B.C. Premier Christy Clark says she’s at “a loss for words” over the release of a book by serial killer Robert Pickton.
The 144-page book, entitled "Pickton: In his Own Words,” gives a glimpse into the mind of Canada's most notorious serial killer. It went on sale on Amazon’s U.S. and Canadian sites, briefly reaching the top of the bestseller list before being removed amid growing public outrage.
Clark told reporters Monday she’s concerned Pickton could get paid for the project, and promised the government is exploring legislative options to prevent that outcome.
“To think about the pain that he’s prepared to willingly cause all the families of those people he murdered,” Clark said.
“We want to know the government is doing everything it can to stop him from profiting from this at the very least.”
Four other provinces already have such legislation: Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia. B.C. will soon have a similar law of its own, according to Solicitor-General Mike Morris.
“There’s no way as long as I’m Sol-Gen that anybody’s going to make a nickel off of Robert Pickton’s file,” Morris said.
That could be difficult to enforce, however, since the book was printed by Colorado-based Outskirts Press.
Angry reaction from politicians, victims’ families and an online petition has already prompted the company to cancel the book.
Outskirts Press told CTV News it has a policy against publishing materials written by people in prison, but believed the book was by retired California resident Michael Chilldres, who typed it up.
“Mr. Chilldres claimed to us that he was the author,” said CEO Brent Sampson.
“We have asked Amazon to take this down. We apologize for any additional heartache that book has caused.”
Chilldres said he received a manuscript from one of Pickton’s fellow inmates who wanted to use the money from its sale to obtain a lawyer. Chilldres has also apologized for the effect the book's publication has had on victims' families.
“Don’t shoot the messenger. I’m just trying to help out a friend,” he said.
The meandering narrative is full of biblical passages, spelling mistakes, transcripts of his own police interviews, and lengthy descriptions of manual labour at his Port Coquitlam pig farm.
But much of it is the argument that Pickton is innocent – despite his 6 convictions of second-degree murder and a recorded confession to an undercover Mountie that he killed 49 women.
A lawyer for the children of the missing women, who is currently suing Robert Pickton and others connected to that farm, said he is still hopeful there is evidence in some of the unsolved crimes.
Jason Gratl said he hopes that Pickton has made a mistake – and has given away something he didn’t intend.
But Gratl said there’s no way Pickton should see a dime.
“I would consider seeking an injunction to prevent the distribution of those funds to Robert Pickton,” he said.
