For decades, a shadow loomed over Toronto, a chilling mystery surrounding the murders of three women. Now, after tireless work by cold case detectives, a name has finally surfaced: Kenneth Leslie Smith, a man who preyed on vulnerability and left a trail of devastation.
Smith, a sex offender with a lengthy criminal history, died in 2019, unknowingly carrying the weight of these horrific crimes to his grave. Detectives believe his actions were driven by sexual malice, a dark compulsion that fueled a terrifying pattern of violence.
The investigation began to gain momentum in 2017, when Toronto Police partnered with the OPP, recognizing the potential for a connection between seemingly disparate cases. The key lay in DNA – minuscule samples from each crime scene, painstakingly preserved and awaiting a breakthrough in technology.
The science finally caught up. Advanced phenotyping revealed the killer was a white male, narrowing the search. A bold decision was made to submit the limited DNA evidence to Othram, a Texas lab pioneering the use of genetic genealogy to solve cold cases.
Othram’s work unlocked a family tree, leading investigators directly to Kenneth Smith. He had no known connection to the victims, yet the evidence overwhelmingly pointed to him as a serial killer, a predator who stalked the streets of Toronto and beyond.
The first victim, Christine Prince, a 25-year-old Welsh nanny, vanished after leaving a streetcar on a summer night in 1982. Her body was discovered two days later in the Rouge River, her identification discarded near a busy highway – a chilling sign of the killer’s callous disregard.
A year later, Claire Samson, a 23-year-old escort, was last seen getting into a beige sedan driven by an older, balding man. Her body was found the next day in a wooded area near Barrie, a single gunshot wound ending her life.
The final confirmed victim, Gracelynn Greenridge, a hardworking nurse who immigrated from the Bahamas, was murdered in her Toronto apartment in 1997. She was attacked just steps from her door, a senseless act of violence that left friends and investigators baffled.
The mystery surrounding Greenridge’s death lingered for years. How did Smith gain access to her apartment? Investigators believe she would never have willingly let him inside, suggesting a level of cunning and deception in his methods.
Now, detectives are focused on reconstructing Smith’s life between prison sentences, seeking to understand the full scope of his crimes. Were there other victims, other lives tragically cut short by this hidden predator? The investigation continues, driven by a commitment to bring closure to families and uncover the truth.
Anyone with information regarding Kenneth Smith or these cases is urged to contact the Toronto Police Homicide Unit or Crime Stoppers, as the search for answers continues.
