Murder At McDonalds

by Bill Jessome

Three normal young men from Sydney, Nova Scotia. On the night of May 7, 1992, they walked into the McDonald's restaurant in Sydney River, planning to rob the place. And in the dark hours of pre-dawn, they brutally murdered three McDonald's employees and left a fourth for dead. Phonse Jessome, a broadcast journalist who covered the tragedy for the ATV network, has written a chilling account of the events of that fateful day, and the devastating effect of the slayings on a community that continues to ask: Why?

Genres: True Crime

294 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1994

About the author

Bill Jessome was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia and served in Italy during World War Two. Jessome worked in television, radio, and as a stage actor in the United States before returning to the Maritimes in the 1960s. For many years, his popular television show Maritime Mysteries was broadcast throughout the region.

Reviews

[Florence (Lefty) MacIntosh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes at a McDonalds... This happened way back in 1992, drew huge media attention in its day. At a McDonald’s in a small town in the Maritimes 3 employees were brutally murdered, a fourth left for dead for what amounted to chump change. The weird part was the murderers were 3 perfectly normal teenagers from a small town in Cape Briton. It’s well written by a respected journalist, he takes the time to try and figure out the how and why. Worth reading.

[Ronnie Cramer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, solid chronicle of a robbery and multiple murder in Nova Scotia that shows great sensitivity to the families of the victims. Written by a local TV reporter, it also provides insight into coverage of the case and its' impact on the small community. Because there were three trials, the courtroom sequence tends to drag a bit, but this is most definitely a worthwhile read. Note: Eight months after the McDonalds murders, a similar crime took place at a fast-food restaurant in Palatine, Illinois. The resulting book, THE BROWN'S CHICKEN MASSACRE by Maurice Possley, is even better.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book about a tragic and senseless crime in Sydney River, Nova Scotia. Three bored young men took the lives of three other young restaurant employees and crippled a 4th in a robbery that secured them a bit over 2000 dollars. No reason is given by the author or presented by the murderers. They all tried to minimize their deeds and blame each other. The book is gruesome and graphic. The whining of the murderers is enough to make you gag. The author's compassion is rightly reserved for the victims, and their families and rightly so. It is straight forward and factual though the writing style is a bit dry.

It is a good true crime read.

[Stephanie Barber · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is always interesting for me to read true crime. Sometimes I wish I could get inside of someone's head. I will be watching the news next year to see if Muise is paroled after serving his 20 years.

[Agnes Houston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glad I read it, unbelievable how many lives were ruined for nothing. Doesn't explain why a bunch of decent kids turned into murderers. Probably there is no answer.

[Ellison · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the hands of a better author this could have been a crackling true crime read, instead this hack author drools along inserting himself into the story whenever he can. Three Canadian teens walk into a 1990's McDonalds and butcher four workers. They skip out and one of the guys call the police who tell him they are too busy handling a murder scene! (which he participated in!)

The police eventually talk to two of the guys that did it and can not generate questions to ask them. One tells them, "I don't know as much as you think I know." while the other tells them they need more education. Eventually the police DEMAND that they confess. (?!)

When the trial occur the families are treated like criminals and it is realized that Canadian laws are not made to deal with this type of crime. Occasionally insightful, swearing, B/W images. RIP.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well written but very sad and shocking story. Crimes like this one are always the saddest. There is no reason for these young people to have been so coldly murdered as this. So many suffered because of the whim of a few young people with seemingly nothing better to do. The author did an excellent job telling this story and describing the pain that so many in this small Maritime community felt.

[Marcie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Foggy memory of this murder..... Went to this McDonalds as a child..... Great book made me uncomfortable reading it though. Too close to home!