Garry Taylor Handlen is the focus of A garden of tears, a CBC documentary I made for my Canadian Cold Case series in 2009 about the 1975 murder of Kathryn Mary Herbert. I couldn’t name Handlen at the time. Today, December 1, 2014, it was announced at an RCMP press conference in BC that Handlen was arrested in relation to two of three murders I mention in the film (i.e., Kathryn Mary Herbert and Monica Jack).
Garry Taylor Handlen (photo courtesy of David Ridgen)
Garry Taylor Handlen (photo courtesy of David Ridgen)
After the film was released, I continued to pursue the case, even after deciding to leave CBC in Spring 2011 to work as an independent filmmaker. Eventually, I caught up to Handlen in Ontario and confronted him. Not much happened beyond what could be expected: he generally refused my questions and slammed the door in my face.
I continue to follow the case closely and in light of Handlen’s recent arrest, some of the investigative information I’ve gathered is now being released, and some must be held back so as not to interfere with the course of the justice system.
A garden of tears (2009) was the first of my Canadian Cold Case series for CBC and features a beautiful song written for the program by the Canadian singer-songwriter Olenka Krakus.
CBC News: Online (2014-12-01) “Garry Taylor Handlen charged in 2 child slaying cold cases”.
CBC News: The National interviewed me on their Dec 1, 2014 show here.
The National Post wrote an article here on Dec 3, 2014.
Transcript of the RCMP press conference about Handlen’s arrest on December 1, 2014 including a statement from Kathryn Mary Herbert’s mother Shari Greer.
The Highlander Newspaper has an article about my doc “A garden of tears” and some of my other work including a sneak peak at the radio program I am making for CBC radio’s The Current as a followup to Garry Handlen’s arrest. December 13, 2014.
ridgenfilm 
I’ve come to your film in a roundabout way – of course – sort of working backwards from a Youtube video I saw today. It’s the channel of a young Navajo man (Patrick Willie) who mentioned his participation in an annual memorial gathering for the women killed or missing on the Highway of Tears. I first heard of that highway several years ago, but wanted some updates. Your film is excellent. You must feel satisfied that at least one of the serial killers was convicted.