Evelyn Dick

Early life and family background

Evelyn MacLean was born on October 13, 1920, in Beamsville, Ontario, the only child of Scottish immigrants Donald and Alexandra MacLean. The family moved to Hamilton the following year, settling at 214 Rosslyn Avenue South. Donald MacLean worked as a streetcar conductor for the Hamilton Street Railway. He was an abusive alcoholic who collected firearms, creating a volatile home environment. He was later found to have stolen $200,000 from the HSR. Alexandra MacLean encouraged her attractive daughter to use her looks to secure expensive gifts from men, setting a pattern for Evelyn's later relationships. Evelyn attended the private Loretto Academy, a Catholic girls' school. This upbringing in a household defined by deception, criminality, and pressure to manipulate men for material gain formed the backdrop to Evelyn Dick's later actions. Her father's theft was discovered after his arrest in the murder case, revealing the source of the family's apparent wealth.

Relationships, marriage and John Dick's disappearance

Before her marriage, Evelyn Dick had given birth to three children and invented a fictional husband to explain her pregnancies. She had a daughter, Heather Maria White, in July 1942, whom she gave to her mother to raise. A second pregnancy ended in a stillbirth. In September 1944, she gave birth to a son, Peter David White. To conceal the identity of each baby's father, she invented a man named Norman White, whom she presented as her deceased naval officer husband. In the summer of 1945, she met John Dick, a 39-year-old Russian immigrant and streetcar driver from a Mennonite family. They married on October 4, 1945, after a brief engagement. Evelyn left him within three months upon realizing his limited finances, deserting him and resuming an affair with Bill Bohozuk just days after the wedding. John Dick, attempting to salvage the marriage, appealed to Donald MacLean for help and later threatened to inform on him for stealing from the HSR. MacLean threatened to kill Dick in response. John Dick was last seen alive on March 6, 1946, and was reported missing in the first week of March. His family had migrated to Canada to escape the Russian Revolution.

Discovery of the crimes and investigation

On March 16, 1946, five children hiking along a trail on Hamilton Mountain near Albion Falls made a shocking discovery: a human torso with two gunshot wounds in the chest. The children were Faith Reid, David Reid, Fred Weaver, Jim Weaver and Bob Weaver. The remains were soon identified as those of John Dick through distinctive physical characteristics, including a cyst on the torso’s posterior and an undescended testicle. Police took Evelyn Dick in for questioning, but she denied any knowledge of her husband's fate and made several wild, contradictory statements. While she was being questioned, investigators searched her house at 32 Carrick Avenue. In the attic, they found an old suitcase containing the concrete-encased, partly mummified body of an infant, later identified as her son, Peter David White. Further searches revealed charred human bones and bits of clothing from an HSR uniform. Evidence suggested his head and limbs had been sawn from his body and disposed of in the furnace of Evelyn's home. Evelyn, her parents Donald and Alexandra MacLean, and Bill Bohozuk were subsequently charged with the murder of John Dick. Evelyn and Bohozuk were also charged with infanticide related to Peter's death, and Donald MacLean was separately charged with robbing the HSR. Bohozuk was cleared of wrongdoing despite attempts by Dick to place blame on him.

The 1946 murder trial and sensational revelations

The trial for the murder of John Dick began on October 7, 1946, at the Wentworth County Courthouse in Hamilton, drawing large crowds that lined up daily and intense national newspaper coverage. Evelyn Dick was tried separately from Bill Bohozuk and her father. The prosecution's case was built on the physical evidence from the searches and her contradictory statements. The defence was handled by lawyer J.J. Sullivan. The trial became a national sensation when Evelyn's personal life was exposed in court. She admitted to keeping a black book with a record of all her sexual encounters and estimated she had had sex with 150 men, most of whom were more wealthy than her husband. Under aggressive questioning, she was asked to name these men for the court. During this testimony, she revealed that one of her sexual partners was the son of the presiding judge, leading to a restraining order preventing newspapers from publishing the names she disclosed. Alexandra MacLean agreed to testify for the Crown against her daughter in return for immunity. Despite the defence's efforts, the jury convicted Evelyn Dick of murder, and she was sentenced to death by hanging, with the execution set for January 7, 1947. The grim nature of the crime and the sexual revelations made the event a major public spectacle.

Appeal, second trial and imprisonment

Following the death sentence, Evelyn Dick's case was taken up by a new lawyer, the young John J. Robinette. Robinette handled her appeal before the Ontario Court of Appeal in 1947, where he successfully argued against the conviction, eviscerating the testimony of surprise witnesses for the prosecution. The appeal court acquitted her of the murder charge, saving her from the gallows. Donald MacLean was found guilty of being an accessory after the fact to John Dick's murder and was sent to prison for four years. Bill Bohozuk was cleared of all wrongdoing. A second trial began in 1947, focusing on the death of her infant son, Peter David White. For this crime, Evelyn Dick was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to life in prison. She began serving her sentence at the Prison for Women in Kingston, Ontario. She served eleven years before being granted parole in 1958. Key developments in the legal proceedings included:

• October 7, 1946: First murder trial begins in Hamilton's Wentworth County Courthouse.
• 1946: Evelyn Dick convicted of murdering John Dick and sentenced to hang on January 7, 1947.
• 1947: Appeal led by J.J. Robinette results in acquittal for the murder charge.
• 1947: Donald MacLean convicted as an accessory and sentenced to four years.
• 1947: Second trial finds her guilty of manslaughter for the death of Peter David White. She receives a life sentence.
• 1958: Dick is paroled after serving eleven years at the Prison for Women in Kingston.
• 1985: She receives a pardon under the royal prerogative of mercy, and her file is permanently sealed.

After her parole in 1958, Evelyn Dick assumed a new identity and a job, completely disappearing from public view. She never confessed to either the murder of her husband John Dick or the manslaughter of her infant son Peter David White. The pardon she received in 1985 was issued under the royal prerogative of mercy, an act that resulted in her criminal file being permanently sealed. Her subsequent whereabouts and life after this date remain unknown.

Cultural impact and media depictions

The Evelyn Dick case has maintained a persistent grip on the Canadian imagination, inspiring numerous works across various media. A well-known schoolyard chant from the time of the murders went: 'You cut off his legs... You cut off his arms... You cut off his head... How could you Mrs Dick? How could you Mrs Dick?' The punk band The Forgotten Rebels used these lyrics for their song 'Evelyn Dick' on their 1989 untitled album. In 1982, CBC Radio launched the documentary drama How Could You Mrs. Dick as part of its Scales of Justice series, written by Douglas Rodger and narrated by lawyer Eddie Greenspan. The production secured the participation of J.J. Robinette, who played himself. This radio special was adapted into a stage play that saw productions at Hamilton venues in 1991, 1999, and 2004. Author Brian Vallée published The Torso Murder: The Untold Story of Evelyn Dick in 2001. A television film, Torso: The Evelyn Dick Story starring Kathleen Robertson, aired on March 18, 2002, after a delay from its original September 11, 2001, broadcast date due to the terrorist attacks. The film suggested Dick protected her parents, who were also viable suspects, and that she was sexually abused by her father and exploited by her mother. Other works inspired by the case include Hamilton author James King's 2000 novel Blue Moon and the 2005 film noir musical Black Widow. In 2014, designer Chris Farias released a line of merchandise including clothing and kitchen items themed around Dick, which was met with protests by the men's rights group Canadian Association for Equality. The 1982 CBC radio program declared the trial made Evelyn Dick 'the most notorious woman in Canada.'

Key figures in the case

The Evelyn Dick saga involved a large cast of characters whose roles defined the legal and personal drama. Her parents, Donald and Alexandra MacLean, were central to the case. Donald's criminal theft and violent threats provided a motive, and Alexandra testified for the Crown against her daughter in exchange for immunity. John Dick, the victim, was a 39-year-old Russian immigrant from a Mennonite family who worked as a streetcar driver for the HSR. Bill Bohozuk was Evelyn's boyfriend, with whom she resumed an affair days after her marriage. He was charged but ultimately cleared of any involvement. The legal defence was initially handled by J.J. Sullivan. The celebrated lawyer John J. Robinette took over the appeal, securing her acquittal for the murder charge and launching his own legendary career. The case was prosecuted by the Crown. The discovery of John Dick's torso was made by five local children: Faith Reid, David Reid, Fred Weaver, Jim Weaver and Bob Weaver. Later media figures who explored the case included author Brian Vallée, playwright Douglas Rodger, and narrator Eddie Greenspan. Marjorie Freeman Campbell authored the 1974 book Torso: the Evelyn Dick Case, later republished as Bloody Matrimony.

