It was a cold, dark December night in 2017 when Barry and Honey Sherman, a prominent billionaire couple in Toronto, were last seen alive. The Shermans were known for their philanthropic work and their enormous wealth, but little did they know that their lives were about to take a dark and tragic turn. This is the story of the unsolved mystery that continues to haunt Toronto and the Sherman family to this day.
The Shermans
Barry Sherman, the founder and owner of Apotex, a major pharmaceutical company producing generic drugs in Canada, was a hardworking and dedicated businessman. His wife, Honey, was a well-known philanthropist who served on the boards of numerous charities. Together, the couple controlled a fortune of US $3.2 billion, making Barry the 12th wealthiest man in Canada at the time.
The Disappearance
On December 13, 2017, the Shermans were going over design changes for their new house at Apotex headquarters. Honey was preparing to leave for a holiday vacation in Miami a few days later, and Barry planned to join her a week after her departure. After returning home that evening, Barry sent a routine email to his staff but did not call anyone, an unusual behavior considering his insomnia.
The following day, December 14, Barry failed to show up at Apotex, which was out of character for the hardworking businessman. The next morning, December 15, neither Barry nor Honey was expected to be at home. A cleaning staff entered the house using a recently installed lockbox, followed by a pair of real estate agents with a couple interested in purchasing the property.
As they toured the house, the agents led the potential buyers downstairs to the lap pool and hot tub. It was there that they discovered the lifeless bodies of Barry and Honey Sherman. Their necks were tied with leather belts to a metal railing around the pool, with Barry seated on the pool deck and Honey lying on her side, a bruise marking her face. Both were fully clothed, their coats pulled down over their shoulders, restraining their arms.
Strangely, the positions in which the couple was found nearly matched two 1970s-era sculptures of human figures posed sitting on speakers in the basement. The discovery of Honey’s cell phone in a rarely used bathroom suggested she might have attempted to call for help but was overpowered. Barry’s gloves and paperwork related to a house inspection were found on the floor just outside the garage door, en route to the basement pool. A window had been left open to air out a recently painted room, and a basement door was unlocked, as the Shermans frequently left it. Police speculated that someone who knew the house’s layout and the couple’s habits could have easily escaped through a neighboring backyard.
The Investigation
The investigation into the double murder has been lengthy and complex, with the Toronto police conducting over 200 witness interviews and obtaining more than 41 warrants to secure various records. In April of 2019, police stated they had a “working theory” of what had happened but provided few details to the public.
The Sherman family has been critical of the police’s handling of the investigation, hiring outside investigators and lawyers to look into the deaths. The siblings were divided in their approach, with Jonathon Sherman hiring a retired police inspector to continue the investigation, while his three siblings distanced themselves from the independent inquiry. A second autopsy later determined that both deaths were murders, putting the initial “murder-suicide” theory to rest.
In December 2022, Toronto Police released video footage of a person walking near the couple’s home the night of the murder. The individual’s lingering presence led police to consider them a suspect rather than merely a person of interest. As the investigation continues, the Sherman family has offered a staggering C$35 million ($18.34m; £14.95m) reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the couple’s killer. Despite the police’s ongoing efforts, conducting at least 250 witness interviews, receiving 1,255 tips from the public, and obtaining 41 warrants, no suspect has been named.
The Legacy
The unsolved mystery of the billionaire couple’s murder continues to haunt the city of Toronto and the Sherman family. With each passing year, the sense of loss and the quest for justice grows more intense. Jonathan Sherman, in a statement shared with Canadian media, expressed the family’s unrelenting pain, grief, and the nightmare they have endured since the tragic discovery of their parents’ bodies.
As the fifth anniversary of the Shermans’ death approaches, the family remains steadfast in their pursuit of justice. The lingering questions and the chilling details of the crime scene paint a haunting picture of an unresolved tragedy that has captured the attention of not only Toronto but the world. As the investigation presses on, one can only hope that the truth will eventually emerge and bring closure to a family and community that has been forever changed by the cruel and senseless loss of Barry and Honey Sherman.
Deep Lore 