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Police Investigate ‘Suspicious’ Death of Prominent Toronto Couple Police Investigate ‘Suspicious’ Death of Prominent Toronto Couple
(about 3 hours later)
TORONTO — The Toronto police said they were investigating the mysterious deaths of Barry Sherman, founder of the pharmaceutical company Apotex, and his wife, Honey, who were among Canada’s wealthiest couples. Mystery has shrouded the unexplained deaths of an enormously wealthy Canadian couple, who gave away much of their fortune from a generic drug business.
Their bodies were found in their mansion in an affluent section of northeast Toronto on Friday. The bodies of the couple, Barry and Honey Sherman, were found Friday inside their mansion in an upscale neighborhood of northern Toronto.
The police said they had learned of the deaths after responding to a medical call at the Shermans’ home. Two bodies covered in blankets were removed from the home and loaded into an unmarked van Friday night. Aside from describing the deaths as “suspicious,” the police in Toronto offered little information. Brandon Price, a homicide detective, told reporters that investigators were not “currently seeking a suspect,” a statement he said had been made to “alleviate some of the concerns in the neighborhood.”
“The circumstances of their death appear suspicious and we are treating it that way,” said Constable David Hopkinson. Homicide detectives told reporters that there had been no signs of forced entry. Emergency workers were summoned shortly before noon on Friday to the couple’s mansion in response to a 911 call, which Canadian news outlets said had been placed by a real estate agent.
Neighbors, business associates and some of Canada’s most powerful politicians said they were saddened by the deaths. The Shermans had recently listed the property for sale at nearly 7 million Canadian dollars, or about $5.4 million.
Apotex, the company Mr. Sherman founded, confirmed the couple’s identity in a statement. Mr. Sherman, 75, was chairman of the drug maker.
Mr. Sherman used litigation and pressure on governments to open up the market for generic drugs, turning Apotex into a business with annual sales of more than 2 billion Canadian dollars. Canadian Business magazine estimated his personal wealth at 4.7 billion Canadian dollars.
He also was embroiled in a long-running legal dispute with a group of his cousins, who sought about $1 billion in a lawsuit brought in 2006. The complaint, which was based on Mr. Sherman’s relationship with an uncle in an earlier drug company, was finally rejected in September by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
In addition to donating to many charities in the Toronto area, Mr. Sherman was a prominent backer of the Liberal Party led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
This year, Karen Shepherd, the federal lobbying commissioner, said she was investigating the propriety of Mr. Sherman’s hosting of a Liberal Party fund-raiser in 2015 that featured Mr. Trudeau, who was not yet prime minister. Because Mr. Sherman was registered as a lobbyist at the time, some political opponents and a political ethics group charged that the event violated federal lobbying rules.
Apotex had asked a court to end the investigation, calling it an “unanchored fishing expedition.”
Mr. Trudeau was among many prominent Canadians who expressed sadness over the couple’s death.
“Our condolences to their family & friends, and to everyone touched by their vision & spirit,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote on Twitter.“Our condolences to their family & friends, and to everyone touched by their vision & spirit,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote on Twitter.
Mayor John Tory of Toronto said in statement that he was “shocked and heartbroken” to learn of the deaths, noting that the couple had made extensive contributions to the city. Linda Frum, a Conservative member of Canada’s Senate, described Ms. Sherman on Twitter as “one of the kindest and most beloved members of Canada’s Jewish community.”
“Toronto Police are investigating, and I hope that investigation will be able to provide answers for all of us who are mourning this tremendous loss,” Mr. Tory said. “Today I am gutted by the loss of Honey and Barry Sherman,” she added. “Our community is steeped in grief.”
The Shermans recently listed their home for sale for nearly 7 million Canadian dollars, about $5.4 million. A real estate agent discovered the bodies in the basement while preparing for an open house, The Toronto Globe and Mail reported, citing a relative. Many of Mr. Sherman’s financial contributions went to branches of the United Way. Apotex regularly donated substantial quantities of drugs to groups providing medical care in underdeveloped countries and crisis areas.
Mr. Sherman, 75, founded the privately held Apotex in 1974, growing it by introducing large numbers of low-cost generic drugs that took market share from brand pharmaceuticals. He stepped down as chief executive in 2012 but remained as executive chairman.
Forbes has estimated Mr. Sherman’s fortune at $3.2 billion.
Apotex is the world’s No. 7 generic drugmaker, with 11,000 employees and annual sales of more than 2 billion Canadian dollars in more than 45 countries, according to its website.
The couple was known for their philanthropy, giving tens of millions to hospitals, universities and Jewish organizations, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported.
“They were extremely successful in business, but also very, very giving people,” former Ontario Premier Bob Rae told CBC. “It’s going to be a very, very big loss.”