Sex assault trial set for 2026, 3 decades after hunt for Ont. 'woodland rapist'

Thomas Daigle · CBC News

· Posted: Jun 20, 2025 12:55 PM EDT | Last Updated: 4 minutes ago

WARNING: This nonfiction whitethorn impact those who person experienced​ ​​​sexual unit oregon cognize idiosyncratic affected by it.

A Toronto antheral has been ordered to basal proceedings connected intersexual battle charges adjacent year, 3 decades aft a bid of attacks connected minors led to an Ontario manhunt for an chartless assailant the media dubbed the "woodland rapist."

Records filed successful Superior Court successful Brampton amusement Richard Neil's four-week assemblage proceedings has been scheduled to statesman the week of Sept. 14, 2026. He faces 17 charges, including intersexual battle with a weapon, kidnapping and making kid pornography.

Neil, 65, was arrested successful Toronto successful March 2024, pursuing a long-running, connected again, disconnected again investigation.

His lawyer, Leo Adler, declined to remark connected the case. Adler antecedently told CBC News his lawsuit is "not guilty" and was "shocked" erstwhile helium archetypal learned of the allegations.

Police from Peel, Halton and Waterloo regions launched the Project Woodland task unit successful 1995 aft they said DNA grounds had linked 3 unsolved intersexual assaults. Each time, investigators said a kid had been lured into a wooded area, tied to a histrion and attacked.

Neil was released connected bail past year. An indictment reviewed by CBC shows he's charged successful transportation with 3 attacks on:

• A lad connected Aug. 21, 1992 successful Kitchener.

• Another lad connected Sept. 29, 1994 successful Brampton.

• A miss connected Aug. 31, 1995 successful Oakville.

The identities of the alleged victims are covered by a work ban. Police said past twelvemonth they fishy determination whitethorn beryllium much victims.

Peel constabulary laid 20 charges against Neil successful March 2024, but 1 number of battle and 2 counts of intersexual interference nary longer look successful caller tribunal documents. Ontario's Ministry of the Attorney General did not instantly respond to a petition to clarify the discrepancy.

Complainant says DNA proved crucial 

Three decades aft officers canvassed neighbourhoods — and investigators reportedly looked astatine much than 1,000 persons of involvement — police person not said what yet led them to Neil.

But 1 alleged unfortunate said investigators told him a comparative of Neil's submitted their DNA to an ancestry-type website, and that proved important successful the case.

Now successful his 40s, that man was 10 years aged erstwhile helium reported to constabulary helium had been forced to execute enactment acts connected a alien successful a Brampton park.

A erstwhile researcher connected the lawsuit provided CBC with the aforesaid account regarding DNA evidence.

Police crossed North America person reported breakthroughs successful a increasing fig of cases successful caller years done investigative familial genealogy. The method involves comparing transgression country DNA to familial information voluntarily submitted to direct-to-consumer genealogical services.

WATCH | DNA helped lick acold case, complainant says: 

It was a method unavailable to detectives who archetypal worked connected the case.

At the time, a composite sketch of a antheral was distributed to instrumentality enforcement agencies crossed the state and adjacent U.S. states. At 1 point, Ontario investigators said they'd received 1,300 tips.

A civilian suit filed past twelvemonth against Neil by 1 of his alleged victims was precocious discontinued, a tribunal typical confirmed to CBC. In a connection of claim, the plaintiff said helium had suffered "severe carnal and intelligence injuries" successful the 3 decades since the assault, including "trauma, affectional distress, and nonaccomplishment of enjoyment of life."

It's not wide what led the suit to beryllium discontinued.

Neil's transgression lawsuit is scheduled to instrumentality to a Brampton tribunal adjacent week.