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Who Killed Ty Conn
"Who Killed Ty Conn" is the brilliant investigative work of Linden MacIntyre and Theresa Burke, the current host and producer respectively of the CBC's "the fifth estate." It tells the tragic story of Ty Conn's life of crime and misfortune. Originally published by Viking Canada in 2000, the book has been updated and reissued with a new afterword from the author and a new foreword by author and criminologist Elliott Leyton.
A classic in the literature of true crime, "Who Killed Ty Conn" portrays a man coming to terms with a life of rejection - and the social system that failed to save him.
A classic in the literature of true crime, "Who Killed Ty Conn" portrays a man coming to terms with a life of rejection - and the social system that failed to save him.
350 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
20 people are currently reading
374 people want to read
About the author
Linden MacIntyre
15 books186 followersLinden MacIntyre is the co-host of the fifth estate and the winner of nine Gemini Awards for broadcast journalism. His most recent book, a boyhood memoir called Causeway: A Passage from Innocence won both the Edna Staebler Award for Creative Non-Fiction and the Evelyn Richardson Prize for Non-Fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
February 1, 2020
What a tragic existence.
I can't help but feel bad for Ty Conn and the life he was given. He didn't stand a chance from the start.
He was tossed around so much, he had no concept of love.
He was deemed dangerous by society but never hurt anyone in his life.
Now I remember the big hoopla in the media when he was busting out of KP like he did. Still this book shares so many private details that are quite fascinating.
I will say, it's a little hard to read at times. It's a little boring the way it's laid out. I love facts as much as the next person but in a more entertaining way. I'm not asking for tricks but tell this stuff in a way to keep the reader engaged. I kept putting this book down, even though I was interested in the story. It just felt like I was reading the world's longest news article.
Still it's quite a tale, if you enjoy true crime.
2.5/5
I can't help but feel bad for Ty Conn and the life he was given. He didn't stand a chance from the start.
He was tossed around so much, he had no concept of love.
He was deemed dangerous by society but never hurt anyone in his life.
Now I remember the big hoopla in the media when he was busting out of KP like he did. Still this book shares so many private details that are quite fascinating.
I will say, it's a little hard to read at times. It's a little boring the way it's laid out. I love facts as much as the next person but in a more entertaining way. I'm not asking for tricks but tell this stuff in a way to keep the reader engaged. I kept putting this book down, even though I was interested in the story. It just felt like I was reading the world's longest news article.
Still it's quite a tale, if you enjoy true crime.
2.5/5
November 27, 2024
Great telling of the life of Ty Conn. It makes his escape from Kingston Pen seem almost like a footnote on the end of a complicated life.
Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thoroughly enjoyed it.
May 29, 2019
After going on the Kingston Penitentiary Tour for the 2nd time ever, I purchased this book.
Ty Conn’s story is pretty incredible and, honestly, any story around Kingston Pen and the Canadian criminal system will interest you. I was excited to start this one and learn more!
Ty’s story is tragic, maddening, sad, insane and disappointing. While he was a hardened criminal who deserved to serve his time, I certainly don’t think things should have went and, eventually, ended the way they did. Ty was dealt a short hand early on in life and was always fighting from behind.
It’s an amazing story that Linden MacIntyre and Theresa Burke befriended Ty and saw the good when others saw only bad. I can only imagine how grateful Ty felt to have them in his life.
In this book, they do an amazing job of telling Ty’s story and adding commentary at times. I appreciate the work they have done in the writing of this book and I still hope that maybe it could do some good.
R.I.P Tyrone Conn.
Ty Conn’s story is pretty incredible and, honestly, any story around Kingston Pen and the Canadian criminal system will interest you. I was excited to start this one and learn more!
Ty’s story is tragic, maddening, sad, insane and disappointing. While he was a hardened criminal who deserved to serve his time, I certainly don’t think things should have went and, eventually, ended the way they did. Ty was dealt a short hand early on in life and was always fighting from behind.
It’s an amazing story that Linden MacIntyre and Theresa Burke befriended Ty and saw the good when others saw only bad. I can only imagine how grateful Ty felt to have them in his life.
In this book, they do an amazing job of telling Ty’s story and adding commentary at times. I appreciate the work they have done in the writing of this book and I still hope that maybe it could do some good.
R.I.P Tyrone Conn.
December 5, 2024
The book started off well, discussing how Ty had a hard childhood, primarily due to the failure of his adoptive parents. Yet, it becomes apparent later on that the book only provides Ty's perspective and he likes to play victim rather than take responsibility for his crimes. The book takes an apologist view and tries to justify his crimes, even at the age of 20, saying that he is but a child at heart.
Poor parenting and hard childhood, coupled with the poor foster system definitely paves the way to a lifetime of crime. Yet, Ty never had a hard life at foster homes and he never took responsibility for his actions or made an effort to change himself. The book is the author's attempt to take a humanist view on a criminal's failures.
Poor parenting and hard childhood, coupled with the poor foster system definitely paves the way to a lifetime of crime. Yet, Ty never had a hard life at foster homes and he never took responsibility for his actions or made an effort to change himself. The book is the author's attempt to take a humanist view on a criminal's failures.
