After their family criticized early reports suggesting murder suicide, the friends of a billionaire couple found dead in their Toronto mansion have also spoken out to insist that both Bernard “Barry” Sherman and his wife Honey were murder victims.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Barry and Honey Sherman were found dead, both hanging from a railing by the indoor pool in their mansion just outside of Toronto on Friday. The house was on the market, and a real estate agent came to the mansion to check on the couple after they could not be reached by phone.
Police reportedly said there were no forced signs of entry, and investigators did not find a suicide note.
On Saturday, some Canadian news outlets cited police sources in reporting a theory that Barry Sherman may have killed his wife before taking his own life. The Sherman’s family issued a statement condemning those reports.
“Our parents shared an enthusiasm for life and commitment to their family and community totally inconsistent with the rumours regrettably circulated in the media as to the circumstances surrounding their deaths,” the family said in a media statement.
Friends of the couple spoke to the New York Times, echoing the sentiment.
“There is absolutely zero debate in my mind, this was a double homicide,” Canadian senator Linda Frum, a close friend of the Shermans, told the newspaper.
“The idea that Barry would ever harm Honey – he adored her. That’s impossible. He was a gentle, good man.”
Another friend, real estate developer Fred Waks, suggested to the New York Times that Barry Sherman’s wealth and business activities may have made him a target.
“His lawsuits pertained to billions of dollars, back and forth,” Waks told the newspaper.
“When you are dealing with the size of that industry and the amounts we are talking about, you make enemies. And you make enemies on a global basis.”
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Toronto police announced on Sunday that the homicide unit was leading the investigation.
Barry Sherman was the founding chairman of a leading drug manufacturer, Avotex, and was reportedly worth over $3 billion.
[Feature image: Associated Press]
