Killing Of Tim McLean
Bus Beheading and Cannibalism
CLASSIFICATION: Murder
LOCATION
Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada
TIME PERIOD
July 30, 2008
VICTIMS
1 confirmed
On July 30, 2008, Tim McLean, a 22-year-old carnival worker, was brutally murdered while traveling on Greyhound bus 1170 near Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. The perpetrator, 40-year-old Vince Li, attacked McLean with a large knife, resulting in multiple stab wounds, decapitation, and cannibalism, all witnessed by other passengers who fled the bus. Li was found not criminally responsible for the murder due to schizophrenia and was committed to a high-security mental health facility until his release on May 8, 2015. The case remains significant due to the violent nature of the crime and the subsequent legal and mental health discussions it prompted.
Vincent Li's actions during the attack are believed to have been driven by his delusions, with some theorizing that he perceived Tim McLean as a demon and felt commanded by God to kill him. There is speculation about whether Li's mental health issues could have been better managed or if there were warning signs that could have prevented the tragedy. Additionally, discussions continue about the adequacy of the legal system's handling of Li's mental health status and the implications of his eventual release after being found not criminally responsible.
The Tragic Journey of Tim McLean
On a warm summer evening, 22-year-old Timothy Richard McLean Jr. boarded a Greyhound bus that would carry him from Edmonton back to his home in Winnipeg. It was July 30, 2008, and the young carnival worker was weary from his stint at the fair. He settled into a seat at the back of the bus, one row ahead of the restroom, and drifted into a peaceful sleep, headphones over his ears. Little did he know, this journey would end in one of the most horrific crimes Canada had ever witnessed.
The Unforeseen Encounter
The bus made its usual stops along the Yellowhead Highway, picking up passengers as it traversed the vast Canadian landscape. At 6:55 p.m., in the small town of Erickson, Manitoba, a new passenger boarded the bus. His name was Vincent Weiguang Li, a tall, bespectacled man in his 40s, with a demeanor that gave no hint of the chaos brewing within him. Li initially sat near the front, but after a brief rest stop in Brandon, he moved to the seat beside McLean. Tim, barely acknowledging his new seatmate, continued to sleep, oblivious to the danger lurking inches away.
A Nightmarish Attack
As the bus rolled along the Trans-Canada Highway, about 30 kilometers west of Portage la Prairie, those on board were plunged into a nightmare. Witnesses later recounted how Li, without warning or provocation, produced a large knife and began to stab the sleeping McLean in the neck and chest. Panic erupted as the bus driver brought the vehicle to a screeching halt, and passengers fled in terror. Despite their frantic efforts, rescue attempts were thwarted by Li's aggressive threats from behind the locked bus doors.
With chilling calmness, Li decapitated McLean and displayed the severed head to the horrified onlookers outside, before returning to the body to further mutilate and cannibalize it. The gruesome scene continued for hours as the passengers, some crying, others vomiting, awaited the arrival of help.
The Police Response
At 8:30 p.m., the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Portage la Prairie were notified of the atrocity unfolding on the bus. They arrived to find Li still barricaded inside. The bus was immobilized by its emergency system, preventing any escape. Passengers and a truck driver armed themselves with a crowbar and hammer, ensuring the suspect could not flee.
A tense standoff ensued. RCMP officers, special negotiators, and a tactical unit surrounded the bus. Li alternated between pacing the aisle and continuing to defile McLean's corpse. Officers heard him utter the haunting words, "I have to stay on the bus forever."
The Arrest and Aftermath
In the early hours of July 31, 2008, Li attempted to escape by breaking a window. The RCMP swiftly apprehended him, using a Taser to subdue and handcuff him. Among the horrifying discoveries were plastic bags filled with McLean's body parts, and Li's pockets containing the victim's severed ear, nose, and tongue. Despite Li's denials, certain parts, including McLean's eyes and a portion of his heart, were never recovered, leading investigators to conclude they had been consumed.
Meanwhile, the traumatized passengers were taken to the Brandon RCMP detachment for interviews. By 10:00 a.m. on July 31, Greyhound representatives had replaced their clothing, left behind in the chaos, and reunited them with their families in Winnipeg.
Witness Accounts and Legal Proceedings
One witness, Garnet Caton, described Li's chilling composure during the attack, likening him to a "robot." Li appeared unaware of the others around him, focused solely on his violent task.
The legal journey began with Li's appearance in the Portage la Prairie courthouse, where he uttered a desperate plea, "Please kill me." His trial commenced on March 3, 2009, and he pleaded not criminally responsible due to mental disorder. Li's schizophrenia, driving his delusions that McLean was a demon sent by God to be killed, became the focal point of the court's attention.
