Whiskey Creek podcast renews conversations around victim blaming

A new true crime podcast about the 2020 Whiskey Creek murders on Vancouver Island is reigniting a conversation about victim blaming.

On Nov. 1, 2020, shortly after 2 p.m., a dirt bike rider on the Melrose Forest Service Road came across a man described as “unresponsive.” That person was Tyler; A Vancouver Island-born man in his 30s.

Tyler was one of three people murdered in the Halloween-night massacre that remains unsolved. Four dogs were also shot and killed.

Tyler’s mother wants people to know her son’s life mattered. Tyler’s last name, as well as his mother’s name, are being withheld for safety reasons.

“I miss him every day. I just can’t believe somebody like Tyler would end up being murdered in this way, because he certainly didn’t deserve it. He did have addictions for sure, but he wouldn’t have hurt a fly,” she said.

Tyler was one of the three 2020 Whiskey Creek murder victims on Vancouver Island. Tyler’s last name, as well as his mother’s name, are being withheld for safety reasons. (Submitted)

Imagine being the grieving family member of a murder victim and regularly encountering this kind of commentary online:

“S*** rat shootout at whiskey crik coral!”

“Good news for Vancouver Island.”

“Karmas a bitch ain’t it.”

Related article: Three bodies found in remote spot on Vancouver Island, man in hospital: RCMP

The Whiskey Creek victims lived in trailers out in the woods. They were individuals who struggled with substance use. Some had criminal records. These factors contributed to a narrative suggesting the murders were somehow justified.

It’s not just found in the online commentary. This kind of sentiment is openly expressed.

One business owner laughed when asked to comment on the killings. He argued an examination of the story was a waste of time and repeated allegations that one of the victims, the late Shawn McGrath, “had it coming to him.”

Other locals expressed similar views, describing the encampment as an eyesore, implying the victims were responsible for trouble in the community and would not be missed.

Kelly Morris is an outreach worker who knew some of the Whiskey Creek victims.

“Nobody deserved what happened up there, period. Nobody, no matter what, there were other ways to deal with that other than killing people,” Morris explained.

“I feel because of who Sean McGrath was, they figure maybe it was a blessing, but there’s a lot of unanswered questions for the families of the people that they’ve lost up there that did not deserve to die.”

Tyler’s mother worries that because those who died at Whiskey Creek don’t fit the idea of an “innocent” victim, their cases will be relegated to the dustbin.

“I think Shawn McGrath was causing a lot of havoc down in Qualicum Beach. So nobody’s even trying to figure out who murdered my son. They don’t care.”

Garry Rodgers is a retired RCMP Serious Crimes detective and investigator with the BC Coroners Service. He doesn’t buy into the notion that investigators would be influenced by whether or not the victims were perceived to be “bad people.”

“A murder case is a murder case, no matter who the victim is,” he said. “Behind closed doors within the working investigative group, they might say, ‘Well, there’s no loss to humanity, but we still want to clear this.'”

Retired RCMP Serious Crimes detective and coroner Garry Rodgers. (Submitted)

A recent publication from the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime provides a possible explanation as to why victim blaming continues. It’s called ‘The Just-World Hypothesis.’

“Those who believe in a just world tend to believe that ‘good things happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people.’ Therefore, when people with these beliefs view victims they believe that their victimization was caused by some fault of their own.”

If you have information about the 2020 Whiskey Creek murders, you’re asked to call the tip and information line at 250-380-6211.

‘Whiskey Creek’ is a series for the Frequency Podcast Network. You can listen to this series and other Island Crime episodes on all podcast platforms.

Rogers is the parent company of this station and the Frequency Podcast Network.