Doug Guyatt was convicted of murdering his wife, Shannon, in June 1992. Guyatt, 67, died in prison Aug. 13, 2014.
Photograph Submitted by family. Photo courtesy of the Times Colonist.
RCMP are reviewing a cache of newspaper clippings about the murder of Shannon Guyatt that was found on Department of National Defence land at Rocky Point Thursday afternoon.
Shannon Guyatt was murdered and beheaded by her husband Doug in 1992. The 36-year-old computer programmer had disappeared on June 17, 1992, after leaving work. Three days after she disappeared, Doug learned he could not collect insurance without proof of death.
Days later, Doug pulled a garbage bag from the ditch in front of his Colwood home, containing his wife’s severed head.
The Crown believed he killed Shannon to collect on a life-insurance policy so he could pay off the mortgage on the house.
In October 1994, Doug Guyatt was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. He died in prison in 2014 at age 67. Despite pleas from Shannon’s family, Doug never revealed what he did with the rest of her remains.
According to CFB Esquimalt spokesperson Capt. Jenn Jackson, the clippings were found inside a building that was slated for demolition. She said since the Department of National Defence was not a lead on this case, the RCMP were contacted to see if the clippings are of any significance to the Guyatt case.
West Shore RCMP are now looking over the items to determine their origin and any possible links to previous investigations. The construction site has been closed due to the investigation.
Alexa Huffman
