking murders he's accused of ordering, to Mexico where he was believed to be protected by the notorious Sinaloa Cartel, they uncover his illicit connections and the stories behind the victims caught in the crossfire. Featuring on-the-ground reporting and original interviews, this podcast investigates the Canadian who the FBI called a "modern day El Chapo" and asks: what will it take to bring him to justice?The Most Wanted Olympian is an official 2026 Tribeca Festival Selection. The full podcast is coming this November to the Toronto Star's Suspicion and CBC's Uncover.

Season 4, "Murder on Mount Olive," Chief Investigative Reporter Kevin Donovan, who brought you the Billionaire Murders, is back with Murder on Mount Olive, an investigation of a crime the courts closed the book on in 2012. This is the story of Christopher Sheriffe and his fight for justice, as he serves life in prison for a crime he says he didn't commit.

Season 3, "40 Years Cold," looks at a case that began four decades ago, when two women were killed in their Toronto homes. Wendy Gillis and Betsy Powell take you through the nights of the murders, the tragic circumstances of a murderer, and the stunning conclusion of a 40 years long cold case.

Season 2, "The Billionaire Murders: The hunt for the killers of Honey and Barry Sherman," probes the case of the famous Toronto couple who were found strangled in their home in 2017. Kevin Donovan covered the Sherman case and fought court battles to access documents on the police investigation.

Suspicion season 1, Death in a Small Town, was also hosted by Donovan. What began as just another day for the McLellan family would end with their youngest son clinging to life in hospital and a cloud of suspicion hanging over his mother and father.

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  • 20 episodes
  • Avg 25 min
  • English

Episodes 20

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  • May 23, 2025 · 16 min

    It could happen to you

    Kevin Donovan's conversation with Canada's Dean of lawyers who advocates for the wrongfully convicted. James Lockyer talks about the new federal plan that could one day free Chris Sheriffe.

  • May 16, 2025 · 23 min

    Smokescreen

    There can be problems when using confidential informants and hearsay evidence, especially when a man's freedom is at stake. Lawyer Dean Embry's conversation with Kevin Donovan provides a back story for our Murder on Mount Olive investigation.

  • May 9, 2025 · 36 min

    Colour Blinded

    In this bonus episode, we hear a top cop's story of being Black and on the job in one of Canada's biggest police forces. Listen to Keith Merith's conversation with Kevin Donovan, providing a back story for our Murder on Mount Olive investigation.

  • S4 · E10
    May 2, 2025 · 30 min

    Choices

    It's now been 13 years. Chris reflects on decisions he made. The friends he had. Staying out that hot night in August instead of going home. And on what he would do if he is ever released. In the final episode of the series, we offer him a potential lifeline. Tell us what really happened between you and Awet, what he said, what he was planning to do that day. Surely this was a drug deal gone wrong.

  • S4 · E9
    Apr 25, 2025 · 53 min

    Trial and Error

    A trial scheduled for one month becomes two. The Judge is not pleased. It's now down to 12 jurors to determine Chris and Awet's fate – but the lone Black juror gets sick so now it's 11. Among the evidence the jury hears: false DNA evidence that's not corrected; a transcription of Chris's own words that is incorrect and not corrected; and the recollections of two police officers whose notes are strikingly similar. And then the jury comes in. At the end of the day, Chris knows that if he had stepped up and said he was involved in the shooting he'd have gotten a deal and would be out of prison by now. But there's a reason he will never do that. Audio: CPAC, Ontario Jury Video, EatonCentreShooting, Global TV, Essex County News

  • S4 · E8
    Apr 18, 2025 · 39 min

    The Third Man Theory Rocks Trial

    The day of the murder from all sides. Chris, Awet Asfaha, two young women — each give a different perspective on the events leading up to Kim Golaub's brutal murder. What they did. What was said. You've heard Chris's story before, but now at trial Awet comes out with a stunning story. There was someone else that day. A mysterious third man who was the killer. And Chris was the getaway driver, with Awet just along for the ride. This made the case a "cutthroat" defence — fingers pointing in different decisions.

  • S4 · E7
    Apr 11, 2025 · 34 min

    Two Down, One To Go

    Chris is out on bail leading up to the trial. Toronto Police show up at his house one night. They end up assaulting his father, arresting his brother, and not long after Chris's bail is revoked when a new charge is laid against him. Marjorie, Chris's mom, overhears police officers give an ominous warning about the men in her family and she goes into high gear – she's in the fight of her life against Toronto's finest. Then comes another bombshell. That young police officer with the gang information says Chris is the leader of a dangerous gang called "The Hustle Squad." A gang so mysterious, no members of the elite police Guns and Gangs Squad has ever heard of them.

