Edmonton brother of Robert Pickton victim appalled by book release

Ricky Papin was "shocked and appalled" when he learned the serial killer who murdered his sister had written a book in prison.

Robert "Willie" Pickton released the book, Pickton: In his Own Words, on Amazon last month through the Colorado-based publishing company Outskirts Press.

• Robert Pickton, notorious killer, pens book for sale on Amazon
• Robert Pickton can't be prevented from profiting from memoir
• Amazon asked to remove Robert Pickton book by publisher

Papin's sister, Georgina, was reported missing in Vancouver in 1999. Pickton was convicted of second-degree for killing six women. Another 20 murder charges were stayed.

Papin said he first wanted to know how a memoir by Pickton could have been released online. Once he discovered the answer, his shock turned to anger.

"People make money off of violence and other people's crimes," he said, "and Amazon is in there for a profit."

Amazon Canada has stopped the sale of the book, but the memoir is still listed as a "hot new release" on their website. 

"If anyone is going to profit from it, it should be the children and the families themselves, or go to victim services."

Papin said he was not surprised that Pickton decided to write the memoir.

"He's got nothing else to do but plot and write," he said. "It's the control factor for him, he doesn't have the control like he did when he was with his victims."

Still looking for answers

Papin intends to read the book, despite the fact that he was horrified by its release. Other family members want to as well.

He hopes the book will give him more insight into what happened to his sister.

"I'll never have closure," he said. "But just to have answers to some of the questions I've always had in my head."

Pickton reportedly maintains his innocence in the book. So Papin would like to know who else the killer might point the finger at, and wants to see whether the book provides new evidence.

"I want to hear the truth, just like everybody else does," he said. "Because he doesn't look like he's the only guilty one."

But Papin said there's another story he wants the public to read about.

"I think the stories should be more on the families," he said. "Deal with the women's stories, rather than have the attention on him."

Referring to the inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women, Papin said: "My family's story is just a small part of what's really going on in the country."

Georgina Papin

Papin said he and his sister were close growing up. The two were taken from the Enoch Cree reserve outside of Alberta as part of what has been called the "Sixties Scoop," a program that removed many aboriginal children from their families. The two were raised apart from their seven other siblings.  

He said he and his sister had a rough upbringing, and growing up in such a dysfunctional environment in part led to her death.

"You're exposed and you're vulnerable," he said.

Georgina had seven children and Papin said he stays in touch with her daughters, though her family was split apart after her death.

"She was just like everybody else. She's a human being. She had children. (She was) loved, liked to be loved, just like everybody should be."