Mourners place flowers outside the home of billionaire founder of Canadian pharmaceutical firm Apotex, Barry Sherman and his wife Honey, who were found dead under circumstances that police described as suspicious, in Toronto. Photo: Reuters
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Children of Toronto billionaire couple angrily reject murder-suicide theory, as homicide team probes deaths
‘It’s irresponsible that police sources have reportedly advised the media of a theory which neither their family, their friends nor their colleagues believe to be true’
Barry Sherman – the Chairman and CEO of Apotex Inc – and his wife, Honey, are shown at the annual United Jewish Appeal fundraiser in Toronto on August 24, 2010. Photo: Reuters.
Toronto’s homicide unit has taken over a probe into the suspicious deaths of Canadian pharmaceutical billionaire Barry Sherman and his wife Honey, police said on Sunday after finding they had died from strangulation.
“The cause of death for both deceased was ligature neck compression,” Toronto police said in a statement after postmortem examinations of the bodies of the 75-year-old Apotex chairman and his 70-year-old wife.
“Toronto Police Service Homicide has taken the lead in this suspicious death investigation,” the police said, without further details.
At 11:44am on Friday, officers responded to an emergency call at the couple’s home on Old Colony Road, in a plush neighbourhood of Toronto.
Local media cited a police source as saying the Shermans’ bodies were found hanging from a railing around a basement pool, the theory being that the Apotex chairman killed his wife Honey, hung her body and then hanged himself by the pool’s edge.
But the family strongly refutes that theory.
“Our parents shared an enthusiasm for life and commitment to their family and community totally inconsistent with the rumours regrettably circulated in the media as to the circumstances surrounding their deaths,” the family said in a statement. “We are shocked and think it’s irresponsible that police sources have reportedly advised the media of a theory which neither their family, their friends nor their colleagues believe to be true.”
The family called for a “thorough, intensive and objective criminal investigation” and urged the media to refrain from reporting until the investigation is complete.
A police forensics photographer works outside the home of billionaire founder of Canadian pharmaceutical firm Apotex Inc, Barry Sherman and his wife Honey, who were found dead under circumstances that police described as suspicious in Toronto. Photo: Reuters
There were apparently no signs that the deaths were premeditated or that either of the Shermans was suffering from depression. The couple had planned to spend the Christmas holidays with friends in Florida.
Linda Frum, a member of the Canadian Senate and friend of the couple, dismissed the idea that Barry Sherman could have harmed his wife.
“He adored her … He was a gentle, good man,” she was quoted as saying in The New York Times.
The newspaper said that despite their wealth they flew economy class and their home was relatively modest, while Barry Sherman drove an old car.
Apotex, which Sherman founded in 1974, confirmed the deaths. Local media outlets reported that he was not seen at the company’s offices on Thursday.
One of two bodies is removed from the home of Barry Sherman and his wife Honey in Toronto on Saturday. Photo: Reuters
The company made its name producing generic drugs, and grew to employ more than 11,000 people worldwide in an expansion that included legal battles with the world’s biggest brand-name drug makers.
According to Forbes, Sherman had an estimated worth of US$3.2 billion at the time of his death and was the 12th-richest person in Canada.
Canadian media said the Shermans had recently put their home up for sale for about C$7 million (US$5.4 million).
The deaths sparked an outpouring of sympathy from the country’s political elite, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who posted on Twitter that he was “saddened” by the news, noting the “vision and spirit” of the couple known for their philanthropy.
Apotex said they had made significant donations to universities, with their foundation giving more than C$50 million over the past decade.