TORONTO – A Toronto man has been sentenced to life in prison for the so-called “crossbow killings” of his mother and two brothers in their east Toronto home last August.
Brett Ryan, 35, pleaded guilty to one count each of first-degree murder and attempted murder, as well as two counts of second-degree murder.
He will be eligible for parole in 25 years.
READ MORE: Suspect in crossbow-related killings was considered low risk to reoffend: documents
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According to an agreed statement of facts submitted to the court Friday, Ryan lied to his fiancee about his job history, neglecting to tell her that he had lost his job because of his criminal record.
The statement says he later admitted the lies to his mother, Susan Ryan, but made plans to kill her after she insisted Ryan tell his fiancee the truth.
The statement goes on to say that Brett Ryan killed her along with two of his brothers, Alexander James Ryan and Christopher Ryan, and attempted to kill a third, Leigh Ryan, following a heated argument with his mother on Aug. 25, 2016.
READ MORE: Victims of crossbow-related attack in Toronto were mom, 2 brothers of suspect Brett Ryan
Autopsy reports say Susan Ryan died of strangulation, while one of the men died from a crossbow bolt shot through his neck and the other died from a single crossbow bolt stab wound to the neck.
Ryan was previously dubbed the “Fake Beard Bandit” by police for his involvement in a string of bank robberies that started in October 2007.
With files from Nicole Bauman
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