Enduring notoriety and historical significance

The Evelyn Dick case remains one of the most lurid and scandalous events in Canadian criminal history, often cited as the country's most notorious murder case. Its enduring notoriety stems from a combination of the grisly nature of the crimes, the shocking personal revelations during trial, and the dramatic legal turnaround. The image of a beautiful socialite involved in dismemberment and infanticide, who documented hundreds of sexual liaisons, created a perfect storm for media sensationalism that transcended its postwar Hamilton origins. The case also marked a defining moment in Canadian legal history, serving as the breakthrough case for John J. Robinette, who would become one of the nation's most prominent lawyers. The story's longevity is evidenced by its continuous recycling in popular culture, from radio dramas and books to stage plays and merchandise, demonstrating an ongoing public fascination. The permanent sealing of her file after her 1985 pardon has only added to the mystery, ensuring that the full truth of Evelyn Dick's life and crimes remains partially obscured, subject to speculation and retelling. The case is frequently referenced in discussions of Canadian true crime.

Questions about Evelyn Dick

What was Evelyn Dick convicted of?

Evelyn Dick was acquitted of the murder of her husband, John Dick, after a successful appeal in 1947. In a separate trial that same year, she was convicted of manslaughter for the death of her infant son, Peter David White. For this crime, she received a life sentence but was paroled after serving eleven years in the Prison for Women in Kingston. She never confessed to either crime.

Was Evelyn Dick ever executed?

No, Evelyn Dick was not executed. She was sentenced to death by hanging after her initial 1946 murder conviction, with the execution scheduled for January 7, 1947. Her legal team, led by John J. Robinette, successfully appealed the verdict. The Ontario Court of Appeal acquitted her of the murder charge. Robinette eviscerated the testimony of surprise witnesses for the prosecution.

What happened to Evelyn Dick after she was released from prison?

After being paroled in 1958, Evelyn Dick assumed a new identity, found a job, and completely disappeared from public view. Her whereabouts and life after prison remain unknown. In 1985, she was granted a pardon under the royal prerogative of mercy, which resulted in the permanent sealing of her criminal file. There have been no confirmed public sightings or reliable reports about her life since her release.

How did the public react to Evelyn Dick's trials?

The public reaction was one of intense fascination and sensationalism. Her trials in 1946 and 1947 drew large crowds that lined up daily outside the Wentworth County Courthouse in Hamilton, with newspapers across Canada providing lurid, detailed coverage. The revelation of her extensive sexual history, including a 'black book' of encounters and her claim that one partner was the judge's son, scandalized the nation. The grim nature of the crime made the event a major public spectacle.

Who was John J. Robinette and what was his role?

John J. Robinette was the lawyer who handled Evelyn Dick's appeal after her initial 1946 murder conviction and death sentence. His successful legal work before the Ontario Court of Appeal in 1947 led to her acquittal for the murder of her husband John Dick. This high-profile victory launched Robinette's career, establishing his reputation. He later became one of Canada's most prominent and respected trial lawyers.

Are there any movies or books about the Evelyn Dick case?

Yes, the case has been the subject of numerous books, films, and other media. Author Brian Vallée wrote The Torso Murder: The Untold Story of Evelyn Dick in 2001. A television film, Torso: The Evelyn Dick Story, aired in 2002. The 1982 CBC Radio documentary How Could You Mrs. Dick was adapted into a stage play. The case also inspired James King's novel Blue Moon, the 2005 musical Black Widow, and Marjorie Freeman Campbell's 1974 book Torso: the Evelyn Dick Case.

Sources and further reading

• Evelyn Dick (Wikipedia)
• Evelyn Dick (thecanadianencyclopedia.ca)
• Paul Wilson: Saved from the gallows, Evelyn Dick lives on (cbc.ca)

Checked by the Nosy Mag desk. Last updated 2026-11-01.