  • Apr 10, 2025 · 4 min

    Why did Kevin Donovan investigate this case?

    Kevin Donovan talks about why he decided to look at Chris Sheriffe's case. Hear from him, and catch up on the series so far, while getting a glimpse of the weeks ahead. Subscribers get access to episodes one week early.

  • S4 · E6
    Apr 4, 2025 · 36 min

    Bodies To His Name

    Bombshell. On the eve of the murder trial, a young Toronto police officer emerges with two confidential sources, one of them purporting to be a gang member, who tell a very different story about Chris Sheriffe. It throws Chris's defence team for a loop. And here's the problem. The judge won't let the lawyers attack this new information. Audio: NBC's Law and Order, CTV, Toronto Police Video

  • Apr 3, 2025 · 3 min

    The Story So Far...

    This Friday, April 4, the second half of Murder on Mount Olive's season starts with episode 6, Bodies To His Name, as well as episode 7, one week early for subscribers. If you haven't heard the first five episodes to date, get caught up with the stories and main players so far, with this short trailer. Or listen to the first half of the season in your feed.

  • S4 · E5
    Mar 28, 2025 · 24 min

    Playing For Your Country

    Who is Chris Sheriffe? Elite soccer player. Aspiring carpenter. Good family. We hear from the people who knew him best, mother, sister, coach. We also learn about his experience growing up as a young Black teen in Toronto – the frequent police stops and his complaint about the most egregious one. He's in his Catholic school uniform, heading home from class at the end of the day and cops are tailing him for no reason at all. And that new prosecutor, she puts the first degree murder case back on track.

  • S4 · E4
    Mar 21, 2025 · 41 min

    Where's The Gun?

    The forensics. How three bullets killed a man. The gun shot residue. Where it landed and where it didn't land gives homicide detectives some help, but not much. It turns out the case against Chris Sheriffe and Awet Asfaha is weak. Plus, the police screwed up the evidence collection. Things come to a head at the preliminary hearing, where a judge must decide if the charge of first degree murder – a planned killing – is the correct one. Plus, since Chris was just driving the car, did he really know what was about to happen? A judge said no and the case fell apart. Enter a new prosecutor. It was time for a full court press. Audio sources: The science of gunshot residue analysis, The Royal Institution Chief Investigative Reporter Kevin Donovan, who brought you the Billionaire Murders and Death in a Small Town, is back with Murder on Mount Olive, an investigation of a crime the courts closed the book on in 2012. On a sunny day in August, 2009, a man is shot three times at a barbecue. What happens that day will put a budding young soccer star turned carpenter behind bars for life for a crime he says he didn't commit. This is the story of Christopher Sheriffe and his fight for justice. Subscribers can listen to episodes early each week, plus get exclusive access to bonus episodes.

  • S4 · E3
    Mar 15, 2025 · 33 min

    Gladiator School

    Twelve years into his life sentence for murder, Chris Sheriffe is a model prisoner. He's doing all the courses available behind bars, plus weekly meetings of the prison public speaking club. He does conflict resolution, helping guards and prisoners get along. Which is intriguing, given that Toronto Police labelled him a hard knuckled killer. Also, he calls his Mom several times a day. In an interview at the notorious "Gladiator School" prison, Chris tells his side of the story. How his choice to stay out all night with a young woman, then drive a man home got him labelled a gangster. Suspicion Chief Investigative Reporter Kevin Donovan, who brought you the Billionaire Murders, is back with Murder on Mount Olive, an investigation of a crime the courts closed the book on in 2012. On a sunny day in August, 2009, a man is shot three times at a barbecue. What happens that day will put a budding young soccer star turned carpenter behind bars for life for a crime he says he didn't commit. This is the story of Christopher Sheriffe and his fight for justice. Subscribers can listen to episodes early each week, plus get exclusive access to bonus episodes.

  • Mar 13, 2025 · 1 min

    Video: Kevin Donovan talks with Chris Sheriffe behind bars

    Watch or listen to this bonus video footage, where Kevin Donovan sits down with Chris Sheriffe in prison at Collins Bay. Listen to episode 3 of Murder on Mount Olive, Gladiator School, for more from this interview.

