Canada - Tyler Swartz, 18, murdered, Caledon mansion of former Dragon’s Den star, 27 Dec 2018 arrest

[dotr]

What triggered murder at Ontario mansion of ex-Dragon's Den Star?
"They had been friends since childhood.

The two men played as kids and went into business as they got older.

Now, one is dead and the other — Jonathan Weir, 20, of Caledon — faces a murder charge in a shocking slaying that took place at the sprawling Caledon mansion of former Dragon’s Den star Michael Wekerle.

What led to the killing of 18-year-old Tyler Swartz, of Thornhill, remains a mystery".
What is known is that Swartz’s heartbroken family and friends have been left to pick up the pieces and wonder: Why?

“His family is absolutely devastated,” a source told the Toronto Sun. “Crushed.”

What OPP detectives have revealed is only the most spartan of details about what went down on Dec. 27 at the mansion. Wekerle’s daughter was friends with the suspected killer."

 

[dotr]

‘An angel of a kid:’ Thornhill community mourns Tyler Swartz, teen killed at Michael Wekerle's Caledon home
"Tyler Swartz, 18, was a caring and sensitive teen; he spent once a week for the last four years volunteering with an autistic child."
According to documents obtained by the Enterprise, Wekerle is listed as the last owner of the 80-hectare property on King Street, east of Mississauga Road, where Caledon OPP were on the scene.

The property has been known for its yearly charity concert event, Wekfest, featuring acts such as Snoop Dogg and Sloan."


"Swartz attended high school at the Blyth Academy at the Thornhill campus, until 2017.

According to his LinkedIn profile, he was going to Sheridan College to become a plumber. Sheridan College can confirm a student with the same name was enrolled with the school in the fall of 2017 but withdrew without completing the semester."

He was also an aquarium aquatic enthusiastic and hoped to one day open a fresh water aquarium business.

He had a part-time job at Jacobs Deli — which coincidentally closed down over the Christmas holidays.

Since he was eight years old, he went once a week to volunteer with his older brother with the Friendship Circle, an organization for children with special needs."

 

[JDG]

Many thanks dotr.

The police aren't saying much but Jonathan Weir, nephew of Wekerle appeared in court Dec. 31st.

 

[JDG]

Jonathan Weir due back in Orangeville court Jan. 21.

Much is under a court ordered ban. Money talks? or screams.

Sources say it was a shooting.

1079 King St. Caledon is the location of the killing.

All taken from CaledonEnterprise dot com

 

[MistyWaters]

“.....Weir, who is charged with first-degree murder, made a court appearance last Friday.

“They had been best friends since childhood and had even gone into business together,” the source told the Sun.

The pair started a company that ploughed driveways and cut grass.

Swartz had initially intended to go to Florida with his mother for at least part of the Christmas break.

But she insisted that he stay up north to help Weir plow and shovel snow.

Now his mother is beside herself because if she hadn’t insisted he stay, this might have never happened,” the source added.“.......

.....Cops have not suggested a motive for the murder but a first-degree charge indicates detectives believe the slaying was premeditated.

“Was it over a girl, the business? Everyone is confused,” the source said.

What triggered murder at Caledon mansion of ex-Dragon’s Den star?

 

[JDG]

Two lives destroyed. And for what?

Perhaps we'll hear more Jan. 21.

I oppose these court ordered bans, it should all be transparent and democratic.

 

[Tobiano8th]

didn't realize there was thread on this.... i was just reading about wek's delayed opening of el mocambo

i wonder if the article got something wrong...... the suspect is wek's nephew. wek's daughter is friends with the suspect...... that doesn't make sense other than "the daughter" comment just being a throwaway/redundent comment..

i knew wek from bay street stuff................. never heard a bad word about him ever until he went a little overboard on person conduct the last 6-7 years (after his wife died). the guy had a sterling professional and personal reputation. very nice guy too... knew his first wife too. very very nice as well

 

[Tobiano8th]

i did a bunch of reading of different articles written just after arrest/murder

and can never be absolutely sure of what writers meant.

anyway, it looks like wekerle's daughter being "friends" with her cousin was based on facebook friendship (which is basically nothing by itself)

i should note i knew wekerle on a "say hi as you passed at a bar" basis. probably thousands of people know him that way.... i knew one of his key business partners (brad griffith) and his former wife moderately better... there should be a book on GMP someday

 

[FrostOwl]

July 2020:
First-degree murder pretrial for Caledon man delayed due to COVID-19

 

[dotr]

June 28 2021
MANDEL: Nephew of ex-Dragon's Den star to stand trial for murder | Toronto Sun
''Jonathan Weir, the nephew of former Dragon’s Den star Michael Wekerle, has been committed to stand trial on charges of second-degree murder in the death of a Thornhill teen.

The reasons for the decision, delivered on Zoom by Ontario Court Justice Richard Schwarzl in Orangeville, are covered by a publication ban.''

''Weir, 20 at the time, was former high school classmates with Swartz at the Thornhill campus of Blyth Academy.

The two were reportedly close friends who had operated a snow ploughing company together.

Police were tight-lipped about the circumstances surrounding the “sudden death” at the mansion where Weir was living with his uncle.''

 

[dotr]

Oct 20 2021
Caledon man 'inadvertently pulled the trigger' of Colt R75 killing best friend
''Jonathan Weir and Tyler Swartz had been laughing on the phone with friends and planning a BBQ just moments before Weir accidentally pulled the trigger of a Colt R75 and shot his friend dead, Orangeville court heard Wednesday.

The 23-year-old, who had been living at his uncle’s sprawling Caledon property at the time, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in Ontario Court of Justice in Orangeville on Oct. 20, 2021.''

''After Jonathan Weir accidently shot and killed his best friend with a machine gun in the Ontario mansion of his uncle, former Dragons’ Den celebrity investor Michael Wekerle, the illegal gun was dumped in a secluded pond before an ambulance or police were called.

When police did arrive later that day, Dec. 27, 2018, another gun, one that is not prohibited in Canada, was found near the body of Tyler Swartz, 18, with Weir telling investigators he was out walking his dog when he heard a shot and returned to the house to find the carnage.''

 

[dotr]

rbbm.

'Delicate personality' of Ontario man who shot his friend dead doesn't get him lower sentence

Nephew of former Dragons’ Den celebrity Michael Wekerle gets 51 months in prison for mixing machine guns and drugs leading to 'an utterly avoidable accident'

nationalpost.com

'''Delicate personality' of Ontario man who shot his friend dead doesn't get him lower sentence​

Nephew of former Dragons’ Den celebrity Michael Wekerle gets 51 months in prison for mixing machine guns and drugs leading to 'an utterly avoidable accident'

Adrian Humphreys
Sep 06, 2022 •
''Judge Richard Schwarzl dismissed Weir’s bid to serve no time in prison over complaints of police mistreatment and trauma from being in custody, saying Weir’s “delicate personality” and “fragility” did not mean he deserved a significantly lower sentence.''

''Weir told court he was “humiliated beyond measure” by a strip search after his arrest and has lasting trauma from being photographed in his underwear by a female officer and learning there was video surveillance of his cell where he twice urinated.''
While in jail awaiting bail, he told court, he witnessed a fight, a drug overdose and lost weight due to stress. While on bail he was under house arrest with an ankle monitor that bothered his leg and was not able to use a cell phone or social media.''

''Rather than immediately call 911 for help, the scene was staged to look like a suicide''.

 

[JDG]

Wonder who his lawyer is/was?

Delicate, fragile flower got one heck of a sweet deal for killing his friend.

He’ll be out in no time.

Might do 18 months before being paroled.