In this episode, we examine the 1984 murder of 13-year-old Candace Derksen in Winnipeg. Candace vanished on her way home from school in November of that year. Weeks later, her body was discovered in a storage shed, bound and left in the cold.

We trace the investigation, the arrest and trial, and the acquittal that continues to shape how this case is remembered. Along the way, we look at how the murder impacted the Derksen family, the Winnipeg community, and the broader conversation around evidence, justice, and accountability.

Episode Update (January 2026):

In January 2026, Mark Edward Grant — who was acquitted in Candace Derksen’s murder — appeared briefly in a Vancouver courtroom facing new charges that are unrelated to Candace Derksen’s case. The charges include unlawful confinement, sexual assault, assault with a weapon, and uttering threats. Grant has consented to remain in custody while a bail plan is discussed. Details of the matter are currently under a publication ban, and he is subject to a no-contact order with the alleged victim.

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Music Composed by: Sayer Roberts - https://soundcloud.com/user-135673977 // shorturl.at/mFPZ0

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In the summer of 2020, 20-year-old Shane Eric James Smith vanished in Calgary. He was last seen on June 6, and within days police believed he had been shot and killed by a friend at a southeast Calgary residence.

In the weeks that followed, the Calgary Police Service charged Ian Charles Abercrombie with homicide, and two others with offences related to the handling of Shane’s body, which has never been recovered.

Abercrombie later pleaded guilty to criminal negligence causing death and indignity to a human body in connection with Shane’s death — a conviction that left many feeling the sentence didn’t match the loss.

Shane’s family, friends, and volunteers have spent years searching the Bow River and surrounding areas, desperate for answers and for the chance to lay Shane to rest.

In this episode, we speak with Shane’s sister, Cassandra, about who Shane was, the painful search for his remains, and the emotional toll of a case that still leaves far more questions than closure.

PLEASE READ: Some TNTC+ episodes may be released publicly in the future. TNTC+ subscribers will always get first access.

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Music Composed by: Sayer Roberts - https://soundcloud.com/user-135673977 // shorturl.at/mFPZ0

Subscribe to TNTC+ on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/TNTC

Join our Patreon: www.patreon.com/tntcpod

Merch: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/true-north-true-crime?ref_id=24376

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tntcpod/

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this previously TNTC+ episode, we sit down with Gillian Millam, former Metropolitan Police officer from the U.K. and current Executive Director of British Columbia Crime Stoppers. Gillian began working with Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers in 2015 and went on to coordinate one of the province’s most successful programs before stepping into her current provincial role.

We discuss how the program operates, how it has changed over time, and how it fits into community safety across British Columbia, Canada. Gillian also shares her perspective on crime trends in Canada, the realities of tip management, and the key elements that make a tip truly valuable.

A clear, candid look at Crime Stoppers from someone who has been shaping the program for many years. Thank you for joining us to celebrate CrimeStoppers month!

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Music Composed by: Sayer Roberts - https://soundcloud.com/user-135673977 // shorturl.at/mFPZ0

Subscribe to TNTC+ on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/TNTC

Join our Patreon: www.patreon.com/tntcpod

Merch: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/true-north-true-crime?ref_id=24376

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tntcpod/

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/truenorthtruecrime

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.