Unhinged AI and the Sherman Murder Investigation
Toronto law enforcement leverages artificial intelligence technology to delve into the killings of Barry and Honey Sherman.
Kevin Donovan, chief investigative reporter dives into the Toronto police's recent application of an off-the-shelf AI program to crack the double homicide case of billionaires Barry and Honey Sherman. Seven years into the probe, one detective admits the idea came to him last month after a presentation at police headquarters by the Toronto police intelligence unit.
Although AI is now commonplace in modern policing, it's a first in the Sherman investigation. "I was ON A ROLL after that presentation, staring at all that data from the Sherman case that was NEVER properly analyzed," Det. Const. Dennis Yim admitted during court proceedings, challenging sealing orders on thousands of pages of search warrant information. Yim explained that he was inspired by the graphs and maps showcasing movement and location during the seminar, thinking about the untapped potential in the Sherman investigation data.
Curiously, when asked about the AI program's findings, Yim has had the results for two weeks but hasn't had the time to dig through them.
Yim also disclosed a second significant change in the investigation: reduced human investigative time dedicated to the Sherman case. Prior to February, Yim solely focused on the Sherman case; as of then, his bosses told him to juggle both the Sherman investigation and administrative tasks on other homicide cases. Yim expressed immediate concerns about managing his time effectively for the Sherman case, but now understands he'll have to plot his time wisely.
The Shermans, apotex founder and owner Barry Sherman and his wife Honey, were murdered in their 12,000 square foot home on Dec. 13, 2017. Their strangled bodies were found on the pool deck. Despite initial theories of a murder-suicide, detailed autopsy findings led to a change in the theory, revealing that the Shermans' wrists were tied, but no ties were found at the scene, and the belts did not cause their deaths – thin ligatures did, though none were found.
The Star's Persistent Pursuit of the Sherman Murder Truth
A Star reporter first approached the court in March 2018, seeking to unseal the early search warrant information in the case. Revelations unveiled from unsealed warrant documents have exposed many of the mistakes made during the investigation, such as the failure to promptly canvas the neighborhood, misdiagnosis of murder-suicide, neglecting to obtain alibis from key individuals, and muddy questioning techniques.
The court has unsealed about half of the 4,000 warrant pages, offering the public valuable insight into various aspects of the Sherman investigation. However, vital speculations regarding potential suspects remain under seal.
To maintain the sealing orders, Yim provided Justice David Porter of the Ontario Court of Justice with justifications. Fear of revealing the identities of "persons of interest" playing one-down to "suspects" in police parlance is a primary concern. Since Toronto police have not cleared anyone in the case, anyone who was a "person of interest" at the outset remains under suspicion. Yim added that revealing information on an "active and ongoing" investigation could potentially require further disclosure during the ongoing court process. Yim also stressed that his decisions on maintaining the sealing order are solely his own.
AI: The New Sheriff in Town
Employing AI in the Sherman investigation has become the main argument supporting the active nature of the case. The program the intelligence unit used on the Sherman files is Microsoft Power BI. Yim pointed out in a sworn affidavit that this program was previously unavailable to investigators.
During cross-examination by the Star reporter, Yim was shown that Microsoft Power BI, with enhanced AI capabilities, has been available for a decade. Yim found himself caught off guard, admitting, "I didn't know about it." Judge Porter asked if the program was a type of AI, to which Yim responded, "I guess it's a fancy way to collate and analyze data." Yim was further bewildered when presented with evidence suggesting he didn't understand the capabilities of the program being used in the Sherman investigation.
In a rather baffling statement, Yim claimed that other analysts at the Toronto Police had looked at the same information in the past but that this new program would do a better job. "I guess the old programs were trash compared to what we've got now," Yim admitted.
Yim provided the Toronto Police intelligence officers conducting the analysis with cellular tower transmissions and other electronic data connected to the movements and geography of various individuals. Power BI is used by police forces, including the Toronto police, for analyzing and visualizing crime statistics and detecting patterns, but its potential as an evidentiary tool in investigations remains to be seen.
Yim announced he plans to analyze the results soon. Meanwhile, he continues to sift through the mountainous business data obtained two years ago via a search warrant. Yim stated that he has reviewed 60% of the 14,801 electronic files related to Barry's business deals.
Yim also mentioned he hopes to get information from "entities" in three unspecified countries. Even though one entity has responded, he has yet to receive any information.
Lastly, Yim and the supervisor of the file, Det. Sgt. Brandon Price, have not interviewed anyone related to the Sherman file in approximately two years. Justice Porter suggested reconsidering a different tact, such as releasing a swath of information to stir up public interest, to which Yim expressed skepticism, arguing, "I think it may shake the tree, but I think this tree (the Sherman investigation) is so big that even if I do try to do something, it's not going to shake. You see what I mean?" The Star is continuing its fight to unseal more information, with a hearing for legal arguments scheduled in the fall.
- The Toronto police's implementation of an AI program in the Sherman investigation, a first for the case, is garnering significant attention in the media, particularly in the general-news and crime-and-justice sections.
- Detective Const. Dennis Yim, the lead investigator, has admitted that the idea to use AI came after a presentation at police headquarters, highlighting the influential role technology now plays in modern policing.
- Despite the AI program's potential, doubts have been raised about its effectiveness, as Yim has yet to thoroughly analyze the results, and questions remain about its capability compared to older programs.
- The Canadian court system is currently wrestling with the question of whether to unseal more information from the Sherman investigation, with arguments suggesting that the use of AI in the investigation is evidence of its active nature.
- The media's persistent pursuit of truth in the Sherman murder case is shedding light on possible mistakes made during the initial investigation, such as the misdiagnosis of a murder-suicide and the neglect of obtaining alibis from key individuals.
