Bad People

11. Plant Pot Killer: How do our biases blind us?

People have been going missing from Toronto’s Gay Village since the 70s. The gay community claims that the police are not taking the disappearances seriously enough. The pieces start to fall into place when one man goes missing and leaves a diary entry for that day saying “Bruce”. Police survey a Bruce McArther, a gardener and mall Santa. When they see him enter his flat with another man, they break the door down only to find a man handcuffed to his bed. 
On this episode of Bad People, presenters Julia Shaw and Sofie Hagen uncover why there are very few serial killers over the age of 40, and why people from vulnerable populations are less likely to be reported missing.Warning: This episode contains strong language and references to sexual violence, and murder.Archive credits: This episode includes audio from CBC, Global News and W5.Presenters: Dr. Julia Shaw and Sofie Hagen 
Producer: Caroline Steel
Assistant Producer: Simona Rata
Music: Matt Chandler
Series Editor: Rami TzabarCommissioning Producer: Hannah Rose
Commissioning Executive: Dylan Haskins
Commissioning Editor: Jason PhippsBad People is a BBC Audio Science Production for BBC Sounds #BadPeople_BBC

Criminal psychologist Dr Julia Shaw makes a return to the series with a new co-host: journalist Amber Haque. Each episode tells the story of a true crime and explains why people do bad things. Murder, blackmail, fraud and much more. Listen every Thursday. Bad People is a BBC Studios Audio production for BBC Sounds.