October 4, 2022
I recently went on a tour of the Kingston Pen, and our tour guide had mentioned Ty Conn and his various escapes from different institutions, including Kingston Pen. At the end of the tour, they release you into the gift shop, and this particular one was full of books! I had to buy this one because I will read anything Linden MacIntyre writes. This was a very interesting book, and gives you a lot to think about in terms of the Canadian Justice system.
April 15, 2018
This is one of the saddest books I’ve ever read.
May 21, 2023
The story told in this book is important. Ty Conn’s story is both hearthbreaking and fascinating. Although some parts of the book were too detailed, it was well documented and well written.
June 12, 2024
I bought this book a few years ago in the gift shop at the Kingston penitentiary, after a tour.
What a sad story! It is about a young man who ended up in the legal system. It describes how he ended up there and what his experience in many jails were across the country.
Written by two journalists, a bit challenging to read at times as they jumped around with dates. Still a worthwhile read. Unfortunate to read how our Canadian system works (FAILS) for young offenders, and young kids in trouble and need of real help.
What a sad story! It is about a young man who ended up in the legal system. It describes how he ended up there and what his experience in many jails were across the country.
Written by two journalists, a bit challenging to read at times as they jumped around with dates. Still a worthwhile read. Unfortunate to read how our Canadian system works (FAILS) for young offenders, and young kids in trouble and need of real help.
January 23, 2013
It's a compelling story, with lots of high quality research into both the family services and the corrections system. The amount of detail, however, overwhelms the story in a lot of places making the details hard to keep track of and the reading much less pleasurable.
August 23, 2024
Very interesting since I've lived in the areas it all happened around. All I can say is some people should not be allowed to raise children. I blame the adopted family. It's too bad he got lost in the system
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2023
This is what happens when a gifted articulate child is a victim of terrible parenting and a broken Children’s Aid system and terrible ‘Correctional’ system. What a waste of human potential and heartbreaking story. Tough one.
September 8, 2023
Going on a tour of Kingston Penn was the impetus for me reading this book. The tour provided some context for the story which was helpful. Overall a really good read but what a sad tragic life this young man had. Interesting perspective on our justice system as well.
November 16, 2023
Anyone who has done the (outstandingly good) tour of the Kingston Penitentiary will have heard the pitch for this book: a career thief and escape artist, Ty Conn was a nonviolent soul sentenced to an outrageously long term in prison. His dramatic escape and the ensuing manhunt dominated the news in the 90’s, and he was shot and killed under unclear circumstances during a standoff with police.
The story told here is a lot more complicated than that. Multiple systems failed him almost from birth — a smart, gentle kid with zero adult role models starts acting out as a cry for attention and connection, gradually evolves into armed bank robberies. Conn’s story is textbook example of childhood trauma and attachment issues causing lifelong antisocial behaviour, a case study for someone like Gabor Maté. Everyone involved failed this poor kid. This piece by Clayton Ruby is a very good summary.
He also had terrible luck and timing — the ’80’s were the beginning of the ‘tough on crime’ political era, and in another time he may have been treated completely differently.
The book has its issues though. It’s much too long. The first half is fantastic, but the second half gets bogged down by detail and unnecessary narrative speculation. More concerning, the tone throughout is extremely sympathetic to Conn, and a few points in the second half left me wondering if the authors glossed over some more unsavoury elements.
For example, page 143: “Early in ’91, the management in Collins Bay threw him in the hole, a segregated punishment cell, for another infraction that he considered to be bogus. They left him there for 30 days…”
Considering we know the model and colour of every car he stole, why omit this? It feels a bit hand-wavy, and there are several moments like this. It’s also increasingly difficult, as the story rolls on, to consider Conn nonviolent. He didn’t physically harm anyone, but I’m sure many of the people who he threatened to kill at gunpoint are still suffering to this day.
It doesn’t really matter — by his 21st birthday, Conn was doomed by a broken system. It’s impossible to read this book and not be angry at the people and organizations that failed to help at several points during his life. The circumstances of his death are concerning, but it’s the circumstances of his early life that warrant the most anger. The system still criminalizes kids, and a failure to identify opportunities to intervene early will always lead to cases like this.
The story told here is a lot more complicated than that. Multiple systems failed him almost from birth — a smart, gentle kid with zero adult role models starts acting out as a cry for attention and connection, gradually evolves into armed bank robberies. Conn’s story is textbook example of childhood trauma and attachment issues causing lifelong antisocial behaviour, a case study for someone like Gabor Maté. Everyone involved failed this poor kid. This piece by Clayton Ruby is a very good summary.
He also had terrible luck and timing — the ’80’s were the beginning of the ‘tough on crime’ political era, and in another time he may have been treated completely differently.
The book has its issues though. It’s much too long. The first half is fantastic, but the second half gets bogged down by detail and unnecessary narrative speculation. More concerning, the tone throughout is extremely sympathetic to Conn, and a few points in the second half left me wondering if the authors glossed over some more unsavoury elements.
