Police Reveal Cause of Death for Toronto Billionaires Found Dead at Home

Police Reveal Cause of Death for Toronto Billionaires Found Dead at Home
Honey and Barry Sherman, Chairman and CEO of Apotex Inc., were found dead in their Canadian home on Friday, Dec. 15 in an incident police are calling 'suspicious.' Photo taken during (UJA) fundraiser in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on Aug. 24, 2010. (The Globe and Mail/Janice Pinto/via Reuters)
Jack Phillips
12/19/2017
Updated:
12/19/2017
The cause of deaths for Toronto pharmaceutical executive Barry Sherman and his wife were revealed by police on Sunday evening, according to a press release.

“Post-mortem examinations were carried out yesterday and today. The cause of death for both deceased was ligature neck compression,” the release, posted online on Sunday, stated.

“Toronto Police Service Homicide has taken the lead in this suspicious death investigation,” the press release added.

Ligature neck compression is defined by strangulation caused by binding or tying, but police, in the release, didn’t describe their deaths as a homicide. They only said that the deaths were “suspicious,” according to the Toronto Globe and Mail. They were found hanging from a railing around their basement lap pool.

Barry Sherman, 75, is the founder of the Canadian pharmaceutical company, Apotex. According to Forbes magazine, his net worth is around $3.2 billion.

A real estate agent who was helping the couple sell off their home found the bodies of Sherman and his wife, Honey.

The Globe and Mail reported there was no sign of forced entry, and there was no note left behind.

Less than a week before they were found dead, Honey said she was making plans to go south.

“Looking forward to getting together in Florida. I am coming south Monday, December 18 [to]Friday, January 12,” she wrote in an e-mail last Monday, the paper reported. “Barry is coming south for Monday December 25 & going home with me Jan. 12. Please let me know your dates south asap so i can place in my calendar … Looking forward to hearing back asap. Xoxo Honey.”

The couple had four children and recently welcomed a grandchild.

The case has dominated the Canadian news, with employees, friends and leading politicians expressing shock, Reuters noted.

The Globe and Mail, Toronto Sun and Toronto Star reported Saturday that police were operating on the theory that Barry Sherman had killed his wife and hanged himself.

A statement issued late Saturday on behalf of the Shermans’ four children criticized that idea.

A For Sale sign stands outside the home of billionaire founder of Canadian pharmaceutical firm Apotex Inc. Barry Sherman and his wife Honey were found dead under circumstances that police described as “suspicious” in Toronto on Dec. 15, 2017. (Reuters/Chris Helgren)
A For Sale sign stands outside the home of billionaire founder of Canadian pharmaceutical firm Apotex Inc. Barry Sherman and his wife Honey were found dead under circumstances that police described as “suspicious” in Toronto on Dec. 15, 2017. (Reuters/Chris Helgren)

“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 statement reads.

“We urge the Toronto Police Service to conduct a thorough, intensive and objective criminal investigation,” it said.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter with 15 years experience who started as a local New York City reporter. Having joined The Epoch Times' news team in 2009, Jack was born and raised near Modesto in California's Central Valley. Follow him on X: https://twitter.com/jackphillips5
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