Calgary's historic murders are tied to a serial killer

WARNING: This story contains details of sexual violence that some may find disturbing.

An investigation into unsolved historical murders in the 1970s linked the deaths of two girls and two young women in and around Calgary to a now-deceased serial killer.

RCMP held a news conference Friday to share the results of their investigation linking the serial sex offender to the deaths of 14-year-old Patricia McQueen and Eva Dvorak, 20-year-old Melissa Rehorek and 19-year-old Barbara McLean between 1976 and 1977. .

Based on forensic evidence, witness statements, and similar circumstantial evidence, Gary Allen Srery, a US citizen born in 1942, is believed to be responsible for the four murders.

Sreri died in prison in the US in 2011.

If Sreri were alive today, police said, he would be charged with the double murder of Patricia McQueen and Eva Dvorak, and with first-degree murder for each of the deaths of Melissa Rehorek and Barbara McLean.

The RCMP noted that the difference in charges reflects changes to the criminal code dating back to the 1970s.

“For nearly 50 years, investigators have not given up on finding the person responsible for these murders,” said Supt. Dave Hall, officer in charge of the Alberta RCMP's serious crimes unit, on Friday.

“Finding the killer won't bring Eva, Patsy, Melissa or Barbara back, but I hope their families can get answers about what happened to their loved ones all those years ago.”

Police believe Sreri may be responsible for a string of unsolved murders and sexual assaults in western Canada.

Gary Allen Serry is featured in the photos provided. (Courtesy: RCMP)

McQueen, Dvorak, Rehorek, and McLean

Patricia (Patsy) McQueen and Eva Dvorak were high school friends in Calgary, according to RCMP.

The teenage girls were last seen on February 14, 1976, walking together in downtown Calgary.

Their bodies were found the next morning under the Happy Valley overpass on Highway 1 west of Calgary.

The McQueen family described Patricia as a teenager “full of life, adventure and curiosity”.

“It's been 48 years since our sister Patsy (Patricia) was taken from us. Over the years, we thought we would never know what happened on that terrible day, but we never gave up hope that one day we would know the answers and finally find some comfort and closure,” the McQueen family said in a statement. Presented by the RCMP.

“This evil monster has caused so much pain and suffering for countless families. When our loved ones were taken away, he took a piece from each of us.''

According to the Dvorak family, the case has been solved and there are some answers and closure.

“Eva was loved by her family and everyone who knew her. Her bright smile and bubbly personality were infectious and would brighten up any room. “When Eva was around, she would not sit still, she would always dance and sing at any time of the day,” the family said in a statement.

“He will be truly loved and greatly missed.”

Patricia McQueen and Eva Dvorak. (Courtesy: RCMP)

Melissa Rehorek moved from Ontario to Calgary in the spring of 1976.

She worked as a live-in housekeeper at the YWCA in downtown Calgary. He was last seen on the evening of September 15, 1976 by a roommate. He planned to hitchhike out of town on the weekend.

His body was found the next morning in a ditch about 22 kilometers west of Calgary on what is now Township Road 252.

“Our message is that Melissa is fun, adventurous and hard-working. He was an honest, positive person who believed in people,” Rehorek's family said in a statement.

“He enjoyed traveling to Banff for his love of nature, but also for his interest in seeing Canada.”

Melissa Rehorek. (Courtesy: RCMP)

Originally from Nova Scotia, Barbara McLean had moved to Calgary six months before her death and worked at a local bank.

On February 25, 1977, he was with friends at the bar of the Highlander Hotel. He was last seen leaving the hotel alone on the morning of February 26.

About six hours later, her body was found in the area of ​​Sixth Street and 80th Avenue NE. At the time, the location was outside of Calgary.

“The pain of losing Barbara so tragically has been a constant in our lives, but recent events have answered the questions we've had to live with all these years,” the McLean family said in a statement.

“We are four families who have shared the worst kind of pain, grief and suffering for years. We hope that we can all find peace in the coming days.”

Barbara McLean. (Courtesy: RCMP)

Although autopsies were performed on all four victims, the causes of death for McQueen and Dvorak were not initially determined. Their deaths were not treated as homicides at the time and were investigated as suspicious deaths.

The cause of death for both Rehorek and McLean was suffocation. Their deaths were investigated as homicides.

All four files were never closed.

RCMP said seminal fluid was found at all three crime scenes, but DNA profiling was not possible due to technological limitations at the time.

The similarities between Rehorek's and McLean's deaths led investigators at the time to believe the same man was responsible for both murders.

“For nearly 50 years, Alberta RCMP have used every investigative tool to identify the person responsible for this tragic death,” Hall said.

“The files were constantly reviewed, and the investigators followed up on all the recommendations they could.”

The first investigations continued in the 1980s, and in the 1990s working groups were established to re-examine previously unimplemented evidence, advice and recommendations.

A genetic breakthrough

Police used genetic testing to narrow down the search and identify Sreeri over the past three years.

In 2021, the RCMP and Calgary Police Service partnered to use investigative genetic genealogy to identify a suspect.

“Our goal is to find the truth and find out what happened to these people, so the jurisdiction doesn't stand in our way,” said Insp. Kevin Forsen, with the Calgary Police Major Crimes Unit.

“We had two detectives and two genealogists. Within 11 weeks, they identified Sreri and cleared the remaining 300 suspects the RCMP had compiled.”

After re-examining evidence taken more than 45 years ago, a DNA profile was created to be shared with other law enforcement agencies.

After building a family tree and further targeted DNA testing, a suspicious hypothesis was presented to the police.

“This is the first time investigators have identified a viable suspect that has not been previously investigated, but the hypothesis still needs to be confirmed,” Hall said.

Police found that Sreri had links to Canada and had committed acts of violence against women.

The DNA profile was also matched to crime scene evidence returned from the McQueen and Dvorak investigations. His DNA matches in the Rehorek and McLean cases were confirmed.

This led the police to believe that the same person was responsible for all four deaths and that McQueen and Dvorak were killed.

Police identified Sreri during a border investigation and learned that he had died while serving a life sentence for sexual assault in an Idaho prison.

His DNA was then confirmed to match the unknown DNA profile found in all four victims.

Gary Allen Surrey. (Courtesy: RCMP)

According to RCMP, Sreri was a United States citizen living illegally in Canada at the time of the murder.

Before coming to Canada, he had an extensive criminal history in the US that included rape, kidnapping, robbery and sexual assault.

Police believe he fled the US in 1974 after posting bail on rape charges in California.

He led a transient lifestyle and lived in Calgary in 1976-77 under aliases including Willie Blackman and Rex Long. He occasionally worked as a cook under the table.

Sreri is known to change her appearance, residence and car frequently.

RCMP said he lived in Alberta and British Columbia from the late 1970s until 2003, when he was deported.

Calgary police have used DNA profiling to review unsolved homicide files, but do not believe there are any other open cases involving Srery in their jurisdiction at this time.

The RCMP is asking for help filling in the gaps for Sreri's remaining time in Canada.

“Sreri's criminal activities spanned several jurisdictions and many aliases for decades. Alberta RCMP believe there will be more victims,” said Insp. Brenna Brown, Provincial Operations Support Officer with the Alberta RCMP Serious Crimes Unit.

Anyone who recognizes Sreri or knows him by an alias is asked to contact the Alberta RCMP Historical Crime Unit at [email protected] or by phone at 780-509-3306.

“If you believe that Srery is involved in or may be responsible for a crime in your jurisdiction, please contact a police agency in that jurisdiction to report it,” the RCMP said in a news release.

With files from Tim Bruch of CTV News Calgary.