Catherine McDonald
Crime Specialist
Catherine McDonald is Global News Toronto’s veteran crime reporter. Catherine worked as a reporter in Red Deer, Alberta and Victoria, BC before moving to Toronto in November 2000 where she has worked at Global since. She began reporting exclusively on crime shortly after covering the release of Karla Homolka from prison in 2005.
A graduate of McGill University and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, Catherine has covered some of the biggest crime stories in the Greater Toronto Area over the years, including the disappearance and murder of 10-year-old Holly Jones in 2003, the murder of Markham woman Alicia Ross in 2005, the Bruce McArthur serial killer investigation and the murders of billionaires Honey and Barry Sherman.
Spending a lot of time in court, some of the notable trials she won’t forget include the trial of two Mississauga sisters convicted of first-degree murder after drowning their mother in a bathtub in 2002, the trial of a Toronto anaesthesiologist convicted of sexually assaulting 21 women while they were sedated on the operating room table between 2006 and 2010 and the trial of three Toronto police officers charged with gang sexual assault. More recently, Catherine has covered the trial of a man found guilty of driving while drunk and stoned – killing a young father who was the son-in-law of a senior officer from York Regional Police – and the guilty plea and sentencing of a once well-respected lawyer who was married to a Justice of the Peace from Newmarket, who was convicted of bigamy and forging divorce documents.
When not chasing bad guys and telling the stories of the victims left behind, Catherine can be found at the gym or at the playground chasing after her two young girls.
Video Archives
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Police in York Region launch plan to combat racing, dangerous driving
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Stabbing, 5 arrests at Toronto Victoria Day fireworks
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OPP investigating after remains of child found in Grand River
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Police in Toronto investigating after a spike in armed carjackings across the city
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Toronto Maple Leafs superstar Mitch Marner the victim of an armed carjacking
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Toronto Maple Leafs player Mitch Marner’s SUV stolen in armed carjacking
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Ontario man who killed mother, 3 daughters in Brampton collision sentenced to 17 years in prison
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Driver who killed mother, 3 daughters in Brampton sentenced to 17 years jail time
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A Chinatown business owner is struggling to recover after being attacked behind his restaurant
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Police appeal to Toronto’s LGBTQ2+ community for information after man found dead in Bradford Canal
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Toronto taxi driver is on trial for dangerous driving causing the death of his passenger
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Jury chosen in sexual assault trial of Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard
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Human remains discovered inside dumpster in Rosedale driveway
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Toronto’s latest murder victim was shot while behind the wheel of his SUV
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Exclusive new details about the arrest of ‘Canada’s Number One’ most wanted fugitive
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Bolo Program reveals list of ‘Canada’s most wanted,’ including several sought by Toronto police
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Crown suggests 23-year prison sentence for driver who killed woman and her 3 children
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Police identify suspect vehicle wanted in connection with drive-by shooting in Scarborough
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Son on trial for decorated firefighter’s murder
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The parents of Erin Yoxall speak out exclusively to Global News
Author Archives
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Son convicted of father’s murder given life sentence, psychiatric assessment orderedJustice John McMahon called the fatal stabbing of Kent Truman on April 15, 2019 'a tragic and extremely brutal killing.'CrimeMay 25
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Toronto Maple Leaf Mitch Marner victim of armed carjacking in EtobicokeA spokesperson for MLSE confirmed to Global News that Mitch Marner was the "unfortunate victim of a carjacking in Etobicoke on Monday evening."CrimeMay 16
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Toronto tea shop owner appealing to public for help after being assaultedToronto police told Global News that officers received a report of an assault at Crimson Teas just after 5:15 p.m. on April 12.CrimeMay 13
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Toronto taxi driver on trial for dangerous driving causing death of passengerAccording to an agreed statement of facts, Gurcharan Singh was driving a Toyota Camry for 'City Taxi' on the night of the deadly crash.CrimeMay 11
