Arlene Bynon

Ian Mulgrew is retired now, but he spent 40-plus years as a journalist, more than half that time with the Vancouver Sun newspaper. And in the years he was working as a journalist, the term serial killer was used far less than it is today. The public didn't have the words to describe someone like Olson.

Ian Mulgrew is retired now, but he spent 40-plus years as a journalist, more than half that time with the Vancouver Sun newspaper. And in the years he was working as a journalist, the term serial killer was used far less than it is today. The public didn't have the words to describe someone like Olson.

He makes the point that in the early 80s, it took the community longer to come to what now seems like an obvious conclusion.

He makes the point that in the early 80s, it took the community longer to come to what now seems like an obvious conclusion.

On July 22, 1981, approximately three weeks after police made Olson a suspect, he, his wife Joan, and their infant son returned from a vacation in California. They were back in B.C. and back on the radar of the RCMP. That same day, Corporal Ed Drozda of the Serious Crimes Unit of the Mounties also came back from vacation.

On July 22, 1981, approximately three weeks after police made Olson a suspect, he, his wife Joan, and their infant son returned from a vacation in California. They were back in B.C. and back on the radar of the RCMP. That same day, Corporal Ed Drozda of the Serious Crimes Unit of the Mounties also came back from vacation.

Assigned to the Olson case, he met up with a detective named Dennis Tarr from the local police service of the city of Delta, close to Vancouver. Tarr was the one who would inch the RCMP closer to seeing Olson as their primary suspect.

Assigned to the Olson case, he met up with a detective named Dennis Tarr from the local police service of the city of Delta, close to Vancouver. Tarr was the one who would inch the RCMP closer to seeing Olson as their primary suspect.

John Daly, who was a reporter for the BCTV news station.

John Daly, who was a reporter for the BCTV news station.

Despite these rising suspicions, the RCMP and other police forces weren't able to act faster than Olson. He's brazenly abducting and murdering at alarming speed. Seven children are now dead. And in the last week of July alone, he murders his final four victims. On the morning of July 23rd, Olson spotted 15-year-old Raymond King Jr. waiting for a bus in New Westminster.

Despite these rising suspicions, the RCMP and other police forces weren't able to act faster than Olson. He's brazenly abducting and murdering at alarming speed. Seven children are now dead. And in the last week of July alone, he murders his final four victims. On the morning of July 23rd, Olson spotted 15-year-old Raymond King Jr. waiting for a bus in New Westminster.

King had been out looking for a summer job to make some cash. He never made it home. On the night King disappeared, Detective Tarr paid Olson a visit.

King had been out looking for a summer job to make some cash. He never made it home. On the night King disappeared, Detective Tarr paid Olson a visit.

Yeah. Tarr probed a bit about what more Olson knew about the disappearances and murders, asking specifically about the nine-year-old Simon Partington. Olson was reportedly relaxed, playing with his baby son as they talked. Tarr left without anything substantial. The RCMP did not put Olson under surveillance, not before Raymond King Jr. and not afterwards.

Yeah. Tarr probed a bit about what more Olson knew about the disappearances and murders, asking specifically about the nine-year-old Simon Partington. Olson was reportedly relaxed, playing with his baby son as they talked. Tarr left without anything substantial. The RCMP did not put Olson under surveillance, not before Raymond King Jr. and not afterwards.

The very next day, an 18-year-old West German tourist named Sigrun Arnd is hanging out at the Caribou, a hotel and pub along the highway. She meets a man with dark curly hair who offers her a ride.

The very next day, an 18-year-old West German tourist named Sigrun Arnd is hanging out at the Caribou, a hotel and pub along the highway. She meets a man with dark curly hair who offers her a ride.

And the encounter follows a well-worn pattern. Olsen picks her up and drives her to a boggy area outside of Richmond, the same place he took Simon Partington.

And the encounter follows a well-worn pattern. Olsen picks her up and drives her to a boggy area outside of Richmond, the same place he took Simon Partington.