The Most Infamous Figures in the History of Ontario - Eddie Boyd and the Boyd Gang

The Canadian Province of Ontario has had its share of thoroughly nasty characters, none more vile than the serial killer/rapist Paul Bernardo and his wife Karla Homolka. However, one of the most notorious figures in the province’s history is Eddie Boyd, a bank robber, jailbreaker, and former military policeman, also known as the Boyd Gang.

Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka: Monsters of Crime

Bernardo and Homolka are monsters... and for reasons that will become clear, I won’t dignify them by posting their photographs.

Paul Bernardo was convicted in 1995 for offences that included two charges of First Degree murder and two of Aggravated Sexual Assault. He was unquestionably responsible for at least a dozen more violent rapes and assaults for which he was never charged. He has been in prison since, and it is unlikely he will ever be released, despite becoming eligible for parole in 2018.

FBI Profiler’s Assessment

According to the findings of an FBI profiler, Bernardo is a “psychopathic narcissistic sexual sadist [and] a manipulative chronic liar.” He is considered a significant threat to public safety and is designated a ‘dangerous offender.’

Karla Homolka's Journey from "Battered Wife" to Infamous Criminal

Initially, Homolka was seen in a more sympathetic light as the “battered wife” of a manipulative and dangerous psychotic. However, the full extent of her role in Bernardo's crimes was not discovered until she pleaded guilty to Manslaughter in exchange for a reduced sentence.

When videotapes revealed her participation in the drugging, rape, and murder of her 15-year-old sister, Homolka’s plea arrangement was denounced as “the Deal with the Devil.”

Eddie Boyd: Bank Robber and Jailbreaker

Edwin Alonzo Boyd, also known as Eddie Boyd, is referred to as Ontario’s “Most Infamous Figure.” Unlike Bernardo and Homolka, Boyd wasn’t a serial killer, but his notoriety was not insignificant.

Boyd began his criminal career at 19, a far cry from the gun-slinging hoods of the 1920s and 1930s. After serving time in a penitentiary, Boyd lied about his criminal history and joined the Royal Canadian Regiment.

The Soldier: A Life in the Military and Crime

Boyd volunteered for overseas duty but found infantry life unexciting. He transferred to the Provost Corps and used his military experience to race around the countryside on a motorbike. After his return, Boyd began his criminal career, holding up the Bank of Montreal.

In 1951, Boyd was incarcerated in Toronto’s notorious Don Jail. The overcrowding and harsh conditions there only fueled his desire to break out. He and two other inmates planned and executed an escape, stealing guns and hacking through prison bars.

The Boyd Gang: Notable Criminals

Beyond Boyd, the Boyd Gang included:

“Tough Lenny” Jackson, a former freight train hopper with a prosthetic foot and a criminal past. Steve Suchan (aka Valent Lesso), a professional violinist turned bank robber with a reputation for violence. Willie “the Clown” Jackson, an underworld figure who shared Boyd’s disregard for the law.

In 1951, the BoYD Gang committed one of the biggest bank robberies in Canadian history, pulling off a $46,000 job at the Leaside branch of the Royal Bank. Their success and audacity would eventually lead to their arrest and the end of their criminal careers.

A Perpetual Thug: Boyd's Later Life

After the gang's arrest, Boyd's public image as a bank robber transformed into a violent criminal. His criminal activities continued until his capture, and his life remained one of crime and violence. Boyd, like Bernardo and Homolka, became a symbol of the violent underworld in Ontario.

Conclusion

While Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka may have been more vilified, Eddie Boyd and the Boyd Gang left a lasting mark on Ontario’s criminal history. Their stories serve as a cautionary tale of the cost of disregarding societal laws and the consequences of a life dedicated to crime.