For example, page 143: “Early in ’91, the management in Collins Bay threw him in the hole, a segregated punishment cell, for another infraction that he considered to be bogus. They left him there for 30 days…”
Considering we know the model and colour of every car he stole, why omit this? It feels a bit hand-wavy, and there are several moments like this. It’s also increasingly difficult, as the story rolls on, to consider Conn nonviolent. He didn’t physically harm anyone, but I’m sure many of the people who he threatened to kill at gunpoint are still suffering to this day.
It doesn’t really matter — by his 21st birthday, Conn was doomed by a broken system. It’s impossible to read this book and not be angry at the people and organizations that failed to help at several points during his life. The circumstances of his death are concerning, but it’s the circumstances of his early life that warrant the most anger. The system still criminalizes kids, and a failure to identify opportunities to intervene early will always lead to cases like this.
October 23, 2024
Well, uh, that was an emotional rollercoaster. I never believed the justice system of my own country, and even province, was very good, but this book has made me realized how screwed up we are. How did we let this happen? We let worse criminals face easier sentences than somebody who never hurt a soul. Yes, he did petty crimes, but he didnt lay a hand on anyone. The crimes he committed should not of landed him where he was. I had the honour to visit the Kingston Pen, and the one hour i was there i felt suffocated. Imagine spending months, or even years there. I sympathize greatly with Ty, and anyone who knew the boy who deserved so much more. I recommend this book, but be aware it will always be an eye-opener. And it is heavy with its content, they do not sugar coat anything. With topics like this, it is a relief they dont.
February 8, 2020
Interesting read about Ty Conn. I visited the KP la St year and heard the story of Ty. Coincidently, I discovered Linden McIntyre as an author the same time. The story is compelling, almost hard to believe it’s real. It is a biased read, but with few exceptions, it didn’t impact my engagement and bring me out of the story telling. If you enjoy stories about criminals and attempting to understand how humans become who they are, this is a great read.
February 6, 2023
I read this book when it came out. I found it fascinating and difficult at the same time. The story of a little boy put up for adoption by his Grandparents and then mentally abused by adoptive parents made me ill. I found myself cheering Ty Conn on with every escape. Sadly our system designed to help troubled youth failed him horribly. A very good read and very thought provoking.
December 30, 2018
I found it difficult to sympathize with Ty at first. By the end I was in tears and saddened by how the system failed someone willing to change his life.
Who Killed Ty Conn was well written and although more sympathetic to Ty's story, it did speak to his failures.
Who Killed Ty Conn was well written and although more sympathetic to Ty's story, it did speak to his failures.
March 1, 2024
This was an excellent story made even more interesting because I personally knew several of the folks mentioned in the book since the early portions of the story took place in my home town of Belleville, Ontario.
January 12, 2018
This poor lad never had a chance from day one. It certainly shows that all children need to grow up in an environment of love and praise. What a waste of a brilliant mind!
August 17, 2018
Excellent book. Bought it at the Kingston Penitentiary gift store after taking a tour. I know so little about the prison system / CPS and this was a very eye opening read and sad.
January 30, 2019
So sad. Society and “the system” failed at so many points in Ty Conn’s life.
November 9, 2020
Very sad book that provokes a lot of thought. Author put a lot of research into it. Slightly repetitive.
August 17, 2022
An incredibly interesting telling of the real-life story of Ty Conn, one of the few criminals who has successfully escaped from Kingston Pen.
November 3, 2022
Incredibly sad story of how the system failed Ty Conn. a definite must read for anyone considering the Kingston Pen tour.
January 29, 2025
Love this book at hit close to home
June 26, 2025
Incredible but heartbreaking story. Poor Ty didn’t stand a chance…
November 10, 2025
Una historia digna de leer.
Como es posible que un hombre, que no ha cometido un solo crimen violento, cargue con una sentencia de 47 años de cárcel, mientras que comparte penitencia con los más oscuros criminales: violadores, asesinos, que apenas tienen sentencias de 2, 6, 8 años?
Acaso vale más el dinero de un banco, que la vida de las personas?
Así es como parece verlo el sistema judicial.
Un niño con una infancia difícil, que fue empeorado por el sistema penitenciario en lugar de ayudar a su reinserción.
Who killed Ty Conn. Sin signo de interrogación.
Da para reflexionar.
Como es posible que un hombre, que no ha cometido un solo crimen violento, cargue con una sentencia de 47 años de cárcel, mientras que comparte penitencia con los más oscuros criminales: violadores, asesinos, que apenas tienen sentencias de 2, 6, 8 años?
Acaso vale más el dinero de un banco, que la vida de las personas?
Así es como parece verlo el sistema judicial.
Un niño con una infancia difícil, que fue empeorado por el sistema penitenciario en lugar de ayudar a su reinserción.
Who killed Ty Conn. Sin signo de interrogación.
Da para reflexionar.
November 21, 2024
My short review of this has disappeared into the ether; suffice it to say that this was difficult reading due to the nature and extent of child abuse Ty endured, the rather dry tone of much of it, and the almost classically tragic way it all ended.
December 5, 2012
Well researched, thoughtful and provocative. Invites empathy for a career criminal, without being maudlin.
May 12, 2012
Amazing
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews