Season 2 | Episode 6: The Last Fare
"It's hard to fathom someone would exhibit that much rage — for what? Money?"
When 23-year-old cab driver Lucie Turmel was found brutally murdered, it shook the picturesque tourist town of Banff, Alta. It had been over three decades since there was a murder in the small community, and RCMP detective Doug Morrison (portrayed by Michael Shanks) was called in to take the case.
New developments in DNA technology should have been a boost for the investigation, but a town full of transient workers meant there were thousands of possible suspects and no solid leads. Solving the largest investigation in Banff's history took an undercover investigation and the help of the entire town.
About the detective
Retired RCMP Detective Doug Morrison worked for 31 years in Calgary for the RCMP. He was awarded the RCMP's Long Service Medal in 1991, the FBI Award in 1998 and the Medal of Bravery from the Governor General of Canada in 2001.
He retired in 2000 where he has taken on numerous roles including the job as Western Regional Director Federal Ombudsman for the Canadian Forces / Dept. National Defense.
What was unique to this investigation?
- The Turmel case led to changes in the Canadian Criminal Code to allow for the use of warrants to collect DNA evidence without consent.
- The very first DNA warrant issued under the new law was used a year later in 1995 to convict Murray Lyons of the rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl in New Brunswick.
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Episode cast
| Detective Doug Morrisson | MICHAEL SHANKS |
| Detective Nigel Paterson | MARK CAMACHO |
| Ryan Love | COLIN FRIEND |
| Al Haslett | BRENDAN MURRAY |
| Larry Laundreau | NICHOLAS CARELLA |
| Jeff Hayes | TORREN SYLVAIN |
| Club manager | MARK ANTONY KRUPA |
| Gary Verret | ELLIS ARCH |
| Company manager | LARRY DAY |
| Lucie Turmel | CATHERINE-AUDREY LACHAPELLE |
| Ryan's dad | DON ANDERSON |
| Luc Benoit | MARTIN DUBREUIL |
| Kim | SABRINA CAMPILII |
| Natalie | CHRISTINE TRINH |
| Bartender | CONNOR MCMAHON |
| Alexis | KATARINA KECA |
| Phyllis (witness) | KATHARINE KING |