All Episodes

October 5, 2025

Unveiling the Mystery of Benita Tarantino’s Murder

A City Stalked by Shadows. A Killer Still at Large.

In the neon-lit streets of 1980s Toronto, a predator hunted the vulnerable, leaving a trail of unsolved murders that haunt the city to this day. Among them: 17-year-old Benita Tarantino, a troubled teen who vanished one night in 1985, just days after her engagement. Her body, found weeks later in a chilling tableau—clad in a single sock, propped against a tree—whispers of a sinister force. Was she the victim of a serial killer who preyed on sex trade workers, striking with terrifying precision on weekend nights?

In this heart-pounding episode of Ontario Cold Cases: Canada’s True Crime Podcast, dive into Benita’s tragic story and the eerie connections to other unsolved slayings. From the chilling diary of convicted killer Gregory George Ashford, who mused, “Killing didn’t hurt as much as I thought,” to the shadowy actions of Daniel Harvey Atkinson, a man suspected in a string of violent crimes, the clues point to a predator—or predators—still uncaught. With insights from FBI serial killer expert John Douglas, this episode uncovers patterns that will send shivers down your spine.

Will the truth behind Benita’s murder ever be revealed? Subscribe to Ontario Cold Cases now and join the quest for justice. Tune in to unravel the mystery, hear exclusive details, and share your theories to keep these cases alive. Available wherever you get your podcasts.

This episode is brought to you by Nicoll Investigations.

Remember to hit that subscribe button and links to the full episode of this story are listed below in the show notes.

Because every case deserves answers—and every victim deserves justice.

Subscribe now to Ontario Cold Cases: Canada’s True Crime Podcast. Episodes available wherever you get your podcasts.

Follow us for updates and more: @OntarioColdCases

Ontario Cold Cases - Wordpress

https://nicollinvestigations.wordpress.com/

Ontario Cold Cases - Substack

https://substack.com/@ontariocoldcase

For more videos subscribe to: https://www.youtube.com/@OntarioColdCases?sub_confirmation=1

@PlayMorePods

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ontario-cold-cases-the-podcast-s1-ep11-benita/id1714174047?i=1000638111720

YouTube - https://youtu.be/WLeuJycyEC0?si=A2KEU9NG8i6jo4dc

#OntarioColdCases, #NicollInvestigations , #canadiancrime , #ColdCasePodcast , #ontariocrime, #OntarioMysteries , #PodcastMystery , #truecrimepodcast , #unsolvedmysteries, #ontario, #TrueCrimeCanada, #TrueCrimeOntario, #CanadianMysteries, #canada, #truecrime, #PodcastsOnAmazonMusic, #Murder, #Homicide, #Missing, #ColdCases, #BenitaTarantino , #Maple , #Vaughan , #SerialKiller , #SexTradeMurders

Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Stuff You Should Know
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist

CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist

It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.

Dateline NBC

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.