The Killing of Barry and Honey Sherman: Power, Wealth, and a Double Mystery
It was a frigid December morning in 2017 when real estate agents made a discovery that would reverberate far beyond the affluent neighborhood in Toronto where it occurred. In the basement of their lavish mansion, billionaire couple Barry and Honey Sherman were found lifeless—posed in an eerily deliberate and unsettling position beside their indoor swimming pool. What initially appeared to be a potential murder-suicide quickly spiraled into one of Canada’s most confounding and high-profile murder mysteries. With no signs of forced entry, no clear motive, and an unusually long list of people who might benefit from their demise, the Shermans’ deaths remain officially unsolved. The case has exposed deep fissures in the worlds of pharmaceuticals, philanthropy, and Canadian high society.
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| Barry and Honey Sherman |
Who Were Barry and Honey Sherman?
Barry Sherman was no ordinary businessman. A brilliant mind with a Ph.D. in engineering from MIT, he built Apotex Inc. from the ground up into one of the largest generic pharmaceutical manufacturers globally. Known for his relentless ambition, intellectual acuity, and often controversial business tactics, Barry amassed a fortune that surpassed $3 billion by the time of his death. His approach to business was aggressive, and he relished a good legal fight—traits that made him a revered figure in the pharmaceutical industry, but also a magnet for animosity and litigation.
His wife, Honey Sherman, was equally prominent in her own right. Vibrant and full of energy, she was a well-known philanthropist and community leader. She sat on the boards of several hospitals, universities, and Jewish organizations, helping raise millions for causes close to her heart. The Shermans were pillars of their community, celebrated for their generosity and wide-ranging influence. However, beneath the surface, their lives were complex. Barry’s numerous legal battles—especially with disgruntled family members and business rivals—hinted at a more tumultuous reality.
Barry had been embroiled in longstanding lawsuits, including a particularly bitter one with his cousins, who claimed they had been unfairly cut out of the family business. Apotex itself was under constant scrutiny by regulators and was frequently at odds with competitors. While Barry seemed to thrive in this combative atmosphere, it also meant he collected more than a few enemies over the years. Some admired him as a visionary entrepreneur. Others saw him as a ruthless operator.
The Discovery: December 15, 2017
The Shermans had recently listed their sprawling home for sale. On the morning of December 15, a real estate agent arrived with clients for a scheduled showing. Instead of a luxury viewing, they stumbled upon a nightmare: Barry and Honey were found dead, seated side by side on the pool deck in a macabre tableau. Their legs extended straight out, their hands tied behind their backs, necks encircled with leather belts affixed to a pool railing. The scene was hauntingly clinical, staged with chilling precision.
The initial police response was jarring. Authorities suggested the possibility of a murder-suicide, insinuating that Barry may have killed Honey and then taken his own life. This theory deeply offended the Sherman family and their close circle of friends, who strongly believed it was inconceivable. The family swiftly hired their own team of private investigators and a top forensic pathologist. Their findings contradicted the police theory, concluding instead that both Barry and Honey had been murdered—and that the scene had been deliberately staged.
The family’s insistence and their privately funded investigation placed public pressure on the authorities. Reluctantly, Toronto police reclassified the case as a double homicide, admitting that early assumptions may have clouded the initial phase of the investigation.
The Crime Scene: Too Clean, Too Controlled
The basement crime scene offered little for investigators to go on. There were no signs of forced entry. Nothing appeared to be missing. The home was not ransacked, and the Shermans' valuables were untouched. Security cameras inside and outside the property were either not working or had been disabled. Adding to the mystery, the house was often left unlocked due to its for-sale status.
For many, the lack of forensic evidence pointed to one conclusion: the murders were carried out by someone with experience and planning—possibly someone familiar with the Shermans and their routines. The position of the bodies, seated and bound in a near-symmetrical pose, suggested a level of control that went beyond rage or impulse. Some investigators theorized that the staging was intended to send a message, perhaps as a warning to others.
Theories and Suspects
1. Business Rivals and Legal Enemies
Barry Sherman’s business dealings were complex, often adversarial, and not without controversy. He was involved in numerous lawsuits at the time of his death, including a highly publicized battle with his cousins, and ongoing litigation with brand-name drug manufacturers over patent issues. Could one of these legal adversaries have resorted to violence? In the competitive and high-stakes world of pharmaceuticals, reputations—and fortunes—are on the line. It’s not unthinkable that someone could have seen Barry as a threat worth eliminating.
2. A Professional Hit
The methodical and almost theatrical nature of the killings has led many to conclude that the Shermans were the targets of a professional hit. The belts, the precision, the lack of fingerprints or DNA—these are hallmarks not of a panicked assailant, but of a calm and practiced killer. The private investigators hired by the Sherman family believed the killers could have had military or intelligence backgrounds, suggesting a level of expertise rarely seen in domestic crimes.
3. Financial Motive From Within
Though difficult to contemplate, some theories focus on a motive closer to home. The Sherman estate was worth billions, and the family’s complex financial dealings and trust structures opened a web of possibilities. Could a disgruntled employee, distant relative, or associate have orchestrated the killings to gain control or access to the family fortune? While no concrete evidence has implicated any specific family member or friend, the investigation did not rule out the possibility.
The Investigation: A Case Mired in Doubt
The police investigation was marred by missteps from the beginning. The early release of the murder-suicide theory created a narrative that was hard to reverse. Critics argue that this misdirection slowed the case’s progress and compromised potential evidence. The Sherman family’s decision to hire private detectives and forensic experts only further highlighted the lack of public confidence in the authorities.
Toronto police eventually reviewed over 1,000 hours of video surveillance, conducted more than 250 witness interviews, and followed hundreds of leads. In 2020, they released a grainy security video of a "person of interest" walking near the property. The individual has yet to be identified, and their role in the murders remains a mystery.
Despite all efforts, the case has yet to yield a suspect or an arrest. Years have passed, and the trail has grown cold, though the Sherman family continues to push for answers, even offering a multi-million-dollar reward for information.
Legacy of the Case
The brutal killing of Barry and Honey Sherman left a deep scar on Canadian society. It shattered the illusion that wealth, power, and status can insulate someone from violence. The case revealed vulnerabilities not only in personal security but also in law enforcement's ability to respond swiftly and thoroughly when powerful individuals are involved.
The case has inspired multiple documentaries, books, and podcasts. Journalists, crime experts, and internet sleuths continue to dissect every detail. And yet, despite this immense attention, the core questions persist: Who committed this heinous act, and why? Was it business? Personal betrayal? Or something else entirely?
A Double Mystery That Refuses to Fade
More than five years after the tragic deaths of Barry and Honey Sherman, their case remains a haunting enigma. The combination of extraordinary wealth, corporate conflict, family tension, and the precision of the killings gives the story a near-mythical status in Canadian true crime lore.
But for all the speculation and investigation, the truth remains elusive. No arrests have been made. No confessions obtained. No justice delivered.
The Shermans' deaths continue to loom large—a story not of fiction, but of real lives ended in a manner as chilling as it is confounding. It is a reminder that even in the most privileged circles, darkness can lurk just beneath the surface. And until answers emerge, this double mystery will remain one of the most captivating—and tragic—chapters in Canada's criminal history.
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