  • S4 · E2
    Mar 8, 2025 · 49 min

    The Hunt

    Homicide detectives get lucky. The best witness possible, and he's talking, and he's got a partial licence plate from a car that left the scene right after Kim Golaub was shot dead. But homicide cops are struggling for a motive. Did someone have a grudge against the victim? Was he in the wrong place at the wrong time? Just a few hours after the murder homicide detectives have two young men in separate interview rooms. Their tactics? Lying to get a confession. Audio sources: Global, Toronto Police, CTV Chief Investigative Reporter Kevin Donovan, who brought you the Billionaire Murders and Death in a Small Town, is back with Murder on Mount Olive, an investigation of a crime the courts closed the book on in 2012. On a sunny day in August, 2009, a man is shot three times at a barbecue. What happens that day will put a budding young soccer star turned carpenter behind bars for life for a crime he says he didn't commit. This is the story of Christopher Sheriffe and his fight for justice. Subscribers can listen to episodes early each week, plus get exclusive access to bonus episodes.

  • S4 · E1
    Mar 7, 2025 · 32 min

    The Crime

    On a hot, sunny day in August a man is shot three times. It happens outside a barbecue. Witnesses give different descriptions of the shooter; police flood the area looking for clues. What happens that day will end up putting a young soccer player turned carpenter behind bars for life for a crime he says he didn't commit. This is the story of Christopher Sheriffe and his fight for justice. Audio: CTV, Global, Doomstown movie trailer Suspicion Chief Investigative Reporter Kevin Donovan, who brought you the Billionaire Murders, is back with Murder on Mount Olive, an investigation of a crime the courts closed the book on in 2012. On a sunny day in August, 2009, a man is shot three times at a barbecue. What happens that day will put a budding young soccer star turned carpenter behind bars for life for a crime he says he didn't commit. This is the story of Christopher Sheriffe and his fight for justice. Subscribers can listen to episodes early each week, plus get exclusive access to bonus episodes.

  • Mar 6, 2025 · 1 min

    A second sneak peak: Suspicion Season 4, Murder on Mount Olive

    Coming Friday, March 7, episodes 1, 2 and 3 (for subscribers) will be available for Suspicion Season 4, Murder on Mount Olive. Toronto Star Chief Investigative Reporter Kevin Donovan, who brought you the Billionaire Murders, investigates a crime the courts closed the book on in 2012. On a sunny day in August, 2009, a man is shot three times at a barbecue. What happens that day will put a budding young soccer star turned carpenter behind bars for life for a crime he says he didn't commit. This is the story of Christopher Sheriffe and his fight for justice. Subscribers can listen to episodes early each week, plus get exclusive access to bonus episodes. And be sure to check out the first three seasons of Suspicion. Season 3, "40 Years Cold" Looks at a case that began four decades ago, when two women were killed in their Toronto homes. Wendy Gillis and Betsy Powell take you through the nights of the murders, the tragic circumstances of a murderer, and the stunning conclusion of a 40 years long cold case. Season 2, "The Billionaire Murders: The hunt for the killers of Honey and Barry Sherman" Probes the case of the famous Toronto couple who were found strangled in their home in 2017. Kevin Donovan covered the Sherman case and fought court battles to access documents on the police investigation. Season 1, "Death in a Small Town" What began as just another day for the McLellan family would end with their youngest son clinging to life in hospital and a cloud of suspicion hanging over his mother and father.

  • Mar 3, 2025 · 1 min

    Suspicion returns March 7 with Season 4, Murder on Mount Olive

    Toronto Star Chief Investigative Reporter Kevin Donovan, who brought you the Billionaire Murders, is back with Murder on Mount Olive, an investigation of a crime the courts closed the book on in 2012. On a sunny day in August, 2009, a man is shot three times at a barbecue. What happens that day will put a budding young soccer star turned carpenter behind bars for life for a crime he says he didn't commit. This is the story of Christopher Sheriffe and his fight for justice. Subscribers can listen to episodes early each week, plus get exclusive access to bonus episodes. And be sure to check out the first three seasons of Suspicion. Season 3, "40 Years Cold" Looks at a case that began four decades ago, when two women were killed in their Toronto homes. Wendy Gillis and Betsy Powell take you through the nights of the murders, the tragic circumstances of a murderer, and the stunning conclusion of a 40 years long cold case. Season 2, "The Billionaire Murders: The hunt for the killers of Honey and Barry Sherman" Probes the case of the famous Toronto couple who were found strangled in their home in 2017. Kevin Donovan covered the Sherman case and fought court battles to access documents on the police investigation. Season 1, "Death in a Small Town" What began as just another day for the McLellan family would end with their youngest son clinging to life in hospital and a cloud of suspicion hanging over his mother and father.

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