The Background of Vince Li
Born Li Weiguang on April 30, 1968, in Dandong, Liaoning, China, Vince Li lived a life marked by instability and mental turmoil. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in computing from the Wuhan Institute of Technology, Li worked in Beijing as a software engineer. He immigrated to Canada in 2001, seeking a new life but was plagued by undiagnosed schizophrenia.
Li's mental health deteriorated over time, manifesting in delusions and hallucinations. He believed he was the "second coming of Jesus," tasked with saving humanity from an alien invasion. This belief led him to carry a knife for protection, a weapon that would ultimately become the instrument of McLean's death.
The Legacy of Tim McLean
Tim McLean, born on October 3, 1985, in Winnipeg, was a vibrant young man, beloved by his family and friends. His tragic death left a void that his family struggled to fill. Five months after his murder, McLean's girlfriend, Colleen Yestrau, gave birth to their son. Legal battles ensued over the child's custody, with McLean's family ultimately gaining guardianship in February 2016.
Resolution and Reflection
On March 5, 2009, a judge ruled Vince Li not criminally responsible for the murder due to his mental illness, committing him to a high-security mental health facility in Selkirk, Manitoba. After several years of treatment, Li was granted an absolute discharge on May 8, 2015, a decision that sparked public debate and controversy.
The tragic killing of Tim McLean forced Canada to confront complex issues surrounding mental illness and criminal responsibility. It remains a haunting reminder of the unpredictable nature of human behavior and the enduring impact of violence on victims and their families.
Sources
For more detailed information, you can visit the original Wikipedia article.
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Tim McLean Murdered
Tim McLean is stabbed, beheaded, and cannibalized by Vince Li on a Greyhound bus.
Vince Li Arrested
Vince Li is arrested by RCMP after attempting to escape the bus.
Li Found Not Criminally Responsible
Vince Li is found not criminally responsible for the murder due to schizophrenia.
Li Granted Outdoor Walks
Vince Li is granted supervised outdoor walks as part of his treatment.
Li Granted Temporary Passes
Vince Li is granted temporary passes for supervised visits outside the mental health facility.
Li Moves to Group Home
Vince Li is granted permission to move to a group home in the community.
Li Wins Right to Live Alone
Vince Li, now Will Lee Baker, wins the right to live independently.
Li Granted Absolute Discharge
Vince Li is granted an absolute discharge, ending all legal obligations.
On July 30, 2008, Tim McLean, a 22-year-old carnival worker, was brutally murdered while traveling on Greyhound bus 1170 near Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. The perpetrator, 40-year-old Vince Li, attacked McLean with a large knife, resulting in multiple stab wounds, decapitation, and cannibalism, all witnessed by other passengers who fled the bus. Li was found not criminally responsible for the murder due to schizophrenia and was committed to a high-security mental health facility until his release on May 8, 2015. The case remains significant due to the violent nature of the crime and the subsequent legal and mental health discussions it prompted.
Vincent Li's actions during the attack are believed to have been driven by his delusions, with some theorizing that he perceived Tim McLean as a demon and felt commanded by God to kill him. There is speculation about whether Li's mental health issues could have been better managed or if there were warning signs that could have prevented the tragedy. Additionally, discussions continue about the adequacy of the legal system's handling of Li's mental health status and the implications of his eventual release after being found not criminally responsible.
The Tragic Journey of Tim McLean
On a warm summer evening, 22-year-old Timothy Richard McLean Jr. boarded a Greyhound bus that would carry him from Edmonton back to his home in Winnipeg. It was July 30, 2008, and the young carnival worker was weary from his stint at the fair. He settled into a seat at the back of the bus, one row ahead of the restroom, and drifted into a peaceful sleep, headphones over his ears. Little did he know, this journey would end in one of the most horrific crimes Canada had ever witnessed.
The Unforeseen Encounter
The bus made its usual stops along the Yellowhead Highway, picking up passengers as it traversed the vast Canadian landscape. At 6:55 p.m., in the small town of Erickson, Manitoba, a new passenger boarded the bus. His name was Vincent Weiguang Li, a tall, bespectacled man in his 40s, with a demeanor that gave no hint of the chaos brewing within him. Li initially sat near the front, but after a brief rest stop in Brandon, he moved to the seat beside McLean. Tim, barely acknowledging his new seatmate, continued to sleep, oblivious to the danger lurking inches away.
