Gary Newman

Gary Newman was a 36-year-old father, husband, and respected karate and kickboxing instructor from Oshawa, Ontario. Known for his passion for martial arts, he was in regular contact with his family, including his then 12-year-old son. His life was one of discipline and connection, which made his sudden and complete disappearance in the spring of 2005 all the more alarming to those who knew and loved him.

The last time Gary’s mother, Vera Bahadosingh, saw him was on April 15, 2005, in Oshawa. His last known location was reported to be in Toronto's vibrant Kensington Market area sometime that same month. Communication from him became sparse until a final, disturbing phone call on April 26. During the call with his wife and mother, Gary asked if he could come over for a visit. Then, without warning, the line went dead. His family, knowing it was completely out of character for him to drop contact, reported him missing to the Durham Regional Police. For nine long years, his loved ones waited, holding onto hope but fearing the worst as the case grew cold.

The agonizing wait for answers came to a grim end on May 1, 2014. Acting on new information, police were led to a rural property just south of Kirkfield, a community in the City of Kawartha Lakes, about 90 kilometers north of Oshawa. There, investigators discovered human remains. On May 6, 2014, after a post-mortem examination at Toronto's Centre for Forensic Sciences, the remains were positively identified as those of Gary Newman. The autopsy confirmed the family's deepest fears: Gary was the victim of a homicide. Investigators believe he was likely murdered shortly after he disappeared in 2005 and that his body had been left at the remote location for many years.

The investigation into Gary Newman’s murder is led by the Durham Regional Police Homicide Unit. In the years following his disappearance, his mother spoke out, convinced her son was in trouble during that final phone call. The discovery of his body confirmed he had met with foul play, but it did not immediately lead to the person or people responsible. Police have not publicly identified any suspects or a motive in the killing. The case hinges on someone with knowledge of the events of April 2005 finally coming forward.

The years of uncertainty took a heavy toll on Gary’s family. His mother described the pain of not knowing, a feeling that only partially subsided with the discovery of his remains. After the identification was made, homicide detectives met with the family to deliver the devastating news that their search was over, but a new quest for justice was just beginning.

As of August 2015, Gary Newman's case was listed among Durham Region's most prominent unsolved murders. The investigation remains open and active. Police urge anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward. Anyone with knowledge about Gary Newman’s activities and whereabouts in April 2005, or information about his death and the disposal of his remains, is asked to contact Durham Regional Police Homicide Unit investigators at 1-888-579-1520, ext. 5326 or ext. 5223. Anonymous tips can be made to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).