Three men have been convicted for the brutal murders of retired Canadian couple Arnold and Joanne De Jong, who were found dead in their Abbotsford, British Columbia, home in May 2022.
The men, all in their 20s, were employees of a cleaning company owned by one of the suspects. The conviction marks a significant step toward justice for the De Jong family, though the pain of their loss remains.
The Murders of Arnold and Joanne De Jong
Arnold, 77, and Joanne, 76, were discovered in their beds on the morning of May 9, 2022. Arnold was asphyxiated with tape wrapped around his head, obstructing his breathing, while Joanne was found beside him, her head bludgeoned and throat slashed. Both victims had their hands and feet bound with rope.
The case shocked the community, as the couple had spent the day before their deaths enjoying Mother’s Day with their daughters and grandchildren.
The Conviction and Details of the Case
Abhijeet Singh, Khushveer Toor, and Gurkaran Singh, all employees of a cleaning company owned by Singh, were found guilty of the murders by the Supreme Court of British Columbia on May 8. The three men had previously worked in the De Jongs’ home before the killings occurred.
The defense team attempted to argue that the murders were the result of a robbery gone wrong, but Justice Brenda Brown rejected this claim. She characterized the killings as “intimate and prolonged,” indicating premeditation and deliberate intent.
The prosecution further revealed that the men stole credit cards, checks, and a power washer from the home, using the stolen cards to make personal payments. DNA evidence from all three men was found at the crime scene, linking them to the murders.
Additionally, Abhijeet Singh’s internet searches in the days following the murders were described as “exceptionally damning,” with one search focused on how murderers are punished in Canada.
The Impact on the Family
The De Jong family has been left devastated by the loss. In interviews following the verdict, the couple’s daughters shared their grief, describing their parents as “kind, loving, sweet people” who could never be replaced.
Sandra Barthel, one of the daughters, spoke about how the family had spent Mother’s Day with the couple before their deaths, unaware it would be their last moments together.
“It’s so bittersweet. We have this first-degree conviction for all three suspects, but yet we still grieve,” said Kimberley Coleman, another of the De Jongs’ daughters. “They were so special to us, and we miss them every day.”
Sentencing and Final Thoughts
The three men are scheduled to be sentenced on May 28, 2023, in Abbotsford. While the conviction brings some measure of justice, the family acknowledges that it cannot undo the pain of their loss. Sandra Barthel summed it up poignantly: “No matter what, we’re the ones with the life sentence.”
