Police have released the cause of death of three people killed in a bloody attack involving a crossbow in east Toronto last week.
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The relationship between the accused and the four victims has not been released, and the names of the victims can not be reported due to a court-ordered publication ban.
Toronto’s so-called crossbow killer Brett Ryan is accused of murdering his family, including his mother and two brothers.
Brett Ryan, 35, a convicted bank robber known as the “fake beard bandit” for committing the robberies in disguise, faces three counts of first-degree murder.
At Monday’s press conference Carbone said autopsies revealed the woman died of strangulation; the man in the garage died of a crossbow bolt stab wound to the neck; and the man found on the driveway died of an arrow stab wound to the neck.
Police said Susan Ryan was strangled, while Christopher and Alexander Ryan were killed by crossbow bolts.
Police have said the attack was connected to a suspicious package found in Brett Ryan’s apartment downtown Thursday.
Ryan was previously charged in relation to more than a dozen robberies committed across Toronto and Durham Region in 2008. Speaking to the Star, a neighbour said Susan Ryan had four sons, two of whom lived in the Lawndale Road home where the attacks took place.
It is believed Susan Ryan is the mother of both Christopher and Alexander.
Police said the person who called 9-1-1 to report the incident was one of the victims.
He was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison.
Det. -Sgt. Mike Carbone told reporters Monday he wanted any members of the public who had spoken with the accused between 7:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. ET on August 25 to contact police.
In that case, Ryan was arrested after going into a bank wearing a false beard and carrying pepper spray, police said at the time.
In January 2009, he pleaded guilty to eight counts each of robbery and intent to commit an indictable offence while disguised. Police later confirmed there was a connection between the murders and the package found in a condo unit there but assured residents the items found posed “no danger” to the public.
Ryan is set to appear in court again on Friday.
Social media profiles show the accused was engaged to a registered physiotherapist.
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Police have said they have strong evidence that the killings were premeditated. The remaining counts were withdrawn.