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Canada’s ‘Most Wanted’ fugitive arrested at Ajax hospital: sourcesAt Tuesday's Bolo (be on the lookout) Top 25 launch, Interim Police Chief James Ramer said it was believed Canada's most wanted fugitive Abilaziz Mohamed was somewhere in the GTA.CrimeApr 28
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Toronto man on trial for first-degree murder of father, a retired firefighterKyle Truman has pleaded not guilty.CrimeApr 21
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4 men arrested in connection with Toronto hit-and-run that left 29-year-old woman deadOn April 14, Toronto police were called to the Spadina Avenue and King Street West area after receiving reports that a pedestrian had been struck by a vehicle.CrimeApr 20
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Family identify woman killed in Toronto hit-and-run as Erin Yoxall, 29, of ScotlandYoxall's mother, Roseanne Yoxall, told Global News her daughter has been in Canada for eight years.CrimeApr 18
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Toronto man guilty of execution-style killing of Hamilton fatherJustice Peter Bawden told the court, nearly three hours into reading his verdict, that he was satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that this was a first-degree murder.CrimeApr 14
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Man charged with 1st degree murder in 2 separate, random fatal shootings in TorontoToronto police say a 39-year-old man has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder for two separate "random" murders of two men within about 48 hours of each other.CrimeApr 12
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Brampton teen died after confrontation with off-duty Toronto police officers: documentsShortly after the interaction with the two off-duty Toronto police officers, the teenager, Chadd Facey was taken to hospital where he died.CrimeApr 7
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Driver killed in Mimico crash that left 2 pedestrians dead under driving ban: Toronto policeToronto police say a 36-year-old driver along with a 75-year-old man and a 43-year-old woman are dead following a crash in the city's Mimico neighbourhood on Thursday.CrimeApr 1
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Police name woman found in garbage bag in Toronto’s east endOn Tuesday evening, Det. Sgt. Christopher Ruhl of the Toronto police homicide unit said the body was discovered “including some signs of dismemberment.”CrimeMar 30
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75-year-old pedestrian struck by hit-and-run driver in Toronto home after 5 weeks in hospital"Five weeks in hospital. I thought maybe she's not going to make it."CrimeMar 25
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Keira’s Law aims to educate judges about domestic violence'If we can get this private member's bill passed, then I believe Keira's legacy will be a positive one,' said Pam Damoff, MP for Oakville—North Burlington.CrimeMar 24
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Cement truck driver pleads guilty to careless driving causing death in 2019 North York incidentGiorgio Cipollone pleaded guilty to careless driving causing death, a Highway Traffic Act offence, on Wednesday.CrimeMar 9
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Family of avid cyclist killed in King, Ont. hit-and-run calls driver a ‘coward’"How could anyone do this to another human being? I want to tell you that you are a coward and I will never understand or be able to excuse this behaviour at all."CrimeMar 8
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Jury trial begins for two men accused in murder of aspiring sportscasterThe trial for the two men accused of the second degree murder of aspiring sportscaster Jonathan Gayle has begun.CrimeMar 7
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Ukrainian bakery in Toronto vandalized againJust three weeks after Future Bakery in Etobicoke was vandalized with pro-Russian graffiti, the owner says it's been vandalized again.CrimeMar 4
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Trial begins for man suspected of speeding, driving drunk, killing Richmond Hill fatherFereidon Hayatibahar has pleaded not guilty.CrimeMar 2
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Family of siblings killed in Vaughan driveway sob as victim impact statements read in court'Every time I leave that driveway, I have to relive the moment,' Binta Patel says of the day her children were killed by a speeding driver in the driveway of their Vaughan home.CrimeMar 1
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Man charged after Ukraine flag ripped from vehicle, window smashed in VaughanPolice said the man may also be involved in "at least one other incident" in Toronto. He has been charged with mischief under $5,000.CrimeFeb 28
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Toronto teacher subjected to ‘Hitler salute’ speaks out'I had to just immediately walk out of the classroom. I could no longer be in that environment,' the teacher told Global News of her reaction to the salute by two students.CanadaFeb 25
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Toronto man sentenced to 5-year prison term for April 2020 shooting of 15-year-old boyIt was on April 26, 2020, when officers were called to a Toronto Community Housing Complex on Sheppard Avenue near Jane Street for a shooting.CrimeFeb 22
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‘The pain never goes away’: Jordan Manners’ mother on 2nd student fatally shot inside Toronto school'I didn't want to see another family go through what I've gone through and it happened again.'CrimeFeb 17