Police awaiting autopsies after Canadian billionaire, wife found dead

TORONTO (AP) — Investigators were awaiting the results of autopsies performed on Toronto billionaire and philanthropist Barry Sherman and his wife Saturday, a day after the two were found dead under what police have said are suspicious circumstances.

Toronto Police Const. David Hopkinson said the autopsies were being performed Saturday. Police will determine the next step in their probe pending the results of the autopsies.

On Friday, Sherman and his wife, Honey, were found dead in their north Toronto mansion. Police described the deaths as suspicious, but offered no other details. According to Canadian media, police clarified that no suspects were being sought.

“The circumstances of their death appear suspicious and we are treating it that way,” Hopkinson said at a news conference held outside the couple’s home Friday.

He said police were called to the Shermans’ home just before noon on Friday in response to a “medical complaint.”

He declined to say whether the bodies showed signs of trauma and did not provide details on the time or cause of death.

Sources told the Toronto media police were working under the theory that the deaths were the result of a murder-suicide.

The Globe and Mail cited a police source as saying the Shermans’ bodies were found hanging from a railing around a basement pool, the theory being that “Mr Sherman killed his wife, hung her body and then hanged himself at the pool’s edge.”

Barry Sherman was the chairman of generic drug maker Apotex, which he founded in 1974 with two employees. It went on to become the largest Canadian-owned pharmaceutical company.

Along the way he amassed a vast fortune, which Canadian Business magazine estimated at $4.77 billion Canadian (US$3.65 billion) to make him the 15th richest Canadian, as well as lawsuits from family members who alleged they got cut out of a share of the company.

The company has more than 10,000 people in research, development, manufacturing and distribution facilities world-wide, with more than 6,000 employees at its Canadian operations.

Apotex called news of the deaths “tragic.”

“All of us at Apotex are deeply shocked and saddened by this news and our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time,” the company said in a statement.

Sherman had also been an active philanthropist, including donating $50 million Canadian (US$39 million) to the United Jewish Appeal. He had also become an active fundraiser for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal party in recent years, but was criticized for holding a pay-for-access fundraiser in August 2015 that included Trudeau while being registered as a lobbyist.

Trudeau said he was “saddened by news of the sudden passing of Barry and Honey Sherman.”

He spoke on Twitter of the “vision and spirit” of the couple known for their philanthropy.

Linda Frum, a member of the Canadian Senate, said she was “gutted by the loss” of the couple, two weeks after presenting a Senate medal “to one of the kindest and most beloved members of Canada’s Jewish community.”

They were “remarkable people,” said Bob Rae, former premier of Ontario province which includes Toronto.

“Grappling with this terrible news,” he wrote on Twitter.

The address where the bodies were found was recently listed for sale for $6.9 million Canadian (US$5.4 million).