A Nightmarish Attack
As the bus rolled along the Trans-Canada Highway, about 30 kilometers west of Portage la Prairie, those on board were plunged into a nightmare. Witnesses later recounted how Li, without warning or provocation, produced a large knife and began to stab the sleeping McLean in the neck and chest. Panic erupted as the bus driver brought the vehicle to a screeching halt, and passengers fled in terror. Despite their frantic efforts, rescue attempts were thwarted by Li's aggressive threats from behind the locked bus doors.
With chilling calmness, Li decapitated McLean and displayed the severed head to the horrified onlookers outside, before returning to the body to further mutilate and cannibalize it. The gruesome scene continued for hours as the passengers, some crying, others vomiting, awaited the arrival of help.
The Police Response
At 8:30 p.m., the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Portage la Prairie were notified of the atrocity unfolding on the bus. They arrived to find Li still barricaded inside. The bus was immobilized by its emergency system, preventing any escape. Passengers and a truck driver armed themselves with a crowbar and hammer, ensuring the suspect could not flee.
A tense standoff ensued. RCMP officers, special negotiators, and a tactical unit surrounded the bus. Li alternated between pacing the aisle and continuing to defile McLean's corpse. Officers heard him utter the haunting words, "I have to stay on the bus forever."
The Arrest and Aftermath
In the early hours of July 31, 2008, Li attempted to escape by breaking a window. The RCMP swiftly apprehended him, using a Taser to subdue and handcuff him. Among the horrifying discoveries were plastic bags filled with McLean's body parts, and Li's pockets containing the victim's severed ear, nose, and tongue. Despite Li's denials, certain parts, including McLean's eyes and a portion of his heart, were never recovered, leading investigators to conclude they had been consumed.
Meanwhile, the traumatized passengers were taken to the Brandon RCMP detachment for interviews. By 10:00 a.m. on July 31, Greyhound representatives had replaced their clothing, left behind in the chaos, and reunited them with their families in Winnipeg.
Witness Accounts and Legal Proceedings
One witness, Garnet Caton, described Li's chilling composure during the attack, likening him to a "robot." Li appeared unaware of the others around him, focused solely on his violent task.
The legal journey began with Li's appearance in the Portage la Prairie courthouse, where he uttered a desperate plea, "Please kill me." His trial commenced on March 3, 2009, and he pleaded not criminally responsible due to mental disorder. Li's schizophrenia, driving his delusions that McLean was a demon sent by God to be killed, became the focal point of the court's attention.
The Background of Vince Li
Born Li Weiguang on April 30, 1968, in Dandong, Liaoning, China, Vince Li lived a life marked by instability and mental turmoil. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in computing from the Wuhan Institute of Technology, Li worked in Beijing as a software engineer. He immigrated to Canada in 2001, seeking a new life but was plagued by undiagnosed schizophrenia.
Li's mental health deteriorated over time, manifesting in delusions and hallucinations. He believed he was the "second coming of Jesus," tasked with saving humanity from an alien invasion. This belief led him to carry a knife for protection, a weapon that would ultimately become the instrument of McLean's death.
The Legacy of Tim McLean
Tim McLean, born on October 3, 1985, in Winnipeg, was a vibrant young man, beloved by his family and friends. His tragic death left a void that his family struggled to fill. Five months after his murder, McLean's girlfriend, Colleen Yestrau, gave birth to their son. Legal battles ensued over the child's custody, with McLean's family ultimately gaining guardianship in February 2016.
Resolution and Reflection
On March 5, 2009, a judge ruled Vince Li not criminally responsible for the murder due to his mental illness, committing him to a high-security mental health facility in Selkirk, Manitoba. After several years of treatment, Li was granted an absolute discharge on May 8, 2015, a decision that sparked public debate and controversy.
The tragic killing of Tim McLean forced Canada to confront complex issues surrounding mental illness and criminal responsibility. It remains a haunting reminder of the unpredictable nature of human behavior and the enduring impact of violence on victims and their families.
Sources
For more detailed information, you can visit the original Wikipedia article.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
Tim McLean Murdered
Tim McLean is stabbed, beheaded, and cannibalized by Vince Li on a Greyhound bus.
Vince Li Arrested
Vince Li is arrested by RCMP after attempting to escape the bus.
Li Found Not Criminally Responsible
Vince Li is found not criminally responsible for the murder due to schizophrenia.
Li Granted Outdoor Walks
Vince Li is granted supervised outdoor walks as part of his treatment.
Li Granted Temporary Passes
Vince Li is granted temporary passes for supervised visits outside the mental health facility.
Li Moves to Group Home
Vince Li is granted permission to move to a group home in the community.
Li Wins Right to Live Alone
Vince Li, now Will Lee Baker, wins the right to live independently.
Li Granted Absolute Discharge
Vince Li is granted an absolute discharge, ending all legal obligations.